Chapter 3 - The House Went Dark
Ethan screamed when the lights died.
Clara moved before anyone else.
“Victor, keep him still.”
The emergency lights failed too.
That was wrong.
Marcus cursed under his breath and drew a flashlight. Two guards moved to the doors.
“Backup generator should have kicked in,” he said.
Somewhere upstairs, glass shattered.
Serena said, “What was that?”
Then she ran.
“Stop her!” Victor shouted.
A guard chased her toward the east hall.
Clara heard a soft scrape near the television cabinet.
“Marcus—someone’s at the tablet.”
A figure moved in the darkness.
Marcus lunged. Furniture crashed. The tablet hit the floor but did not break.
Three seconds later the emergency power came on.
Daniel Kline stood beside the cabinet with one hand raised.
“I was trying to save the file,” he said quickly.
Marcus stared at him. “Why were you touching my tablet?”
Daniel’s face tightened. “Because somebody was obviously trying to destroy the evidence.”
Victor looked toward the east hall.
“Where is Serena?”
The guard returned alone.
“Gone from the corridor. Her bedroom window is open.”
Victor’s expression turned cold.
“Find her.”
Dr. Cole stepped closer. “Victor, your son needs a hospital now.”
Victor looked down at Ethan. The boy’s eyelids were heavy.
Too heavy.
Clara saw it too.
“Doctor,” she said, “he wasn’t this sleepy ten minutes ago.”
Cole checked Ethan’s pupils.
“What medication has he had today?”
Clara answered, “Just his vitamin drops at breakfast.”
Serena’s voice came from the top of the stairs.
“And his afternoon calming syrup.”
Everyone looked up.
She stood there with her hands empty, breathing hard.
Clara rose slowly despite the pain in her abdomen.
“What calming syrup?”
Serena shrugged. “The one his pediatrician prescribed.”
Dr. Cole’s face changed.
“I am his pediatrician.”
Silence.
“I never prescribed a calming syrup.”
Victor looked at Serena.
May you like
Then Clara remembered the small amber bottle she had seen Serena place behind the nursery books three days earlier.
She whispered, “I know where it is.”
