“What’s behind this wall?” Officer Brown asked, his voice low.

The father, Mr. Harris, hesitated. “I… I think it’s just the attic space. The house is old, built in the 1920s. There could be some space between the walls.”

Officer Mitchell nodded, moving to the wall Emily had pointed to. He pressed his ear against it, and the sound grew clearer: tap, tap, tap.

“Is there an entrance to the attic from inside?” Mitchell asked.

The parents led the officers to a small panel in the hallway ceiling. With great effort, the officers managed to pry it open, revealing a rickety ladder that creaked ominously with every step. Officer Brown ascended first, his flashlight piercing the darkness above.