Chapter 4 - The Man With the Silver Watch
Nora went pale.
“Move her where?”
Helena stared at the floor.
Roman held the photo up. “Answer her.”
“I never saw that.”
For the first time, Roman believed her fear was real.
Sophie tugged his collar. “Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“Grandma’s friend takes pictures too.”
The room went still.
“What friend?” Roman asked.
“The man with the silver watch. He comes when Grandma says I’m asleep.”
Nora knelt beside her. “Did he ever hurt you?”
Sophie shook her head. “He just watches. Sometimes he opens my drawers.”
Helena snapped, “Children imagine things.”
Sophie looked at her and whispered, “I don’t.”
A metallic groan echoed through the house. The shutters began rising. Marco had disabled lockdown from somewhere else.
Roman’s phone regained signal.
He called 911, then Daniel.
“Police are coming,” Daniel said. “Don’t let anyone leave.”
Marco already had.
Minutes later, Detective Lena Brooks entered with uniformed officers. Helena immediately pointed at Roman.
“He broke into my home and attacked Marco.”
Brooks looked at the broken table, the open vault, then Sophie.
“Who feels unsafe here?”
Sophie raised one small hand.
Brooks crouched. “With whom?”
Sophie pointed at Helena.
Helena’s confidence cracked.
An officer found a black syringe case taped under a shelf. Three unlabeled vials sat inside.
Nora covered her mouth.
Brooks turned to Helena. “You want to explain this?”
Helena stayed silent.
Sophie whispered, “The silver-watch man said he’d come back Friday.”
Brooks looked at Roman. “What’s Friday?”
Nora answered.
“Sophie’s trust matures.”
“How much?” Brooks asked.
May you like
Roman swallowed.
“More than six million dollars.”
