Chapter 2 - The Voice in the Hall
Ethan replayed the clip five times.
The voice was low, but not low enough.
Sarah recognized it before he did.
Mr. Collins.
Ethan's chief of staff.
The man who controlled the mansion schedule, the security contractors, the drivers, and every visitor who passed through the gates.
Ethan called him.
No answer.
Victoria folded her arms.
"This is absurd. You can barely hear anything."
"I can hear enough," Ethan said.
"You're letting a servant poison you against me."
Sarah flinched.
Ethan looked at her.
"Take Leo upstairs."
Victoria snapped, "No."
The room went still.
Ethan turned. "What did you say?"
"I said he stays here. This is a family matter."
"He's my son."
"And in six weeks, I'll be his stepmother."
Ethan's voice dropped.
"Not if you ever put him in danger again."
Victoria stared at him as if he had struck her.
Sarah carried Leo toward the door.
He buried his face against her shoulder.
Then his little hand caught in Victoria's pearl bracelet.
The clasp broke.
Pearls scattered across the rug.
Something else fell with them.
A tiny silver keycard.
Sarah bent down first.
Printed on it were three words:
MERCER FAMILY ARCHIVE.
Victoria lunged.
"Give me that."
Sarah stepped back.
Ethan took the card.
"Why do you have access to the archive?"
Victoria's face changed. "You gave it to me."
"No, I didn't."
"Then Collins did."
Ethan stared.
That was the wrong answer.
Ethan pressed the intercom.
"Security to the drawing room."
No response.
He pressed again.
Nothing.
Sarah looked toward the camera.
The green light had gone out.
Then every light in the mansion flickered.
A deep electronic click came from the walls.
The security system had just been shut down.
Ethan pulled Leo into his own arms.
"Sarah, stay with me."
From the front drive came the roar of an engine.
They reached the window in time to see a black sedan racing away.
Victoria whispered, "That's Collins."
Ethan turned toward her.
"How do you know his car?"
She froze.
Then a soft alarm began sounding below them.
May you like
Not from the front door.
From the Mercer Family Archive.
