Chapter 8 - THE BREAK-IN
Adrian called Marcus before leaving the cemetery.
Within twenty minutes, security was waiting at the house.
The photograph was recent.
Very recent.
Adrian recognized the pajamas Sophie had worn three nights earlier.
The night after he ended the engagement.
Which meant someone had been inside the house.
After Vanessa left.
Marcus examined the picture.
“This wasn’t taken through a window.”
“I know.”
“The angle is from inside your bedroom.”
“I know.”
Sophie clung to Adrian’s hand.
“Was Vanessa in our house?”
Adrian looked down.
“We’re going to find out.”
Marcus checked every lock.
No forced entry.
Then he examined the smart-home access system.
Someone had used an old contractor code at 2:13 a.m.
“Who had this?”
Marcus asked.
Adrian thought.
Then remembered.
Vanessa had hired an interior designer for the wedding renovations.
Contractors had temporary codes.
One code had never been disabled.
Marcus swore under his breath.
“We change everything tonight.”
Adrian nodded.
“Cameras in every hallway.”
“Done.”
“Motion sensors.”
“Done.”
“Private security outside.”
“Already called them.”
Sophie watched the men move around the house.
Later, Adrian found her stuffing clothes into a backpack.
“What are you doing?”
“Packing.”
“For what?”
“In case we have to run.”
The words crushed him.
He sat beside her.
“We’re not running.”
“But Vanessa knows how to get inside.”
“Not anymore.”
“What if she finds another way?”
Adrian looked at his daughter.
She was eight years old and planning an escape route from her own home.
That night, he moved her mattress into his room.
Neither of them slept much.
At 1:47 a.m., Adrian’s phone rang.
Marcus.
“Security caught movement near the east fence.”
Adrian sat up.
“Who?”
“We don’t know.”
“Police?”
“On the way.”
Then an alarm went off downstairs.
Sophie bolted upright.
“Daddy!”
Adrian grabbed her.
“It’s okay.”
Glass shattered.
Not downstairs.
In the hallway.
Adrian pushed Sophie behind him and locked the bedroom door.
“Call 911.”
His voice was low and controlled.
He opened the drawer beside his bed and grabbed the legal firearm he kept secured there.
Footsteps.
Outside.
Slow.
Then a voice.
Male.
“Adrian.”
Sophie covered her mouth.
The doorknob moved.
“Adrian, we need to talk.”
Adrian recognized nothing about the voice.
“Police are coming.”
The man laughed softly.
“You really think this is about Vanessa?”
Adrian’s heart hammered.
“Who are you?”
A pause.
Then the man answered.
May you like
“Her brother.”
Lucas Cole had come to the house himself.
