Chapter 4 - The House of Secrets
We didn't go back to the club. We went to Lauren’s mansion, a sprawling estate that looked like a fortress. The police were already swarming the perimeter, but I knew, with a mother’s intuition, that Silas wouldn't be coming through the front door.
I went inside with Detective Miller, my focus locked on the master bedroom. The painting of the vineyard was pushed aside, revealing a heavy steel safe. I punched in Sophie’s birthday. The door hissed open.
Inside, there was no gold. There were only stacks of passports, hard drives, and a ledger. I flipped through the ledger and found my name. Next to it was a photograph of Noah—not at the pool, but taken through the window of his preschool.
"She’s been stalking him for years," I whispered.
"Look at the last entry," Miller said, pointing to a name in red ink. It was an offshore account, and the current balance was $20 million. It wasn't just insurance money. It was a ransom for the entire neighborhood.
Suddenly, the lights in the house flickered and died. A shadow moved in the hallway—not a cop, not a guard. A man in a dark tactical vest moved with the silence of a predator.
"Stay behind me," Miller warned, raising his weapon.
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"No," I said, a dangerous calm washing over me. "This is my son's house now. I'm going to face him."
I didn't wait for Miller. I grabbed a heavy brass statue from the mantle and moved into the hallway. I knew this house better than Silas did; I’d spent enough time in the kitchen playing bridge with Lauren. I knew where the floorboards creaked. I knew where the vents opened. I was the one who was going to be the trap this time.
