Chapter 4 - THE SHOT IN THE HALLWAY
Marcus moved first.
“Stay here.”
Victor followed anyway.
Another bang came from downstairs.
Then someone screamed.
Victor ran toward the main staircase.
A security guard lay near the front entrance clutching his shoulder.
The doors were open.
Rain blew into the foyer.
“Who did this?” Marcus shouted.
The guard grimaced.
“Man in black.”
“Face?”
“Couldn’t see.”
Victor looked toward the driveway.
A black SUV disappeared behind the iron gates.
“How did that vehicle get out?”
Marcus grabbed his radio.
“Gate team, respond.”
Nothing.
“Gate team?”
Static.
Victor’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
“Victor.”
A familiar voice replied.
“Your security system has more holes than your family history.”
Victor stopped.
“Damian.”
Silence surrounded him.
His brother laughed softly.
“Been a long time.”
“You fired at my guard?”
“No.”
“Someone just attacked my house.”
“And you still think I’m the enemy.”
Victor clenched the phone.
“You’ve been meeting my son behind my back.”
“Because he asked for help.”
“He is eight years old.”
“And apparently smarter than you.”
Victor’s face hardened.
“Stay away from my children.”
Damian’s voice changed.
“Victor, listen carefully.”
“You have maybe an hour before Serena realizes what’s missing from that folder.”
Victor turned toward the upstairs office.
“What are you talking about?”
“There should be a flash drive.”
Victor looked inside the folder.
No flash drive.
“Where is it?”
“I gave it to Martha.”
Victor looked toward the old housemaid.
Martha’s face drained of color.
Damian continued.
“If Serena gets that drive, you lose everything.”
“What’s on it?”
“The reason she entered your life.”
The call ended.
Victor looked at Martha.
“Where is the drive?”
Martha whispered, “In my room.”
Serena appeared on the staircase.
“What drive?”
Everyone looked up.
Victor saw something in her expression.
Recognition.
“Martha.”
The old woman backed away.
Serena smiled.
“I think we’re done pretending.”
Victor’s blood ran cold.
“You know about it.”
Serena descended one step at a time.
“Of course I do.”
Marcus positioned himself beside Victor.
Serena ignored him.
“Your father recorded everything.”
“Business meetings.”
“Private conversations.”
“Confessions.”
Victor asked, “Including yours?”
Serena’s jaw tightened.
Victor understood.
“Yes.”
She turned toward Martha.
“Give it to him.”
Martha shook her head.
“No.”
Serena laughed.
“Still loyal to dead people.”
Victor said, “Marcus, take Martha upstairs.”
Marcus started moving.
Then the lights died.
The mansion went black.
Sophie began screaming somewhere above them.
Victor shouted, “Nora!”
A crash came from the east wing.
Then Nora screamed.
“MR. BLACKWOOD!”
Victor ran toward the stairs in darkness.
Emergency lights flickered on.
Red lamps washed the hallway.
He reached the nursery.
The crib was empty.
Nora lay on the floor holding the side of her head.
Victor stared at the empty mattress.
“Where is Sophie?”
Nora sobbed.
“She took her.”
“Who?”
Nora pointed toward the back stairs.
“Serena.”
Victor’s entire body turned cold.
He ran.
“SERENA!”
Rain hammered the rear terrace.
A car engine roared.
Victor reached the balcony just in time to see Serena crossing the courtyard.
Baby Sophie was in her arms.
A man held an umbrella over them.
Victor froze.
The man turned.
Victor knew that face.
His father’s former attorney.
Charles Vale.
A man supposedly dead for seven years.
Victor whispered, “Impossible.”
Charles smiled across the rain.
May you like
Then he opened the car door for Serena.
And drove away with Victor’s daughter.
