Chapter 11 - Three Seconds Before Darkness|
The storm struck the Curado estate shortly after ten that night.
Rain battered the tall windows, and lightning flashed beyond the black ocean.
The wind sounded like an enormous animal moving through the trees.
Inside the mansion, the remaining employees followed Desmond's emergency instructions.
Mrs. Alves secured the pantry and collected the medical supplies.
The cook prepared bottled water and food for the upstairs shelter.
Several guards checked the exterior doors while Vincent contacted the federal investigators.
Camila sat beside Mia's bed and tried not to imagine what Julian Voss might do next.
After the threatening call, she had immediately informed Vincent and Desmond.
Tessa arranged for local officers to check on Elena in Ror Valley and advised the hospital of the threat.
Denise confirmed that Elena was safe and had not been approached.
The information relieved Camila slightly.
But it did nothing to calm the terror she felt for Mia.
Her daughter had been threatened by a man who knew where her grandmother received treatment.
And the roads outside were now almost impossible to travel.
Vincent came to the guest suite shortly before eleven.
He held a small velvet pouch.
“This belonged to my mother,” he explained.
Camila recognized the shape inside before he opened it.
It was Vincent's half of the silver compass.
“Why are you bringing that here?”
“Julian believes the two pieces are important.”
“Are they?”
“Possibly.”
Vincent looked at the tarnished metal.
“My mother engraved something on the inner edges, but I never understood what it meant.”
Camila examined the piece without touching it.
Tiny marks had been carved along the broken side.
They resembled numbers interrupted halfway through.
“When the halves are joined, they may form a code,” Vincent continued.
“Adrien still has the other half.”
“And Julian wants the case from the cottage.”
“Yes.”
“Then why not give the authorities both things?”
“I intend to.”
Vincent held out the pouch.
“Desmond's emergency packet contains copies of the current evidence.”
He hesitated.
“If anything happens to me before he returns, give this to Tessa.”
Camila stared at him.
“You're asking me to carry something dangerous.”
“I'm asking whether you're willing to keep it for a few hours.”
“There's a difference only if my daughter stays safe.”
Vincent lowered the pouch.
“You're right.”
He turned toward the door.
But Camila stopped him.
“Leave it on the table.”
He looked back.
“I'll decide where it belongs.”
Vincent nodded.
“Fair enough.”
He placed the velvet pouch beside the lamp and left.
Mia had been listening from beneath her blanket.
“Is that the broken circle?”
Camila sat beside her.
“Yes.”
“Can we fix it?”
“Maybe someday.”
Mia hugged Bubbles.
“Sad Mr. Vincent has the other part.”
“That's right.”
The little girl thought for a moment.
“Then they have to share.”
Camila brushed the hair away from her forehead.
“Sometimes sharing isn't as easy for grown-ups.”
Mia frowned.
“That's silly.”
Camila almost laughed.
“Very silly.”
Downstairs, Desmond discovered the first sign that something was wrong.
Two security cameras along the western wall had stopped transmitting.
A guard stationed near the service entrance failed to answer his radio.
And someone had opened the lower delivery gate using a valid company access credential.
Desmond immediately contacted Vincent.
“We have a breach.”
Vincent moved toward the study.
“How many?”
“Unknown.”
“Get Camila and Mia into the upstairs shelter.”
“I'm sending someone now.”
But the guard Desmond had intended to send was already unconscious beside the service corridor.
Two men wearing the uniforms of Julian's former security contractor had entered through the loading entrance.
They moved through the lower floor, disabling cameras and cutting communication cables.
One carried a device that interfered with the estate's radios.
The other knew exactly where the emergency electrical controls were located.
Whoever planned the intrusion understood the mansion's defenses.
Camila heard the first crash from her bedroom.
It sounded like a heavy piece of furniture overturning.
Then came hurried footsteps from downstairs.
She lifted Mia from the bed.
“Put your arms around my neck.”
Mia obeyed, clutching Bubbles between them.
Camila opened the door and stepped into the hallway.
Mrs. Alves was approaching from the eastern staircase.
“Come with me,” the older woman whispered.
“The shelter is this way.”
They hurried toward the security door at the end of the corridor.
Then a loud bang echoed from the lower floor.
Mrs. Alves stopped.
A second impact followed.
Someone was trying to force open the servants' entrance.
From the opposite stairwell came an unfamiliar man's shout.
Camila turned toward the noise.
Mrs. Alves grabbed her arm.
“Don't look back.”
The elderly housekeeper pushed open a narrow service passage.
“Take Mia through here.”
“What about you?”
“I'll follow.”
Camila stepped into the passage with Mia pressed against her chest.
The little girl began crying softly.
“Mommy, Bubbles is scared.”
“I know, baby.”
The passage turned sharply behind an old storage alcove.
Camila reached for the emergency door.
It was locked.
She tried the handle again.
Nothing moved.
Behind her, Mrs. Alves called for help.
A security alarm suddenly screamed through the mansion.
It lasted exactly three seconds.
Then the lights went out.
Camila felt Mia move in her arms.
Somewhere nearby, glass shattered.
A frightened voice shouted from the hallway.
Camila crouched, trying to protect her daughter in the darkness.
But a sudden crash against the service door forced her backward.
She stumbled, striking her shoulder against the wall.
Her grip loosened for a fraction of a second.
Mia slipped down onto her feet.
“Mommy!”
“Stay here!”
A beam of light swept across the passage.
Camila heard a man's footsteps approaching from behind.
She reached for Mia.
But the little girl had already darted around the corner, away from the light and the stranger's voice.
Camila followed barefoot, calling her daughter's name.
Her heart hammered as she searched the dark corridor.
Then, somewhere near the western staircase, she heard Mia speak.
May you like
Her voice sounded frightened but unmistakably relieved.
“Sad Mr. Vincent!”
