Chapter 9 - The Safe House
The Brooks mansion became impossible to defend.
Too many employees.
Too many doors.
Too many people Adrian had once hired.
Daniel made a decision before midnight.
Lucas had to leave.
Natalie expected the boy to panic.
He did.
“No.”
Lucas backed away from the suitcase.
“No.”
Natalie knelt.
“We're all going.”
“Daddy?”
Daniel stood in the doorway.
“Yes.”
“Evelyn?”
Evelyn appeared behind him.
“Yes.”
Lucas looked suspicious.
“Arthur?”
Natalie held up the stuffed fox.
“Already packed.”
Lucas nodded.
“Okay.”
The safe house sat near Lake Geneva.
Small compared with the Brooks estate.
Four bedrooms.
One kitchen.
A porch.
No marble.
No servants.
No chandelier.
Lucas loved it immediately.
He helped Natalie make grilled cheese.
Daniel burned tomato soup.
Evelyn complained about the knives.
For one strange evening, they resembled an ordinary family.
Daniel sat on the porch after Lucas slept.
Natalie joined him.
“Never thought I'd see Daniel Brooks washing dishes.”
“I own restaurants.”
“That is not the same skill.”
He smiled faintly.
It disappeared.
“I signed the cooperation agreement.”
Natalie looked at him.
“When?”
“Tonight.”
“What does that mean?”
“I give them everything.”
“And they give you?”
“A recommendation.”
“For leniency?”
“Yes.”
“How much prison?”
“I don't know.”
Natalie looked toward Lucas's bedroom window.
“Does he know?”
“No.”
“You have to tell him before someone else does.”
Daniel nodded.
“I know.”
They sat in silence.
Then Daniel said quietly.
“Caroline would have liked you.”
Natalie smiled.
“You don't know that.”
“She hated people who were afraid of me.”
Natalie laughed.
Daniel looked at her.
The moment became something neither expected.
Then headlights appeared beyond the trees.
Daniel stood instantly.
Two vehicles.
Not federal agents.
Not his men.
Natalie ran inside.
“Lucas.”
She reached his bedroom.
Empty.
The window was open.
Panic slammed through her.
Then a hand touched her shoulder.
Lucas stood behind the door.
“I hid.”
Natalie nearly cried.
“Good.”
Glass shattered downstairs.
Daniel shouted.
Evelyn dragged a bookcase across the hallway entrance.
Natalie took Lucas into the bathroom.
“Get in the tub.”
He obeyed.
Gunfire sounded outside.
Lucas covered his ears.
Natalie crouched over him.
“Look at me.”
He shook.
“Look at me.”
His eyes found hers.
“Count with me.”
“One.”
A crash downstairs.
“Two.”
Footsteps.
“Three.”
Someone entered the bedroom.
Natalie froze.
Lucas gripped Arthur.
The bathroom handle moved.
Then Daniel's voice shouted outside.
A struggle followed.
Silence.
The door opened.
Daniel appeared.
Blood marked his sleeve.
Lucas screamed.
Daniel lifted both hands.
“Not mine.”
Lucas ran to him.
Daniel caught him.
Outside, federal agents arrived minutes later.
One attacker survived.
His phone contained messages from Adrian.
One message mattered most.
May you like
Bring me the boy alive.
Kill everyone else.
