Chapter 5 - THE BOY IN THE WALL
Dominic's roar shook the mansion.
“FIND MY SON!”
Every guard moved.
Doors slammed.
Weapons came out.
Security monitors flickered back to life.
Noah was gone.
Clara stood in his bedroom staring at the message.
He should have stayed silent.
Her hands shook.
Dominic grabbed the security chief.
“How does someone take my son from my house?”
Marcus didn't flinch.
“They didn't leave.”
“How do you know?”
“The gates never opened.”
Dominic looked toward the windows.
“Then Noah is still here.”
Clara forced herself to think.
The room had been searched.
Closet.
Bathroom.
Under the bed.
Nothing.
Then she noticed the elephant.
It was lying beside the wall.
Not near the doorway.
Noah had carried it everywhere.
Why leave it there?
Clara picked it up.
Something clicked behind the wall.
She froze.
“Dominic.”
He turned.
Clara pressed the wall panel.
It moved.
A narrow passage opened.
Dominic stared.
“What the hell?”
Marcus shined a flashlight inside.
Old servant tunnels.
Dominic looked furious.
“I was never told these existed.”
Mrs. Hargrove appeared behind them.
“I was.”
Everyone turned.
Dominic grabbed her.
“Where do they go?”
“Everywhere.”
“Where would Noah go?”
She hesitated.
Clara saw it.
“You know.”
Mrs. Hargrove looked at the open passage.
“There is an old nursery behind the north wing.”
Dominic released her.
They entered.
The tunnel was narrow.
Dust coated the floor.
Then Clara saw footprints.
Small bare feet.
Noah.
They followed.
The passage ended behind a wooden panel.
Dominic pushed it open.
They entered a forgotten nursery.
Moonlight came through boarded windows.
A rocking horse sat in one corner.
A faded crib stood against another wall.
“Noah?”
Nothing.
Clara heard breathing.
She looked toward an old wardrobe.
“Noah?”
A tiny voice came from inside.
“Clara.”
Dominic closed his eyes in relief.
Clara opened the wardrobe.
Noah was curled inside.
She reached toward him.
He grabbed her immediately.
Dominic crouched beside them.
“Buddy.”
Noah looked at his father.
“Man.”
Dominic froze.
“What man?”
Noah pointed toward the tunnel.
“Man took me.”
Marcus raised his weapon.
“What did he look like?”
Noah shook his head.
“Mask.”
Dominic looked toward the passage.
Someone had entered the mansion.
Or someone already inside had worn a mask.
Clara noticed something in Noah's hand.
A button.
Black.
Gold edges.
“Where did you get that?”
Noah held it out.
Dominic recognized it.
His security uniforms had identical buttons.
Marcus did too.
His expression hardened.
“One of my men.”
Dominic stood.
“Line everyone up.”
Twenty-three security employees were brought into the main hall.
One uniform was missing a button.
It belonged to Eric Dalton.
A guard who had worked for Dominic for seven years.
Eric stared at the button.
“That's not mine.”
Marcus checked his jacket.
One button was missing.
Dominic stepped closer.
“Explain.”
“It fell off last week.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
Noah appeared behind Clara.
The moment he saw Eric, he screamed.
Eric reached for his gun.
Marcus moved.
But Eric was faster.
He grabbed Clara.
A pistol pressed against her neck.
Everyone froze.
“Back up!”
Dominic's face became stone.
“You have three seconds to remove that gun from her.”
Eric laughed nervously.
“You think you're still in control?”
Dominic stepped forward.
Eric pushed the barrel harder against Clara's skin.
“I said back up!”
Dominic stopped.
Noah was crying.
Eric began moving toward the door.
“Open the gate.”
Dominic said nothing.
“OPEN IT!”
Clara felt Eric's hand shaking.
Then Noah suddenly ran forward.
“No!”
Eric turned the gun toward him.
Dominic moved.
A gunshot exploded.
Clara screamed.
Eric collapsed.
Marcus stood behind him with smoke rising from his pistol.
The bullet had struck Eric's shoulder.
Dominic kicked the weapon away.
He grabbed Eric by the throat.
“Who sent you?”
Eric laughed through the pain.
“You really don't know.”
Dominic tightened his grip.
“Name.”
Eric looked toward Noah.
Then smiled.
“Ask your brother.”
Dominic froze.
Clara stared at him.
Dominic had never mentioned a brother.
Eric laughed again.
“You thought Vincent was dead?”
Dominic's face went white.
May you like
Eric whispered.
“He's been inside your house for years.”
