Chapter 456

The haunting melody of her phone's ringtone sliced through the tense silence.

Evelyn slowly lifted her tear-streaked face from her knees. With trembling fingers, she wiped her swollen eyes and fished the device from her pocket.

Rosalind Baskins' name flashed on the screen.

Taking a shuddering breath, Evelyn steadied her voice before answering. "Rosalind?"

"Evelyn!" Rosalind's voice crackled with barely contained panic. "Where are you?"

Pushing herself up from the cold floor, Evelyn brushed dust from her jeans. "Blackwood Manor."

"Get to the old construction site near the river - I'm sending coordinates now!" Rosalind's words tumbled out in a rush. "Hurry!"

The urgency in her tone sent chills down Evelyn's spine. She was already moving toward the exit. "What's happening? Tell me!"

"We found your grandmother," Rosalind whispered.

Evelyn's heart stuttered. Her pace quickened to a run. "Where? Send the location now!"

"Just... prepare yourself," Rosalind warned ominously.

The ominous words made Evelyn's blood run cold. Hailing the first taxi she saw, she raced toward the abandoned construction zone on the city's outskirts.

When she arrived, the flashing police lights and yellow tape made her stomach twist. Two uniformed officers stood guard at the perimeter.

"Evelyn!" Rosalind spotted her immediately and rushed forward, gripping her icy hands.

Evelyn's entire body trembled. "Where is she?" The words barely escaped her constricted throat.

Rosalind pointed upward with a grim expression.

Evelyn's gaze followed the gesture - and her heart stopped.

Tears blurred her vision as she saw Margaret suspended mid-air. Ropes bound the elderly woman to a massive crane, with what appeared to be explosives strapped to her chest. The sight tore through Evelyn like shrapnel.

She lunged toward the nearest officer, fingers digging into his sleeve. "Why aren't you saving her? Do something!"

"Are you family?" the officer asked carefully.

Evelyn nodded frantically, her terrified gaze darting back to her grandmother. Every second felt like torture.

The officer lowered his voice. "The explosives are remote-controlled. The crane's control room is also rigged. Our bomb squad was injured by hidden devices when they tried approaching."

Evelyn's breath came in shallow gasps. "There are more bombs?"

He nodded grimly, gesturing to the cluster of officers and specialists huddled nearby. "They're working on a rescue strategy."

"What about that crane?" Evelyn pointed desperately to a second machine. "Can't you use it to reach her?"

"We can't risk it," the officer admitted. "If the bomber sees our people approaching, they might detonate immediately."

Understanding flashed across Evelyn's face. Before anyone could stop her, she ducked under the police tape.

"Stop! It's too dangerous!" the officer shouted after her.

Rosalind screamed, "Evelyn, no! Come back!"

A bomb squad member in full gear intercepted her. "Are you insane? Get behind the barrier!"

Evelyn grabbed his arm with desperate strength. "Tell me how to disarm it. Let me go up there - please!"