Chapter 5 - The Locked Door
Julian shoved Marcus off and sprinted up the grand staircase.
His heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird.
He reached the hallway and saw the door to Elena’s room was wide open.
Maria, the housekeeper, was lying motionless on the plush carpet.
“Maria!” Julian cried, dropping to his knees to check her pulse.
She was breathing, but there was a nasty bruise forming on her forehead.
Julian rushed into the bedroom, but it was completely empty.
The window was wide open, and the cold night wind blew the curtains around like ghosts.
Elena was gone.
Julian ran to the window and looked down into the dark gardens.
He saw a black SUV speeding away down the long gravel driveway.
Vanessa and Marcus had somehow planned for someone else to be waiting outside.
He heard footsteps behind him and turned to see Vanessa standing in the doorway.
She had recovered her gun and was pointing it right at him.
“You shouldn’t have left me downstairs, Julian,” she mocked.
“Who was in that car?” Julian roared, not caring about the weapon anymore.
“Insurance,” Vanessa replied coldly.
“You have exactly twenty-four hours to transfer the funds, or you will never see your brat again.”
She tossed a burner phone onto the bed.
“Wait for my call, and do not contact the police.”
Vanessa backed out of the room and quickly ran down the stairs.
Julian heard the front door slam shut, leaving him entirely alone in the quiet house.
He picked up the burner phone, his mind racing for a solution.
Suddenly, his own cell phone buzzed in his pocket with a text message.
May you like
It was from an unknown number.
The message read: "I have her, but I am not on their side."
