Chapter 3 - THE MAN UNDER THE DESK
Nathan pulled me back before I could move closer.
The man under the desk was breathing.
Barely.
His name was Dr. Elliot Price-Nathan's private neurologist.
His face was gray, one sleeve torn, a bruise rising over his temple. An empty syringe lay beside his hand.
Nathan dropped to his knees. "Elliot. Can you hear me?"
The doctor's eyes fluttered open.
He looked at Nathan, then at me, then at Sophia.
His lips formed one word.
"Run."
Footsteps thundered in the hall.
Nathan spun around.
It was Daniel Cross, head of household security, carrying a pistol.
"Sir, step away from him."
"Where's Vanessa?" Nathan demanded.
"Unknown."
"Then why is my doctor half-dead in her office?"
Cross's expression didn't change. "I need everyone downstairs. Now."
Sophia stared at Cross's jacket. Then she signed to me without looking away.
SAME MAN.
My skin prickled.
SAME MAN WHAT?
She touched her neck, then made a sleeping gesture.
I didn't understand.
Cross did.
His eyes flicked to her hands.
Just once.
But I saw it.
He understood sign language.
I stepped between him and Sophia.
Nathan noticed the movement. "What is it?"
"Cross understood her."
Cross's face hardened. "That's ridiculous."
I signed directly at him.
YOU UNDERSTAND ME?
His eyes tracked my hands before he caught himself.
Nathan moved fast. He grabbed Cross's gun wrist and slammed it against the doorframe. The pistol hit the carpet.
Cross drove an elbow into Nathan's ribs and ran.
I kicked the gun beneath the desk.
Dr. Price grabbed Nathan's sleeve.
"Your hearing..." he rasped. "Not disease. Drug. Repeated exposure. I tried to tell you."
Nathan bent closer. "What drug?"
"Vanessa... brought the samples. Cross changed the lab reports."
A crash came from downstairs.
Then one of the guests screamed.
The house intercom crackled alive.
May you like
Vanessa's voice filled every room.
"Maya, if you want your daughter to leave this house alive, bring me the insurance papers."
