He was quite sure the man wanted by the police was still in the house.
He also felt sure he could talk the man into giving himself up. They could talk it over between themselves first, then they could go together to the police station where the man could make a full statement, putting himself on the path of recovery. Facing the consequences now would lead on to a much better and happier future for him. When he approached the house, he found the front door was partly open. He went in and began searching each room, carefully. In the living room, at the front of the house, he found a large machete, just lying on a table. He moved on, going from room to room. He called out a few times, but there was no response. Maybe he was wrong. The murderer may have slipped out unnoticed.
Checking through all of the rooms again he returned to the living room. His blood ran cold when he saw that the machete was no longer there. At that same moment he could just hear the front door being closed, very quietly.