One officer, Officer Brown, approached the closet slowly, his flashlight beam cutting through the darkness like a knife. He opened the door. Dust. Empty shelves. A few haphazardly hung clothes. Relief started to wash over him, and he almost turned to reassure Emily, but then… a faint sound echoed behind the wall, and everyone fell silent.

It was a soft, rhythmic tapping, almost like a heartbeat, muffled by layers of drywall and insulation. The other officer, Officer Mitchell, looked at Brown, his expression a mixture of confusion and concern. The parents exchanged worried glances, their dismissive attitudes now replaced by unease.