Loss and Gain

Chapter 1: Found

Swarming into the house, we've arrested 7 men but none were of 'Red Back' leader Travis. Honestly, I am now doubting our move. We've only found 7 men. That means that yes, Travis will have 7 men short but that also meant that now he'll move onto somewhere else, again.

We can interrogate the 7 men caught but I highly doubt any of them will give out anything. One thing we came to understand is that his men are highly loyal. No matter what I do, none of them ever revealed anything.

"Sir, there's hidden attic and basement in this house" Marcus informed me. He was right. After checking the blue print of the house, it doesn't show either of those.

"Alright, I'll take the attic. You check the basement but make sure you take few back up and be on your guard" I ordered.

I went to the attic followed by 5 of my officers. This house was like any other house on the street. Nothing about it stood out. Just regular ordinary residential house. No wonder this lead was not found so easily.

Opening the attic door, we were not expecting to find anything. I mean I hardly doubted that Travis or anyone is stupid enough to hide in the attic where there's no escape route. I only expected it to contain drugs, firearms or even just a storage unit. But the sight was a surprise.

The attic was converted into a girl's room. There was lavender wall, a few fancy lamps attached to the wall and even a small chandelier. All the furniture were made with white wood and there was so many frills endorsing the room. Frills on the couch, frills on the curtain, frills on the cushion and bed. It was ultimate girl's room. Or should I say princess room?

Have we missed something? Had Travis had a kid who we knew nothing about? His weakness? I mean from the look of this room, she was treasured.

As I scanned the room, I saw something out of the picture. There was a thick chain leading toward under the bed. I motioned to my fellow officers to be quiet as I moved cautiously closer to the bed. I wasn't sure what to expect. Maybe a vicious guard dog? I mean the chain was quite thick and sturdy. But would Travis really leave the dog if that's the case? And why would it be hiding under the bed rather than attacking us at the first chance?

Lifting the frilled quilts and covers slowly and cautiously with my gun pointed, ready for an attack, I slowly peeked under. There lay frightened girl, no, a woman with even more frilled Victorian style dress. As I made eye contact with her, she tried to hide herself as much as possible by curling into a ball like frightened kitten.

I looked up at my members and told them to put their weapons down and to wait outside. I can see her frightened figure is not a trick. She doesn't seem to be able to harm anyone or even want to attack.

"My name is Harper. Phillip Harper. I'm from Criminal Investigation unit. You're safe. I'm here to help you. Please come out" I asked gently. She must've heard the sincerity in my voice as she slowly peeked out from between her hands. She saw that I had no weapon with me in my SWAT team uniform. She slowly studied me as if to figure me out and to debate whether I'm telling the truth. Finally she seemed to make up her mind as she gradually came out of under her bed.

"What's your name?" I asked softly. I didn't want to scare this woman.

"My name is Mirabell" she replied quietly as if she was still afraid to talk to me. I can see the deep fear in her dark blue orbs. Then all of a sudden as if some kind of realisation had passed, she looked at me determined.

"Have you found a child!?" she asked in a panicked tone. Just as she had asked, Marcus, over the radio informed me he'd found a boy about 5 years old in a basement. I can hear the wail of the little boy and so can Mirabell as Marcus called. She looked relieved but at the same worried.