We moved into the kitchen because the kitchen was where frightening information seemed to arrive in our family.<\/p>\n
Carla sat at the table with both hands wrapped around a mug of coffee she never drank. She looked to be in her late thirties, maybe early forties, with tired eyes and the practical posture of someone accustomed to twelve-hour shifts. The badge clipped to her scrub top identified her as a respiratory therapist at a rehabilitation facility outside town.<\/p>\n
Bentley sat beside her.<\/p>\n
Maddie slept upstairs.<\/p>\n
Doug remained near the back door, arms folded.<\/p>\n
I put the phone beside my elbow in case Harris called.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do you know Amber?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cChurch shelter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bentley looked surprised.<\/p>\n
Carla glanced at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour mom stayed there before you moved here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bentley frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe told me we were visiting somebody.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was protecting you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carla turned toward me.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmber came through the transitional housing program where I volunteer. Travis had been tracking her for a long time. She changed jobs twice and moved three times.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWas he abusive?\u201d<\/p>\n
Carla\u2019s jaw tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
She did not decorate the word.<\/p>\n
She did not need to.<\/p>\n
Doug shifted uncomfortably.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy wasn\u2019t there a restraining order?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why wasn\u2019t he arrested?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause paperwork doesn\u2019t stand outside every door.\u201d<\/p>\n
Doug glanced away.<\/p>\n
The answer had struck close to home.<\/p>\n
Carla continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cTravis controlled all their finances when they were married. Amber didn\u2019t even have her own checking account for most of it. When she left, she discovered something she wasn\u2019t supposed to see.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe blue box?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cEventually.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carla finally lifted the coffee.<\/p>\n
\u201cTravis ran a small construction company. Roofing, concrete, renovations. Mostly cash jobs. Amber did bookkeeping when they were married.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did she discover?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cInvoices that didn\u2019t match actual jobs. Payments made to subcontractors that didn\u2019t exist. Insurance claims. Fake vendors.\u201d<\/p>\n
Doug straightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cFraud.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carla nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe never knew exactly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does that have to do with the box?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe copied records.\u201d<\/p>\n
I thought of Bentley describing it as grown-up papers.<\/p>\n
\u201cOriginals?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSome copies. Some original ledgers Travis didn\u2019t realize were missing. Bank statements. Names. Dates. A flash drive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Doug let out a low breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why he wants it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe isn\u2019t after his money,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carla\u2019s expression hardened.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s trying to keep from going to prison.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room became very quiet.<\/p>\n
Bentley stared at his hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom stole from him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Carla said immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe took proof.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that stealing?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes doing the right thing still makes dangerous people angry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bentley considered this.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn\u2019t she give it to police?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe planned to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMonths ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat stopped her?\u201d<\/p>\n
Carla looked toward me.<\/p>\n
\u201cFear.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was easy for adults standing safely around a kitchen table to criticize fear after the danger had already materialized. Amber had been raising two children while trying to disappear from a man who knew how to find her. Every official step could create a trail. Every report could reveal an address. Every person trusted with information could become another weak link.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe did speak to an investigator once,\u201d Carla added. \u201cBut she got scared before turning everything over.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFederal?\u201d Doug asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know. She never told me names.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why keep the evidence at all?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cInsurance.\u201d<\/p>\n
The word disturbed me.<\/p>\n
\u201cAgainst Travis?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. She believed that as long as the records existed somewhere, he had a reason not to hurt her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut he did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carla looked toward Bentley.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe he believed she had already handed them over.\u201d<\/p>\n
That explained Travis\u2019s desperation after the ambulance.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe moved the box before he arrived,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPeter?\u201d<\/p>\n
Carla frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeter Hall?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe helped repair Amber\u2019s car.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bentley nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere does he work?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBarton Road Auto.\u201d<\/p>\n
B and R.<\/p>\n
The shirt logo.<\/p>\n
Doug reached for his phone.<\/p>\n
I stopped him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe call Harris first.\u201d<\/p>\n
He nodded.<\/p>\n
Carla looked confused.<\/p>\n
I explained Peter\u2019s Sunday visit, the brown backpack, the envelope, and Bentley\u2019s memory of the missing box.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmber trusted Peter?\u201d<\/p>\n
Carla hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs much as she trusted anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
That was not a comforting answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWas he involved in the fraud?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Travis know him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bentley suddenly spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Peter knew Travis.\u201d<\/p>\n
All of us turned.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe called him by his name.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSunday.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou heard them talking about him?\u201d<\/p>\n
Bentley nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did Peter say?\u201d<\/p>\n
Bentley squeezed his eyes shut.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said Travis had people asking questions at the shop.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carla\u2019s face changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat else?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom said we had to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
My pulse quickened.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe planned to move again?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMonday night.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ambulance had come Monday morning.<\/p>\n
Amber had been preparing to disappear again before Travis arrived.<\/p>\n
Carla rubbed her forehead.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe never told me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe she didn\u2019t have time.\u201d<\/p>\n
My phone rang.<\/p>\n
Harris.<\/p>\n
I answered immediately.<\/p>\n
When I explained who Carla was and what she knew, he asked us not to leave.<\/p>\n
He arrived twenty-five minutes later.<\/p>\n
A second detective came with him.<\/p>\n
Carla repeated the story.<\/p>\n
Harris took notes.<\/p>\n
When she mentioned Barton Road Auto, he exchanged a look with his partner.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know the place?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know Peter Hall.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carla stiffened.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMostly petty stuff from years back. Nothing recent.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat kind of petty stuff?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReceiving stolen property. Probation violation. Charges were dismissed on one case.\u201d<\/p>\n
Doug shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Amber trusted him with evidence?\u201d<\/p>\n
Harris raised one hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t know that she did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should go to the shop,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harris\u2019s answer was immediate.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTonight?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe may have the box.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich is exactly why civilians don\u2019t go knocking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bentley looked frightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Peter wouldn\u2019t hurt anybody.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harris softened his tone.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not saying he would.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou think he took Mom\u2019s box.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we need to ask him questions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bentley looked at Carla.<\/p>\n
She touched his shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s okay.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harris asked Bentley once more about Sunday.<\/p>\n
This time Bentley remembered more.<\/p>\n
Peter had arrived shortly after dinner.<\/p>\n
Amber closed the kitchen door.<\/p>\n
Their voices stayed low.<\/p>\n
Peter left twenty minutes later carrying the brown backpack.<\/p>\n
Afterward Amber took Bentley and Maddie into the living room.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe told us to pack.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cA backpack each.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did she tell you to bring?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThree shirts. Pants. Socks. Toothbrush.\u201d<\/p>\n
Doug leaned against the counter.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe really was leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bentley nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen she got sick during the night.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you leave the backpacks packed?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are they?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt home.\u201d<\/p>\n
We crossed next door with Harris.<\/p>\n
For the first time, I entered Amber\u2019s bedroom without the chaos of an emergency distracting me.<\/p>\n
The room was sparse.<\/p>\n
A bed.<\/p>\n
A dresser.<\/p>\n
A small desk.<\/p>\n
Two framed photographs.<\/p>\n
One showed Bentley younger, missing a front tooth.<\/p>\n
The other showed Amber holding newborn Maddie against her chest.<\/p>\n
Near the closet sat three backpacks.<\/p>\n
Bentley\u2019s school bag.<\/p>\n
A pink child-sized bag.<\/p>\n
And a black duffel.<\/p>\n
Ready.<\/p>\n
Amber had been planning to flee.<\/p>\n
Harris photographed them.<\/p>\n
He opened nothing until obtaining Amber\u2019s permission by phone.<\/p>\n
Then we searched.<\/p>\n
Clothes.<\/p>\n
Toiletries.<\/p>\n
Medication.<\/p>\n
Birth certificates.<\/p>\n
Cash.<\/p>\n
Almost eight hundred dollars divided among envelopes.<\/p>\n
Doug stared at the money.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe had cash but didn\u2019t pay rent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carla turned on him.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was saving to run.\u201d<\/p>\n
Doug\u2019s face tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, you didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI said I know.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was shame in his voice now rather than defensiveness.<\/p>\n
We found another envelope containing photographs of construction invoices.<\/p>\n
Several names were circled.<\/p>\n
Harris collected it.<\/p>\n
But no blue box.<\/p>\n
No flash drive.<\/p>\n
No message for Peter.<\/p>\n
Nothing explaining exactly where Amber had hidden the evidence.<\/p>\n
Bentley sat on the edge of the bed.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe said she\u2019d come back after school.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat day?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cMonday.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then you were leaving?\u201d<\/p>\n
He nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe said we might go somewhere with mountains.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carla covered her mouth.<\/p>\n
\u201cColorado.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe had a cousin there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReal cousin?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The bitter irony was almost unbearable.<\/p>\n
Amber had a real relative far away but invented a fake aunt nearby because she had seconds to keep her children out of emergency custody.<\/p>\n
Harris received a call.<\/p>\n
He listened without speaking.<\/p>\n
His face hardened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
A pause.<\/p>\n
\u201cSecure it. Nobody touches anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
He hung up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cBarton Road Auto.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bentley stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Peter?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe shop\u2019s been broken into.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carla\u2019s hand tightened on the chair.<\/p>\n
\u201cTonight?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLooks recent.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPeter?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is he?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bentley\u2019s breathing quickened.<\/p>\n
\u201cTravis found him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t know that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harris crouched in front of him.<\/p>\n
\u201cBentley, look at me. We don\u2019t know that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut he was looking for the box.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Mr. Peter had it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bentley\u2019s eyes filled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told Mom not to trust him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carla frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause he lied.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about?\u201d<\/p>\n
Bentley looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe told Mom he didn\u2019t know Travis.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room went still.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you heard him use Travis\u2019s name,\u201d Harris said.<\/p>\n
Bentley nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen did Peter claim he didn\u2019t know him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow long before?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA few weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom showed him a picture.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf Travis?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Peter said?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said he\u2019d never seen him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harris stood slowly.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut Sunday Peter said Travis had people asking questions at the shop.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bentley nodded.<\/p>\n
That changed Peter from possible ally to unknown quantity.<\/p>\n
Carla looked shaken.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe he heard the name later.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe,\u201d Harris said.<\/p>\n
But his tone did not suggest confidence.<\/p>\n
Within minutes he and the other detective left for Barton Road Auto.<\/p>\n
Carla remained with us.<\/p>\n
Doug checked every lock twice.<\/p>\n
Nobody wanted to sleep.<\/p>\n
Around one in the morning, Amber called.<\/p>\n
Her voice sounded stronger.<\/p>\n
I told her Carla was here.<\/p>\n
She began crying with relief.<\/p>\n
\u201cPut her on.\u201d<\/p>\n
They spoke for several minutes.<\/p>\n
Then Amber asked for me again.<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss Arlene?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere\u2019s Peter?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe shop was broken into.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmber?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh no.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPeter?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe box.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo Bentley was right.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did you trust him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
That startled me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI needed Travis to think Peter had it.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes Peter actually have the box?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carla stared at me from across the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen where is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Amber took a slow breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss Arlene, I need you to listen carefully.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m listening.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPeter took the backpack on purpose. Travis had people watching.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA decoy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen the real box is still somewhere else?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
Amber began coughing.<\/p>\n
A nurse murmured nearby.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmber?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her voice returned faintly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hid it where Travis would never look.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou already have it.\u201d<\/p>\n
My stomach tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI gave it to someone he would never suspect.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Carla.<\/p>\n
She shook her head.<\/p>\n
Not her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
Amber whispered the answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cBentley.\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned.<\/p>\n
He was sitting on the floor beside the couch, listening.<\/p>\n
His eyes widened.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have any box.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amber heard him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou do, baby.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThink about your birthday.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bentley frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat birthday?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe present I told you not to open until we moved.\u201d<\/p>\n
His face changed.<\/p>\n
He ran upstairs.<\/p>\n
I followed.<\/p>\n
In my guest room sat Bentley\u2019s school backpack and several things we had carried over from next door.<\/p>\n
He grabbed a battered cardboard shoebox tucked beneath his clothes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI forgot.\u201d<\/p>\n
He set it on the bed.<\/p>\n
Inside was a model airplane kit still wrapped in plastic.<\/p>\n
He lifted it.<\/p>\n
Beneath the cardboard insert was a sealed manila envelope.<\/p>\n
Doug swore softly.<\/p>\n
I picked it up.<\/p>\n
It was heavier than paper should have been.<\/p>\n
Inside was a flash drive, photocopied bank records, photographs, and a small black notebook.<\/p>\n
Not the blue metal box.<\/p>\n
The evidence from it.<\/p>\n
Amber had separated the proof from the container.<\/p>\n
Travis had been hunting the wrong object.<\/p>\n
Bentley stared at the envelope.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom gave me this weeks ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was the point,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one looks twice at a child carrying a birthday present.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carla whispered, \u201cShe hid the evidence with the one person Travis thought knew nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
My phone rang before anyone could say more.<\/p>\n
Harris.<\/p>\n
I answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe found Peter,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs he all right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the shop.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Travis break in?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re still determining that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Something in his voice worried me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat aren\u2019t you saying?\u201d<\/p>\n
A pause.<\/p>\n
Then Harris answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeter says nobody broke into the shop.\u201d<\/p>\n
I frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you said\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe staged it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carla stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Harris exhaled.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause someone paid him to make it look like Travis was searching for the box.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re asking that now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Across the room, Bentley clutched the envelope containing his mother\u2019s evidence.<\/p>\n
Then Harris added the sentence that changed the shape of the danger once again.<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Harper, Peter says the person who paid him was Amber.\u201d<\/p>\n
We moved into the kitchen because the kitchen was where frightening information seemed to arrive in our family. Carla sat at the table with both hands wrapped around a mug … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7806,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chapter-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7812","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7812"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7812\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7852,"href":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7812\/revisions\/7852"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7806"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7812"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7812"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7812"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}