Chapter 13 - INSIDE THE GATES
Tomas locked down the house.
Santiago stood in Sophia’s doorway, staring at the angle shown in the photograph.
Someone had been inside.
Not seven years ago.
Today.
The security team checked access logs while investigators reviewed the message.
Staff gathered in the kitchen, frightened and offended.
Mrs. Delaney put both hands on the table.
“Ask me anything.”
They did.
By evening, the logs showed a maintenance entrance had been opened with a staff credential while the house’s owner was away.
The credential belonged to Paul Mercer, the overnight supervisor.
He had worked for Vincent before Santiago hired him.
His locker was empty.
His phone went straight to voicemail.
“Where’s Sophia?” Santiago asked.
“In the sunroom with Ruby,” Tomas said.
Santiago crossed the hall so quickly he nearly struck the doorframe.
Sophia looked up from her tablet.
He stopped.
She saw his face and began typing.
“Tell me.”
He told her about the photograph.
Ruby stood.
“We should move her.”
Sophia shook her head sharply.
Then typed.
“Stop moving me before asking.”
Ruby closed her eyes for a moment.
“You’re right. I’m sorry.”
They discussed options.
Sophia chose a hotel Nora could arrange, with security she had met and approved.
She packed herself.
At the bedroom door, she paused and retrieved the green sketchbook.
Downstairs, Ruby went to the laundry room for Sophia’s sweater.
Mercer stepped out from behind the open utility door.
Ruby froze.
He held a ring of keys in one hand.
“Where’s the book?”
She backed toward the hallway.
“I don’t know.”
He caught her arm.
“Vincent isn’t asking again.”
Ruby struck the wall switch with her free hand, flooding the room with light.
Then she shouted.
“Tom!”
Mercer shoved past her toward the rear exit.
Tomas reached the corridor as the door slammed.
He stayed with Ruby and radioed the gate.
Nobody chased blindly into the dark.
Police caught Mercer near the service road minutes later.
Ruby sat on the laundry-room floor, trembling so hard she couldn’t hold the water Mrs. Delaney brought.
Sophia knelt beside her.
She set the tablet down.
“I’m here.”
Santiago stood in the doorway while officers secured the house.
One detective approached him.
“Mercer had a message waiting on his phone.”
“From Vincent?”
“We’re checking.”
“What did it say?”
May you like
The detective glanced toward Sophia.
“Bring the girl if you can’t find the copy.”
