Closer Than You Think

Closer

"So what the hell is going on?!?"

I glared at Poppop. The man was usually uptight and butthurt, but this was out of line! What the hell happened when I was at school? I come home, feeling fine, better than usual actually, and he has to go all apeshit on me!

"Noel, shut up. Just this once, can you be serious?" He shot a glare at me, "I need to focus."

I huffed but stayed quiet. Cops. Can't trust no one. Just once, I'd like to be in the loop.

Poppop's POV

Soon enough we were pulling into the station. My mind was racing. He'd managed to stick a note in my granddaughter's bag, how close was this sicko? We'd probably been being watched the whole time.

"Alright," I said parking, "Get out."

"Can't I stay in here?" Noel whined.

I thought for a moment. In all honesty I didn't want her in there with me. I didn't want her getting freaked out of trying to help. If she thought there was even a CHANCE that she could help, she'd take it. A free spirit, just like her father.

"Fine. Keep the doors locked, don't crack a window, open a door, or talk to anyone. DO NOT LEAVE."

She snickered, "What if he has candy?"

I groaned and slammed the door, running into the police station. I speed walked into the conference room, ignoring all questions from passing officers.

The Chief looked up and smirked when I burst thru the doors. "Well well well, what have we here? I thought someone was off the case."

"Enough!" I snapped, making her jump, "This bastard's messed with MY family and he's got ME to deal with now.". I waved the lunchbox, "I've got something you may like!"

Their eyes widened as I opened the box and pulled out a finger. Immediately it was taken away from me and I was reading the note aloud. After receiving a copy of the note, it was taken away to have the blood analyzed. We sat in silence for a moment or two.

"Alright," The Chief broke the silence, "It's time to try something radical.". She picked up the heavy metal box, "We're going to pass around the lock and see who can break it. Try ANYTHING!"

We looked at her shocked. We'd never before been THAT useless. After five minutes of mindless toying, I received the box.

First I tried my wife, Barbara's, birthday.

Nope.

My sons birthday.

Nope.

His wife's birthday.

Nope.

Noel's birthday.

Nope!

I was just about to try throwing it at a wall (think about it, probably nobody's tried that!), when a thought popped into my head.

I quickly glanced up to see everyone staring at me, before I huddled closer to the lock, so nobody could see what I punched in.

Silence.

A click.

A long beep.

And the lock slid off.

We all stared at the now lock free box, stunned.

Perry glared at me, "How... How did you know how to open the lock?"

I stared at the box in trepidation and fear ,"It was the password to my home safe. The bastard's been in my house."
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Ooooooooh, something interesting happened! What shall happen next?

WHAT'S IN THE BOX?!?