The officers carefully began to remove the pristine laminate boards, gingerly lifting each piece to preserve the flooring for reinstallation. The mother, initially skeptical, watched in growing concern as they worked. The girl, gripping her teddy bear as if it were her only lifeline, stood wide-eyed, a strange mix of anxiety and certainty etched onto her young face.
As the officers peeled back layers, dust and age lingering in the air, they reached an older, wooden subfloor. A musty smell began to waft upwards, filling the room with an unsettling aura. The team exchanged glances, a silent communication of unease. They continued, using a crowbar to pry open the aged boards.
