Chapter 11 - BLACKOUT
The emergency generator failed three seconds later.
That should have been impossible.
Grant shouted, "Lock interior zones!"
Nothing responded.
The house security system was dead.
I grabbed Noah.
"Elena, with me."
She took his hand.
Mara turned on a flashlight.
A crash echoed from the east corridor.
Then another.
Someone was inside.
Grant moved toward the server room.
Mara stopped him.
"You're still a person of interest."
"Then cuff me after I restore the system."
She hesitated.
I said, "Let him work."
We moved Noah to the reinforced safe room.
He refused to enter without Elena.
"She comes too," I said.
The door started closing.
Noah suddenly pointed into the dark hall.
"Daddy."
A red laser dot moved across my chest.
Elena slammed into me.
A shot cracked through the corridor.
The bullet hit the steel door.
Mara fired toward the balcony rail.
A figure ran.
Grant restored emergency power.
Lights flashed on.
Owen Kane stood at the far end of the hall.
He was not aiming at Noah.
He was aiming at me.
He disappeared through a service door.
Grant chased him.
Mara cursed and followed.
I stayed with Noah.
That was the hardest decision of the night.
My son was shaking against my chest.
"You're staying?" he whispered.
"Yes."
His grip loosened.
Five minutes later, Grant returned alone.
Blood on his shirt.
Not his.
"He got out through the greenhouse tunnel."
"Who opened it?"
Grant looked at the access panel.
"Family authorization."
Mara checked the log.
A name appeared.
CELESTE VALE.
My mother stared at the screen.
"I didn't open anything."
Then her phone rang.
Aunt Margaret's voice came through the speaker.
May you like
"Hello, little sister."
Celeste stopped breathing.
