Chapter 7 - THE MEN AT THE GATE

The SUVs weren't police.

That was the first problem.

The second was that Nathan recognized the man stepping out of the lead vehicle.

"Graham Hale," he said.

Vanessa's older brother.

Graham ran Vale Meridian, the biotech competitor set to receive Nathan's patents after the merger. He had spent years smiling beside Nathan at charity dinners while trying to buy pieces of his company through shell funds.

Now he walked into the mansion with six private security contractors.

Mark whispered, "I called 911."

Nathan looked toward the storm outside. "And?"

"Dispatch says a tree took down the road. County units are delayed."

Convenient.

Very convenient.

The front doors opened.

Graham entered like he owned the place.

"Nathan."

"Graham."

"Vanessa said there was an emergency."

"She tried to shoot my employee."

Graham glanced at me. "Then perhaps your employee should leave."

"My daughter is here."

His gaze shifted to Sophia, peeking from behind Mrs. Alvarez at the pantry doorway.

For the first time, Graham lost his smile.

He knew who she was.

Sophia knew him too.

She signed urgently.

CAR MAN.

I knelt beside her. "What car?"

She pointed to Graham.

CAR. NIGHT. VANESSA. BOX.

I felt Nathan beside me tense.

"When did she see that?" he asked.

"Apparently more than once."

Graham's men began moving through the room.

Nathan stepped in front of us. "Nobody comes closer."

Graham raised both hands. "Relax. We're here to help."

"No. You're here because your sister's plan is collapsing."

Silence.

Graham's face emptied.

That was answer enough.

He gave a tiny nod.

His men drew weapons.

Mark hit the main light switch.

Darkness.

Mrs. Alvarez grabbed Sophia. I grabbed Dr. Price. Nathan shouted, "Basement!"

We ran through the service corridor while gunfire cracked behind us.

Sophia never heard the shots.

She felt them through the floor.

At the basement door, she stopped so suddenly Mrs. Alvarez nearly fell over her.

Sophia pointed down the stairwell.

A red light blinked below.

Camera.

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Then she pointed to the wall and signed one word.

BOMB.