Burn the Evidence #ONC2023

17| busted

THE BULLET PINGED harmlessly off the wall, a small chunk of dirt falling with it. Kamron swore and aimed again, but he was too late.

Jamie had wrapped her handcuffs around his neck, the taut wire held threateningly against his neck.

"Drop the gun," she whispered. "I'm done taking orders from you."

Kamron's eyes widened as he felt Jamie press the barrel of his own gun against the back of his head.

I was shaking with relief. At least someone here could put a stop to this nonsense.

"Jamie, please," he said, "let me go. I've done nothing to wrong you in the ten years you've-"

"Had to live in your basement for ten years?" Jamie seethed. "Had to follow your orders and accept your beatings because I didn't want my son or I to be shot and killed? Oh, no, Kamron, you are not getting out of this."

"Who's down there?" one of the officers boomed. "Police. Drop your weapon."

Jamie rolled her eyes from her position behind Kamron. Jim came down the tunnel first, with Jerry and Louis close on his heels.

"It took you guys long enough. Why'd you send the two kids down first?"Jamie seemed irritated, a far cry from her earlier nurturing attitude.

"We thought you would be kept upstairs. They came down here without consulting us. The gunshot was what altered us to your presence," Louis said, before turning to Kamron and beginning to handcuff him. 

Jim began reading him his rights.

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Am I clear?" Jim met Kamron's eyes as the handcuffs clicked shut around Kamron's wrists.

Kamron held Jim's gaze for a moment before looking away and nodding, as though the action pained him.

Since he was a criminal, it probably did.

Jamie began shaking violently with relief. Disbelief briefly took over her face, before she dropped to the ground and hugged her knees to her chest. She was crying.

Mel sat up gingerly and stretched her limbs, new bruises already forming from her earlier abuse.

"Does this mean we get to go?" she asked, hope flitting in and out of her eyes. She wanted to believe this meant she was safe, but didn't want to get her hopes up too high.

"Yes," Jamie breathed, looking up with red-rimmed eyes. She looked so happy, I couldn't help but smile with relief.

I had done it. I had found Jamie Clark but I hadn't found her son. Only half of the puzzle was completed.

I hadn't found Tyler. If Jamie was to be believed, Tyler had ran out the day before to find a way out. I hadn't understood why Jamie had waited so long, but maybe it was so Tyler would understand the risks of such a plan, and would only go through with it because I hadn't arrived fast enough.

But that made no sense. If Tyler was smart, he would have run straight to the police, or a friend's house. Somewhere his mother knew well and would tell him to find. Somewhere safe for him to lay low while he got help to rescue everyone.

"Jamie?" I said tentatively, knowing she probably needed a moment but realizing I had no time for that. "Where did you tell Tyler to go after he got out?"

Jamie stopped smiling.

"Tate Beckham's place. I hope her and her husband are still living in the trailer park. I told him where to go and what street signs to look for. I tried to makeshift homeschool him down here when I could stand it. We didn't have anything to use, but he knows how to read and write because of the letters in the dirt."