Chapter 4 - THE NIGHT WE STOPPED RUNNING
The house exploded into chaos.
Glass shattered.
Someone overturned a table.
Ethan ran toward the back hallway with Samuel in his arms.
I followed.
Richard shouted, "Basement!"
We reached the basement door.
Ethan looked at him.
"Why should we trust you?"
"Because if they get that baby, we're all dead."
He opened the door.
We rushed downstairs.
The basement was dark except for a narrow emergency light.
Richard moved toward a shelf.
He pulled away several boxes.
Behind them was a steel door.
I stared.
"Since when do we have a safe room?"
"Since six years ago."
"You built a safe room and never told me?"
"I was trying to protect the family."
"No," Ethan said. "You were protecting yourself."
Richard entered a code.
The door opened.
Inside was a small room containing water, blankets, a generator, and several locked cabinets.
Ethan laid Samuel down.
I knelt beside him.
The baby began crying.
I picked him up.
"It's okay."
His tiny fingers wrapped around mine.
Richard watched us.
For a moment, he looked like the father Ethan remembered.
Then Ethan noticed something.
"That cabinet."
Richard turned.
"What?"
"Open it."
Richard hesitated.
Ethan pointed.
"The red one."
Richard unlocked it.
Inside were documents.
Passports.
Cash.
Hard drives.
And a thick file labeled VANESSA COLE.
Ethan grabbed it.
"Why do you have this?"
Richard didn't answer.
Ethan opened it.
Photographs fell out.
Vanessa.
Richard.
Several company executives.
And one photograph of Vanessa standing outside a courthouse.
She was holding a document.
"What is this?"
Richard finally spoke.
"She was going to expose me."
"Then why didn't she?"
"Because someone else found her first."
"Who?"
Richard looked toward the basement door.
"Daniel Mercer."
I frowned.
"Who is Daniel?"
"Head of security for my company."
Ethan stared at him.
"The man outside?"
Richard nodded.
"He worked for me for twelve years."
"And now?"
"Now he wants the money Vanessa discovered."
A violent crash shook the house.
The safe room door trembled.
Samuel began crying.
I held him against my chest.
Richard whispered:
"They know we're down here."
Ethan looked at the emergency exit.
"Is there another way out?"
Richard pointed toward a narrow tunnel.
"That leads to the old drainage road."
Ethan picked up the suitcase.
"Then we go."
Richard grabbed his arm.
"Wait."
Ethan pulled away.
"Don't touch me."
Richard swallowed.
"I know I don't deserve forgiveness."
"Correct."
"But I can still save you."
Ethan stared at him.
Then he nodded.
"Fine."
We entered the tunnel.
Behind us, the safe-room door finally gave way.
Men shouted.
Flashlights swept across the basement.
We ran.
The tunnel was narrow and damp.
I carried Samuel while Ethan carried the suitcase.
Richard followed.
Halfway through, we heard footsteps behind us.
"Faster!"
We reached the exit.
Cold rain struck my face.
A vehicle waited beyond the trees.
Richard ran toward it.
Daniel appeared behind us.
"Richard!"
My husband turned.
Daniel raised a gun.
Everything stopped.
Ethan stepped in front of me.
Richard stared at him.
"Get your mother to the car."
"What about you?"
Richard looked at Daniel.
"I'm ending this."
Daniel smiled.
"You've been saying that for years."
Richard stepped forward.
"I'll give you the money."
Daniel laughed.
"You don't have it anymore."
Then he revealed something that made Richard freeze.
"Because I already found the account."
Daniel looked toward Ethan.
"And the boy brought me the last piece."
Ethan's face went pale.
"The suitcase."
Daniel smiled.
"Exactly."
He pointed toward it.
"Give it to me."
Ethan tightened his grip.
"No."
Daniel raised the gun.
Richard suddenly lunged.
The gun fired.
The shot disappeared into the rain.
Richard collapsed.
I screamed.
Ethan grabbed me.
"Mom, run!"
We reached the vehicle.
I looked back.
Richard was lying on the ground.
May you like
Daniel was gone.
And for the first time, I wasn't sure whether my husband was alive.
