Chapter 3 - The Greenhouse
Emma woke the twins before sunrise.
“We’re going on an adventure.”
Noah rubbed his eyes.
“Where?”
“Somewhere with pancakes.”
That was enough for him.
But before they reached the garage, Vincent appeared.
“Change of plan.”
Aaron was beside him.
“There’s been movement near the eastern perimeter.”
Emma immediately understood.
“Is somebody inside?”
“We don’t know,” Aaron said.
Vincent crouched before the children.
“Noah. Lily. You remember the game?”
Both nodded.
Emma didn’t.
“What game?”
Vincent looked at her.
“When I say red, they follow Aaron without asking questions.”
Emma swallowed.
“And if Aaron isn’t there?”
“They hide.”
Lily grabbed Emma’s hand.
“With Emma?”
Vincent looked at their joined hands.
“Yes.”
The security team began sweeping the property.
Two hours passed.
Nothing.
By late morning, Aaron reported the perimeter clear.
Vincent still refused to relax.
Emma found him in the hallway.
“You haven’t slept.”
“I’m fine.”
“You look terrible.”
“Thank you.”
“Was that Elias man close to your wife?”
Vincent’s eyes sharpened.
“You heard us.”
“Yes.”
“That conversation was private.”
“Your walls are apparently less secure than your gates.”
He almost smiled.
Almost.
Then his face changed.
“Elias blamed me for his brother’s death.”
“Were you responsible?”
“No.”
Emma studied him.
“You hesitated.”
“Because the real answer is complicated.”
“Try me.”
Vincent looked toward the twins.
“I made decisions that put his brother in danger.”
“And?”
“He died.”
Emma nodded slowly.
“So Elias wants you to lose what he lost.”
“My family.”
That afternoon, the twins became restless.
Emma asked permission to take them into the greenhouse.
Vincent refused.
“They’ve been trapped inside for days.”
“They’ll survive.”
“They’re five.”
“They’ll survive being bored too.”
Emma lowered her voice.
“They’re scared because everyone around them is scared.”
Vincent looked toward Noah and Lily.
Finally he called Aaron.
“Greenhouse sweep.”
Aaron checked it personally.
Clear.
Ten minutes later, Emma and the twins entered.
Autumn sunlight poured through the glass ceiling.
Lily crouched beside the koi pond.
Noah chased fallen leaves.
For the first time all day, Emma relaxed.
Inside the mansion, Vincent stood near a window watching them.
Aaron approached.
“You could go outside.”
“I have work.”
“You’re watching your nanny.”
“I’m watching my children.”
“Of course.”
Vincent ignored him.
Then something flashed above the greenhouse.
A reflection.
Metal.
Vincent’s body went rigid.
“Aaron.”
Aaron saw it too.
A man was moving along the elevated maintenance walkway.
Masked.
Vincent was already running.
“LOCK IT DOWN!”
Inside the greenhouse, Emma heard shouting.
She turned.
The first bullet shattered the glass above Lily.
Lily screamed.
Emma grabbed her.
“DOWN!”
The second shot destroyed a ceramic flowerpot.
Noah froze near the koi pond.
“Noah!”
He looked up.
The masked attacker turned toward him.
Emma saw the rifle shift.
There was no time.
She ran.
“NOAH!”
She reached him and threw herself over both children.
The impact struck her from behind.
Her breath disappeared.
The world became white.
Then red.
Then distant.
The children were screaming beneath her.
Across the greenhouse, a door crashed open.
Vincent entered.
“EMMA!”
Security rushed toward the walkway.
Vincent ignored everything except the three bodies near the pond.
He dropped beside them.
“Noah?”
“I’m okay!”
“Lily?”
She was crying.
“Daddy!”
Vincent pulled them free.
Then he saw Emma.
She wasn’t moving.
“Emma.”
He rolled her carefully.
Blood spread across her cream sweater near her shoulder.
Her eyes fluttered open.
“Kids?”
“They’re safe.”
She exhaled.
“Told you I’d keep them safe.”
Her eyes closed.
Vincent’s face changed.
“Emma?”
Nothing.
“Emma!”
Aaron reached them.
“Ambulance is coming.”
Vincent pressed his hand against Emma’s wound.
“Stay with me.”
No response.
His voice broke.
“Emma Brooks, you argue about everything. Don’t you dare stop now.”
Lily grabbed his sleeve.
“Daddy?”
Vincent looked at his daughter.
“Is Emma going to die?”
Vincent Calder had spent fifteen years making people believe he always knew the answer.
May you like
This time, he had none.
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