?Chapter 2838:


    “Alright, alright, I’ming…” Andrea’s voice drew closer, edged with annoyance and punctuated by a yawn.


    The door groaned as it swung open.


    She stifled another yawn behind her hand.


    “Who would be knocking at this ungodly hour? What—”


    The sight of the crowd outside—many in police uniforms—rooted her in ce. In an instant, all traces of drowsiness drained from her face.


    “You… What’s going on here?”


    “Andrea Benson?” Ellis fixed her with a steely stare, pulling out his phone topare her face to a photo.


    Then, with a decisive motion, he ordered, “Move in!”


    “Yes, sir!”


    In a sh, officers surged into the house, their search methodical and relentless.


    “Hey!” Andrea’s face drained of color, her voice sharp with panic.


    “What do you think you’re doing?!”


    She reached out, desperate to stop them, but the sheer number of officers overwhelmed her.


    Flustered, she threw up her hands in protest.


    “You can’t just barge into my home because you’re the police! Where’s your search warrant?”


    “Humph. We don’t need one.” Ellis’ lips curled into a grim smirk, his jaw set like iron.


    “Andrea, spare us the act ande clean.”


    “Come clean?” Andrea feigned bewilderment, shaking her head.


    “Officer, I haven’t the faintest idea what you mean.”


    “Andrea!” Ellis’ voice snapped like a whip.


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    “Chief!” an officer called out.


    The search ended quickly.


    The old house, with its modest two-storyyout, wasn’trge enough to hide much.


    One officer shook his head.


    “No trace of the children.”


    Nothing.


    The children weren’t here.


    “Andrea!” Ellis’ stare could have cut steel.


    “Where are Locke Flynn and Joyce Scott?”


    “Who… what?” Andrea’s hand flew to her throat, her voice quivering.


    “I don’t know anyone by those names—”


    “Andrea!” Ellis had dealt with people like her before—those who clung to denial until the evidence became unavoidable.


    “We traced the ransom ount. It’s tied to Carter Benson—your grand-uncle!”


    Andrea went rigid, her mouth working soundlessly, as if the air had been stolen from her lungs.


    At that moment, an officer escorted an elderly man out of the house. Shaken by themotion, he quavered, “Andrea, what is happening?”


    “Grand-Uncle…” Andrea’s voice barely rose above a whisper.


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