Chapter 10 - THE HOUSE WITH TOO MANY KEYSNobody moved.
Then Marcus swore.
“The ledger was right here.”
Damian looked around.
“Who came in?”
“Rachel. You. Me. Two detectives.”
“And Vanessa?”
“Her attorney took her out ten minutes ago.”
They ran toward the front hall.
A security still appeared on Marcus's laptop.
A man wearing a county investigator's windbreaker walked into the library.
The real detective looked at the image.
“That isn't one of ours.”
Damian's face hardened.
“Owen.”
Marcus looked sick.
“He used a forged badge.”
“He walked back into my house.”
The estate suddenly felt different.
Every hallway seemed too long.
Every locked door seemed meaningless.
Elena came in holding Mia.
“What happened?”
Damian looked at her.
“The ledger is gone.”
Elena closed her eyes.
“Of course it is.”
“I need you to take Mia somewhere safe.”
“I was already going to.”
Damian hesitated.
“You're leaving?”
Elena looked at him.
“This job has been good to us.”
She paused.
“You've been good to Mia.”
Then her voice cracked.
“But my daughter was taken today because somebody thought hurting her would move you.”
Damian couldn't answer.
“When you're rich,” Elena continued, “danger comes with security teams and attorneys.”
She looked at Mia.
“When you're me, danger follows you to daycare.”
Damian lowered his eyes.
Mia stirred.
“Mr. Cross?”
“I’m here.”
“Don't be sad.”
He forced a smile.
“I’ll work on it.”
Elena carried Mia toward the door.
Something fell from Mia’s jacket.
A folded piece of black paper.
Elena opened it.
Three words were written in silver ink:
THE FIRST PROMISE.
Underneath was a six-digit number.
Caleb was still on speakerphone.
He went silent.
Damian looked at him.
“You recognize it?”
“Yes.”
“What is it?”
“My engagement date.”
Marcus entered the number into the encrypted Northstar system.
The screen unlocked.
Folders appeared.
ROSS.
CROSS.
NEXT.
Then a countdown.
16:41:00
Damian stared.
“What happens when it reaches zero?”
May you like
Rachel answered quietly.
“Whatever Vanessa planned.”
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