Chapter 6 - THE SECOND EMERGENCY CALL
Back in the communications center, the dispatcher was still reviewing the historical call log associated with Unit 3B. He had noticed something else buried deep within the automated metadata of the building's emergency database.
Earlier that night—at exactly 11:42 p.m., right before the mother vanished—there hadn't just been the disconnected call. There had been an automated text-to-911 ping sent from the mother’s cell phone.
The dispatcher pulled up the transcript of the silent text. It contained only five characters, typed in a frantic, broken sequence:
SUITE 12.
The dispatcher’s breath caught in his throat. Suite 12 wasn't Lily’s apartment. Suite 12 belonged to Arthur Pendelton, the building superintendent.
He immediately picked up his radio headset, his voice cutting sharply across the police tactical frequency.
“All units at the Oakridge complex, this is Dispatch! Be advised, historical metadata from the mother’s phone indicates an outgoing signal originating from Suite 12 earlier tonight! I repeat, Suite 12 belongs to the resident superintendent, Arthur Pendelton! Check that apartment immediately!”
Down in the courtyard, Officers Miller and Vance—who had just emerged from the basement stairwell—heard the dispatch broadcast loud and clear over their shoulder radios.
May you like
Miller stopped dead in his tracks. He looked across the courtyard toward the second-floor window of Suite 12.
The light inside was on, but as they watched, the lamp flickered and went dark.
