They knocked on the door several times. There was no answer. Then they heard a heavy thud from inside. A few seconds later, the boy’s muffled scream came from upstairs.
“Grandma, let me go!”
Mrs. Carter’s hands began to tremble. One of the officers knocked again, harder this time.
“Ma’am, open the door. Police!”
They heard hurried footsteps inside the house. Something fell to the floor, and then Lucas shouted again.
“I want to get out!”
The officers did not wait any longer. They opened the door and rushed upstairs.
The boy’s bedroom was locked from the inside. When one of the officers forced it open, the sight before them made everyone stop.
Lucas was lying on the floor. Soft protective restraints were wrapped around his wrists. Margaret was kneeling beside him, holding his shoulders with all her strength. The bedroom window was wide open.
“Step away from the child!” the officer shouted.
Margaret did not move.
“Please, don’t untie his hands.”
“Let him go now!”
The social worker tried to approach, but Margaret cried out desperately:
