Delivery Driver Ryan Saw a Terrified Boy Hiding Behind Packages — Then an Older Woman Looked at the Child and Screamed His Name
Chapter 4 — Three Missing Days
At the police station, Margaret refused to let go of Noah.
Ryan sat across from them.
He had planned to give a statement and leave.
Instead, he stayed.
Detective Elena Ruiz entered the interview room.
She placed a bottle of water in front of Noah.
“Noah, I need to ask you a few things.”
The boy looked at Margaret.
She nodded.
Elena spoke gently.
“Do you know Derek?”
Noah shook his head.
“Had you seen him before this week?”
Another shake.
“Do you remember what happened when you disappeared?”
Noah looked at the table.
“I was waiting for Mom.”
Margaret looked confused.
“Your mother?”
Noah nodded.
“She texted.”
Margaret’s face changed.
“Noah, your mother didn’t text you.”
The room went silent.
Noah looked up.
“She said she was outside school.”
Elena leaned forward.
“Who showed you the message?”
“My tablet.”
Margaret closed her eyes.
Noah’s mother, Caroline, had been in Boston on a business trip the day Noah disappeared.
Someone had sent messages pretending to be her.
Noah had walked toward a side entrance after school.
A car was waiting.
“Was Derek driving?”
Noah shook his head.
“A lady.”
Ryan frowned.
Elena looked at him.
“What?”
Ryan remembered something.
“When Derek opened his apartment door…”
Everyone turned.
“I heard someone inside.”
“What did you hear?”
“I thought it was a television.”
Ryan tried to remember.
Then it came back.
“A woman’s voice.”
Margaret stared at him.
Detective Ruiz stood.
“We need another search of that apartment.”
