Chapter 14 - THE HOUSE GOES DARK
Emma refused to return to the Mercer mansion.
Grant did not argue.
She stayed in a protected pediatric unit with Hannah nearby because Hannah was the only adult she trusted.
Lucy called her "Emmy" within one day.
Emma pretended to hate it.
She did not stop her.
Grant visited without bodyguards inside the room.
He sat six feet away and answered questions.
"Did Mom die?"
"Yes."
"Did you see her?"
Grant's throat tightened.
"No. I couldn't see."
"Did you think I was in the coffin?"
"Yes."
Emma looked away.
"That's messed up."
Grant almost laughed.
"Yes. It is."
Progress came in inches.
So did vision.
Voss began treatment to reduce inflammation and retrain visual processing.
Grant started distinguishing bright windows from walls.
He could sometimes track a moving hand.
Then the mansion lost power at 2:11 a.m.
Backup generators failed.
Security alarms went silent.
Grant woke immediately.
Darkness felt no different to him.
That gave him one advantage.
He knew the bedroom by memory.
Eighty-two steps to the west stair.
Seventeen to the landing.
He moved without lights while intruders used night-vision gear and assumed blindness made him helpless.
It didn't.
Grant reached the old library passage before them.
Daniel joined him from the east corridor.
"Three men inside."
"Malcolm?"
"Unknown."
They heard the study safe open.
Grant smiled without humor.
The intruders were after Caroline's tablet and the pier drives.
Copies were already with federal investigators.
The originals were bait.
Police closed the estate within minutes.
Two men surrendered.
The third escaped through the terrace.
Aaron Pike.
He had been transferred from the hospital under guard.
Somebody had helped him escape.
Then the emergency lights returned.
Grant felt a sudden white flare.
For half a second, he saw something more than light.
A human outline at the terrace door.
Tall.
Heavy shoulders.
Silver at the hair.
May you like
Grant whispered, "Malcolm."
The figure ran.
