Chapter 9 - THE WOMAN WHO RAN
The alarm spread through Blackwood Mansion in seconds.
Dominic heard Marcus swear for the first time in years.
“She got out through the west garden.”
“How?”
“Window.”
“Security?”
“Two guards were diverted.”
“By whom?”
Marcus looked at his phone.
“A false fire alert in the garage.”
Dominic’s expression darkened.
“Inside help again.”
“Yes.”
Detective Collins entered the archive.
“She had a cutting blade hidden in her bracelet.”
Dominic looked at her.
“You searched her.”
“We searched her bag and pockets.”
“She was wearing jewelry.”
Collins’ jaw tightened.
“That’s on us.”
Dominic turned away.
Marcus’s radio crackled.
“Vehicle leaving west service road.”
“What vehicle?”
“Gray sedan.”
“Plate?”
“Covered.”
Dominic immediately headed upstairs.
Marcus followed.
Collins called out.
“Where are you going?”
“To find her.”
“You’re not law enforcement.”
Dominic kept walking.
“No.”
“That was not permission.”
He opened the garage door.
Rain had started again.
Marcus climbed into the passenger seat of a black SUV.
Dominic drove.
The gates opened.
Thirty seconds later they were on the road.
Marcus tracked the sedan through traffic cameras.
“Two miles ahead.”
Dominic accelerated.
“Eastbound.”
“Where?”
“Industrial district.”
Dominic’s grip tightened on the wheel.
“That’s near the river.”
Marcus looked at him.
“The partial trace on Lily’s call.”
“Yes.”
Neither said anything else.
The gray sedan turned into an abandoned warehouse district.
Dominic followed from a distance.
Marcus killed the interior lights.
“Slow down.”
Dominic did.
The sedan disappeared behind a row of old shipping buildings.
Marcus checked the tablet.
“No traffic cameras past this point.”
“Of course.”
They stopped near a collapsed loading dock.
Dominic reached beneath the seat and removed a handgun.
Marcus looked at him.
“We should wait for the team.”
“No.”
“Dominic.”
“They have Lily.”
“They may have twenty men.”
“Then bring twenty-one.”
Marcus stared at him.
Dominic opened the door.
Marcus swore quietly and followed.
They moved between rusted containers.
Rain hit the metal roofs.
A single light burned ahead.
The gray sedan was parked outside an old shipping office.
Dominic approached from the side.
Voices came from inside.
Serena.
And a man.
Dominic signaled Marcus.
They split.
Dominic reached a broken window.
He looked inside.
Serena stood near a table.
Her hair was wet.
Her face was pale.
A man in a dark coat stood across from her.
Not Victor.
Younger.
Late forties.
Sharp features.
Gray eyes.
Dominic recognized him immediately.
Not personally.
From photographs.
Julian Vale.
The man Serena had named.
Julian slapped her.
Serena stumbled.
Dominic’s expression changed.
Julian grabbed her by the throat.
“You were supposed to stay inside.”
“They found the agreement.”
“You were supposed to destroy it.”
“I couldn’t.”
“You failed.”
“I did everything you asked.”
“Not everything.”
Serena’s voice shook.
“I hurt the baby.”
Dominic’s jaw clenched.
Julian leaned closer.
“You were supposed to make it look accidental.”
Serena’s face crumpled.
“I panicked.”
Julian released her.
Dominic’s eyes went cold.
There it was.
Confession.
Clear.
Complete.
Marcus was recording from the other side.
Julian turned away.
Serena rubbed her throat.
“What happens now?”
“You disappear.”
Serena froze.
“What?”
Julian drew a gun.
Dominic moved before he could think.
The window shattered.
Julian spun.
Dominic fired into the ceiling.
“Drop it.”
Julian froze.
Marcus entered through the side door.
Gun raised.
Serena screamed and fell behind the table.
Julian looked at Dominic.
Then smiled.
“There he is.”
Dominic kept the gun steady.
“Where’s Lily?”
Julian laughed.
“You really care about the nanny.”
Dominic took a step.
“Where is she?”
“You don’t understand what she is.”
“I know exactly what she is.”
Julian’s smile faded.
“So Victor told you.”
Dominic’s eyes narrowed.
“Is Victor here?”
Julian said nothing.
Dominic took another step.
“Answer me.”
Julian smiled again.
“You’re too late.”
Marcus moved toward him.
Julian suddenly dropped his weapon.
Marcus kicked it away.
Serena stood slowly.
“Dominic.”
He looked at her.
For the first time, she seemed genuinely terrified.
“Please.”
Dominic’s eyes were empty.
“You hurt my son.”
“I know.”
“You lied.”
“Yes.”
“You helped them reach my house.”
“I know.”
“You threatened Lily.”
Serena began crying.
“I know.”
Dominic said nothing.
She stepped toward him.
“I can help you.”
“How?”
“I know where Victor keeps records.”
Julian looked at her sharply.
“Shut up.”
Serena turned toward Dominic.
“There’s a second property.”
“Where?”
“North Ridge.”
Julian moved.
Marcus slammed him against the wall.
Serena continued.
“Old Blackwood land.”
Dominic knew it.
A hunting estate.
Abandoned for decades.
“Is Lily there?”
Serena nodded.
“I think so.”
Julian laughed.
“You think he’ll save you?”
Serena looked at Dominic.
“Will you?”
Dominic stared at her.
“No.”
Her face fell.
“But if you help me find Lily, you may live long enough to tell a jury everything.”
Julian laughed again.
Then something beeped.
Marcus looked down.
A red light flashed beneath the table.
His face changed.
“Bomb.”
Dominic grabbed Serena.
Marcus shoved Julian toward the door.
They ran.
The explosion hit before they reached the parking lot.
Glass blew outward.
Heat tore through the rain.
Dominic hit the ground.
Serena screamed.
Marcus rolled behind the SUV.
Julian disappeared in the smoke.
Dominic pushed himself up.
“Marcus!”
“I’m good!”
“Serena?”
A weak voice answered.
“Here.”
Dominic turned.
She was bleeding from the forehead.
Alive.
Then he saw the warehouse.
Flames climbed through the roof.
Julian was gone.
Dominic looked toward the tree line.
A vehicle engine roared.
Marcus raised his weapon.
Too late.
Headlights vanished between the trees.
Serena grabbed Dominic’s sleeve.
“He’ll go to North Ridge.”
Dominic looked down at her.
“Who?”
“Julian.”
She coughed.
“And Victor.”
Dominic leaned closer.
“What’s at North Ridge?”
May you like
Serena’s face turned pale.
“The room where they kept Evelyn.”
