Page 25 of The Girl He Claimed

Paige nodded, already pulling outher phone to start searching for Dr. Chang's information. She managed to findan address for her home, not too far from the Institute, and quickly relayedthe information to Christopher.

As they got into the car, Paigecouldn't help but wonder why Dr. Chang had decided to call in sick on the daythey had planned to question her. It felt like she was trying to escape, to runaway from the consequences of her actions.

But Paige and Christopher weren'tgoing to let that happen.

They drove in silence, both lost intheir own thoughts. Paige couldn't help but think about all of the lives thathad been taken by the Exsanguination Killer—the innocent people who had beenmurdered, all because of the twisted desires of one individual.

Christopher's hand tightened on thesteering wheel, and Paige could see the anger and pain in his eyes. They wereboth determined to catch Dr. Chang to bring her to justice for all of the livesshe had destroyed.

It wasn't long before they reachedher house. It was a small, neat-looking building with a well-tended garden outfront, in the middle of a row of almost identical suburban houses that remindedPaige far too much of the Thorntons' neighborhood. It was a good neighborhood,with no obvious signs of neglect or crime, while the cars on the surroundingdriveways were mostly expensive looking, suggesting that this address was onefor people with money.

Emily Chang's car was in thedriveway, a black SUV. It was evidence that she was in there somewhere unlessshe had abandoned the car to run without being traced by it.

Paige and Christopher got out ofthe car and approached the house, making sure to draw their guns. They weren'tsure what they were going to find inside, but they needed to be prepared foranything. If Emily Chang saw them coming and she really was the ExsanguinationKiller, then there was a good chance that she would try to fight. Would shecome out with a gun raised, trying to take down both Paige and Christopher?

A part of Paige almost wished thatshe would do something like that. That she would pose a threat that could onlybe countered by lethal force. After everything Emily Chang had done, Paigewanted to end this. The part of her that was filled with anger, with fury, knewthat if Emily Chang came out with a weapon in her hands, she wouldn't hesitateto shoot right then, not even for a fraction of a second.

Paige hammered on the door."Dr. Chang! This is the FBI! Open up!"

There was no answer from inside.

Paige exchanged a worried look withChristopher. Was it possible that Dr. Chang had run after all? She tried thedoorknob but found it locked. She looked around for any signs of an alternateentrance and noticed a small back door leading to the garden.

"Let's try the back," shesaid to Christopher, gesturing towards the door.

Together, they cautiously madetheir way to the back of the house. Paige tried the handle but found it lockedas well. Suddenly, Christopher motioned for her to stop.

"Listen," he whispered.

Paige strained her ears, and that'swhen she heard it. Faint sounds coming from inside the house: footsteps,muffled voices.

"She's inside," shewhispered back.

Christopher nodded, and Paige couldsee the determination in his eyes. He was ready for anything. She was glad tohave him there backing her up.

Paige drew her gun and motioned forChristopher to do the same. Together, they stepped back from the door, bracedthemselves, and Christopher kicked it open with his full weight behind theblow.

The door splintered and flew offits hinges, and Paige and Christopher rushed inside, guns raised to meet anythreat from within.

Paige found Dr. Chang standingthere in a small kitchen, a phone in front of her. She looked as though she'dbeen pacing back and forth in front of it, but now she stood there, staring atPaige and Christopher.

Paige noticed that there was a rackof kitchen knives just to the doctor's left. Paige tensed, ready for Dr. Changto make any kind of movement toward it. She didn't know whether she wanted thedoctor to try to grab a knife or not.

"What do you think you'redoing?" Dr. Chang demanded. "Breaking into my house?"

"Keep your hands were we cansee them," Paige ordered her in a firm tone. "Don't move."

"Why didn't you answer yourdoor, Dr. Chang?" Christopher asked. "Didn't you hear us?"

"I was calling my lawyer. He'son the phone now. He will hear all about this."

Paige glanced at the phone and thenback at Dr. Chang, a suspicion growing in her mind. "Your lawyer? Why doyou need a lawyer, Dr. Chang? Are you aware of why we're here?"

Dr. Chang's eyes flicked back andforth between Paige and Christopher. "I have no idea why you'rehere."

Paige stepped closer to her."Don't lie to us, Dr. Chang. We know that you were at the crime scenewhere Haley Thornton was killed."

Dr. Chang's eyes widened in shock,and Paige could see the fear in them. Was that just the fear of being caught atlast? "I don't know what you're talking about."

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