As the day wore on, Laura coordinated with child protection services and other departments to ensure Emily and her mother were taken to a safe location. Meanwhile, officers worked tirelessly to gather evidence against Ryan Carter, hoping to piece together a case that would hold up in court.

The community’s reaction was as expected—shock and disbelief. The idea that someone like Ryan, who was supposed to be a protector and a healer, could be involved in such heinous acts was almost incomprehensible. It served as a stark reminder that evil often lurked in the least expected places.