Sophie Said a Strange Man Had Been Inside the House — Then the Silver Ring and Muddy Footprints Proved She Had Been Telling the Truth
Chapter 3 — Sophie Describes the Man Again
Marcus asked Sophie if she felt comfortable answering several questions.
Daniel sat beside her.
“You can stop whenever you want.”
Sophie nodded.
Marcus smiled gently.
“You said the man had a green jacket.”
“Yes.”
“Was there writing on it?”
Sophie thought carefully.
“Blue house.”
Daniel looked toward Vanessa.
Northline’s logo was a small blue house.
Marcus continued.
“Did he carry anything?”
“Black toolbox.”
“Did he talk to you?”
Sophie nodded.
“He said, ‘I thought nobody home.’”
Vanessa looked down.
“Then?”
“I said Mommy home.”
“He said where is water thing.”
“I pointed.”
“Then he went there.”
Marcus asked:
“Did he touch anything else?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did he scare you?”
Sophie nodded.
“I didn’t know him.”
That sentence hit Vanessa hard.
Sophie had not described a monster.
She had not described something impossible.
She had described an unfamiliar adult entering her home.
Then Vanessa had told her she was making it up.
Marcus followed the muddy trail.
The prints ended inside the utility room.
A small panel beneath the water sensor had been opened.
Several screws sat neatly on the floor.
Beside them was a folded service cloth.
Daniel picked up a paper tag.
NORTHLINE HOME SERVICES
WORK ORDER: 88417
MOISTURE SENSOR DIAGNOSTIC
The technician had apparently started doing actual work.
Then left abruptly.
Marcus looked toward the hallway.
“Probably when he realized a child was home and no adult had met him.”
Daniel’s expression remained serious.
“He shouldn’t have entered without confirming an adult was here.”
Marcus nodded.
“Agreed.”
Then Daniel held up the ring.
“And this probably belongs to him.”
Vanessa looked at the engraving again.
M.L.
Marcus checked the work-order paperwork.
The assigned technician was listed as:
MARCUS LANE.
Everyone went quiet.
They had a name.
