Officer Rodriguez frowned. “No one’s supposed to be living here. Place has been empty since the Petersons moved away last year.”

Still, something about the dog’s behavior put them on alert.

“Let’s check it out,” Parker said.

The officers carefully pushed open the creaky gate. Sunny darted forward, his nose to the ground, sniffing eagerly. He ran straight to the back of the house and began pawing at a cellar door half-hidden under the porch. His tail wagged like a flag.

Kelly knelt down and pressed her ear to the old wooden door. Her eyes widened.

“Do you hear that? … It sounds like crying.”

Everyone froze.