Chapter 7 - MARIA COMES BACK THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR
Maria had not planned to return.
The police had.
After Richard’s call disconnected, investigators traced his location.
The Whitfield estate.
Maria told them everything.
The fake theft.
The suspicious folder.
The men at her apartment.
Detective Sarah Monroe listened without interrupting.
Then she asked, “Would you recognize the documents again?”
“Yes.”
“Would you come with us?”
Maria looked at Matteo.
“No.”
Matteo grabbed her hand.
“Mama.”
She looked down.
“Mr. Richard helped us.”
“He’s trying to.”
“Then we help him.”
Maria almost said no.
Then she remembered six years inside that house.
The hidden doors.
The service corridors.
The passages staff used that guests never noticed.
She knew that mansion better than anyone.
So she made a deal.
Matteo would remain with an officer in the kitchen.
Maria would show police a rear service entrance.
That had been the plan.
Until Matteo slipped away.
Now he stood at the bottom of the staircase.
Thomas Vale held a gun against Richard Whitfield’s back.
Maria’s heart stopped.
“Matteo.”
He ran toward her.
Thomas lifted the gun.
“Don’t move.”
Police shouted behind Maria.
Thomas grabbed Richard around the neck.
“Back up!”
Maria pulled Matteo behind her.
Richard’s eyes found hers.
“Take him and leave.”
Thomas laughed.
“How touching.”
Detective Monroe stepped forward.
“Mr. Vale, put the weapon down.”
Thomas dragged Richard backward.
“No.”
“This ends badly if you keep going.”
“It ends badly either way.”
Maria watched his hand.
Sweat.
Trembling fingers.
Thomas was scared.
Scared men made mistakes.
Diane suddenly appeared from the side corridor.
Two officers followed.
Thomas’s face twisted.
“You.”
Diane stopped.
He aimed the gun at her.
“You stupid—”
Richard slammed his head backward into Thomas’s nose.
Thomas fired.
The gunshot exploded through the hallway.
Glass shattered.
Maria screamed.
Richard fell.
Thomas ran.
“Richard!”
Maria rushed forward.
He rolled onto his back.
“I’m fine.”
Blood stained his sleeve.
The bullet had grazed his arm.
Police chased Thomas toward the garage.
Diane collapsed against the wall.
Detective Monroe handcuffed her.
She started crying.
“I didn’t know he’d do this.”
Maria stared at her.
“You knew enough.”
Diane looked up.
For the first time, Maria saw no arrogance.
Only terror.
“Maria.”
“Don’t.”
“I can explain.”
“You accused me in front of everyone.”
“I had no choice.”
Maria laughed once.
“No choice?”
“They would have ruined me.”
“You ruined me first.”
Diane looked away.
Maria’s voice shook.
“My son asked if he was bad because of what you did.”
That hit Diane.
Her face crumpled.
“I’m sorry.”
Maria leaned closer.
“No.”
“You’re scared.”
“That’s not the same thing.”
Outside, tires screamed.
Thomas had reached a car.
Police vehicles followed.
Richard stood despite the blood on his arm.
Detective Monroe stopped him.
“You need an ambulance.”
“I need my lawyer arrested.”
“He’s not getting far.”
Richard looked at Maria.
“I’m sorry.”
She stared at him.
“For what?”
“For not knowing what was happening in my own house.”
Maria said nothing.
Richard looked around the mansion.
At the staff watching from doorways.
At Diane in handcuffs.
At the shattered glass.
At Matteo clutching Maria’s coat.
Then the front doors opened.
An officer hurried inside.
“Detective.”
Monroe turned.
“What?”
“We found Vale’s car.”
“Where?”
“Abandoned three miles away.”
“And Vale?”
The officer hesitated.
“Gone.”
Then he held up a phone.
“But we found this.”
Richard recognized it.
Thomas’s second phone.
May you like
And on the screen was a message sent thirty seconds earlier.
TAKE THE BOY.
