[Chapter 48: When There Are No Surprises, a Surprise Awaits]
"How could it be him?" Susan gasped, covering her mouth in stunned disbelief at the scene unfolding before her.
"Ryan," Sheriff Ford called out the man's name, then looked at Daniel with wide eyes. "The sheriff you mentioned... it's actually Ryan!"
From Sheriff Ford's reaction, it was clear he knew Sheriff Ryan well.
Robert Downey Jr. looked equally baffled. "He's the one in charge of Miranda's case. No wonder he shoved all the blame onto her. He and Miranda's husband were actually behind this."
Susan clenched her teeth in anger. "I never thought they'd be capable of something like this. We trusted him so much."
Lara's fury was fierce. "People like that deserve to be castrated -- with a dull knife -- and then forced to eat it themselves."
The men all shuddered at Lara's brutal words.
Sensing their unease, Lara shot a glance at the men. "Am I wrong?"
They found no words to respond. Daniel cleared his throat and spoke, "Now the facts are clear. Miranda's husband Douglas and Sheriff Ryan set up a secret base here, using their positions to deceive or abduct multiple young women. They imprisoned them here for assault and abuse. Some were even beaten to death in brutal fashion."
Sheriff Ford nodded solemnly. "The evidence fully supports this truth."
Susan's voice trembled as she asked, "Will this clear Miranda's name?"
Daniel said firmly, "Miranda's husband has blood on his hands -- many innocent lives lost. Some became vengeful spirits, hunting him down and killing him in gruesome ways. That's only natural."
Lara interjected, "But vengeful spirits can't be witnesses or evidence."
Before Daniel could respond, Sheriff Ford said, "Technically, no. But with what Miranda's husband and Sheriff Ryan have done, all evidence collected under Ryan's authority is invalid. So Miranda can't be convicted."
Lara nodded thoughtfully. "Once we go public with the evidence, both the judge and public opinion will back Miranda. It will be impossible to convict her."
Relief lit Susan's face. "So Miranda will really be cleared. She'll be free soon?"
Sheriff Ford cautioned, "Assuming no more surprises happen."
"That's great," Susan said, glowing with hope.
Robert took her hand, and they exchanged smiles, joy spreading across their faces.
...
Suddenly, a muffled thud came from above.
The lights dimmed.
Chains rattled and scraped against metal.
Someone had pulled down the metal trapdoor leading to the basement -- and was locking it shut with chains.
"This is bad," Kane said, moving quickly to the stairs.
He pushed at the cover, but it didn't budge.
Shouldering against it, he found it immovable -- as if it had been welded shut.
He grimly reported back, "It's locked. This cover is metal. Even handgun bullets won't penetrate it."
As Kane finished, liquid began dripping down from above.
A sharp, acrid smell followed.
Everyone's expressions turned grim.
"Gasoline. It's gasoline!" Robert exclaimed.
A laugh echoed from above, cold and mocking. "Let you fools meddle. If you find out the truth, I'll burn you all to death right here. Then no one will ever know."
Panic surged through the group.
Lara growled, "He's going to burn us alive, murder us to silence us, and destroy the evidence."
Sheriff Ford called up loud and clear, "Ryan, this is Ford. Don't do anything reckless. Let us out, and I can help you."
"Ford, so it's you." Ryan's mocking voice drifted down. "You can fool those idiots, but you and I are both sheriffs. Do you honestly think I'd trust you? Only when you're all dead will I be truly helped."
Ryan laughed bitterly. "Pity, I just heard Lara's voice. She's a beautiful girl... but she'll burn alive here too."
Seeing Ryan's stubbornness and the steady flow of gasoline, everyone's panic deepened.
"What do we do? We're going to burn alive," Robert paced nervously, stripped of his composure.
Susan appeared calmer but visibly pale, fear clear on her face.
The three officers, Ford, Lara, and Kane, were equally frantic.
Emily cowered in a corner, curled up and trembling like a frightened bird.
"Don't worry, you won't die." Daniel's voice pierced through the dread like a beacon of hope.
"That's right, Mr. Cross." Lara was first to respond, eyes fixed on him. "Can you save us?"
Everyone's gaze turned to Daniel, clinging to hope.
Daniel didn't speak. He pulled out his paperweight and made a subtle gesture.
"Go. Control the person outside and open the cover," he said quietly.
No visible action followed -- only Daniel's voice addressing the empty air.
Robert, Susan, and Kane exchanged skeptical looks.
Only Lara and Sheriff Ford's eyes lit up, recalling the last time Daniel had done something similar.
They remembered the Thrall who had been stopped. Morian had told them Mr. Cross commanded ghosts. Before, they'd been uneasy and suspicious about this bizarre power. Now, desperate, they hoped Daniel's ghost-commanding was real and could get them out.
...
"Ah... no, no... let go of me! Let go!" Ryan's terrified voice suddenly rang out from above.
Gone was his earlier arrogance; now he sounded panicked and desperate, struggling against a powerful force.
Chains rattled once more.
The trapdoor brightened and swung open.
Cheers erupted.
Sheriff Ford drew his gun and cautiously ascended the stairs.
Kane and Lara followed, weapons ready.
Robert and Susan came next.
Daniel put away the DV camera, helped Emily to her feet, and brought up the rear.
On the ground, Ford, Lara, and Kane leveled their guns at a stout, middle-aged white man with a mostly bald head.
He wore a California police uniform.
His large belly heaved as he struggled, desperation etched on his face.
"Let go of me! Get away! Stay back!" he pleaded.
*****
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