Chapter 6: The Quick Escape
The brass knob turned with a slow, agonizing click, the latch sliding back within the mortise lock. My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird. Without thinking, I hurled myself across the braided rug, sliding on my knees before scrambling upright. I tucked Arthur’s second smartphone deep into the front pocket of my cargo shorts, the heavy metal casing pressing against my thigh.
The door swung open, casting a narrow wedge of hallway light across the Persian carpet. Marcus stood in the threshold, his tall frame blocking the escape route, a polite, unsettling smile plastered across his clean-shaven face. His eyes darted around the dim room, taking in the rumpled bed, the open textbook on the oak desk, and finally resting on me standing by the window.
"You're a hard boy to wake, Leo," Marcus said, stepping fully into the bedroom. The scent of expensive cologne and damp autumn air drifted off his tailored wool jacket. "Your uncle wants those school forms signed tonight. We can't have your education falling behind just because of the family transition."
"I was just listening to music," I said, my voice cracking slightly. I cleared my throat, forcing my hands deep into my pockets to hide their trembling. "I didn't hear you knocking."
Marcus took another slow step forward, his gaze locking onto my face. He studied my eyes, searching for panic, for any sign that I knew about the four million dollars or the audio files sitting in my pocket. "You look pale, son. Are you feeling all right? This house has ghosts, I know. It can get to a boy of your age."
"I'm fine," I muttered, taking a deliberate step backward until my lower back pressed against the cold glass of the windowpane. "Just tired."
Marcus nodded slowly, though his eyes remained sharp and evaluating. He didn't believe me, not completely. "Right. Well, leave the door unlocked from now on, Leo. We like an open house here. No secrets, no locked doors. Bring the forms down to the study in ten minutes."
May you like
He turned on his heel and walked out, pulling the heavy oak door shut behind him. The click of the latch sounded like a gunshot in the silent room. I let out a long, shaky breath I didn't know I was holding, my knees finally buckling as I slid down the wall until I sat flat on the floor. I pulled out the phone, checking the screen. It was still on.
I knew then that I couldn't stay in this room much longer. Marcus and Richard were closing the net. If I wanted to save my mother and expose the embezzlement, I had to get out of the estate tonight, find a way downtown, and reach that bank vault before Friday's probate deadline.
