Chapter 12 - THE FIRE
William moved faster than anyone expected.
He grabbed a lighter from his pocket.
“No.”
“You think I built an empire without exits?”
Flame raced across the floor.
Claire turned the valve.
“Manual lock!”
Vanessa pointed toward the emergency wheel.
Ethan shoved Sophie into Claire’s arms and ran to it.
The wheel would not move.
Smoke rolled across the ceiling.
William disappeared through a side door.
“Dad!” Ethan shouted.
Vanessa tried to stand and fell.
“Put me down.”
“No.”
“I can’t run.”
“Then I carry you.”
Claire kicked open the service stairwell.
Behind them, the basement exploded.
The blast threw Ethan into the wall.
“Ethan!”
They reached the first floor as smoke poured through the vents.
The security shutters were still down.
Claire pointed toward the garage.
“Manual door.”
Ethan pulled the release.
The garage door lifted six inches.
Claire crawled under with Sophie.
Ethan pushed Vanessa through.
Then another explosion shook the house.
“DAD!”
He heard Sophie screaming outside.
He dropped to his knees.
The garage release cable was twisted.
Then a figure appeared through the smoke.
Graham.
“You’re alive.”
Graham laughed painfully.
“Unfortunately.”
He limped toward the release.
They collapsed on the driveway as the west side of the Malibu house burst into flames.
Sirens sounded in the distance.
“Where’s my father?”
“Tunnel.”
“What tunnel?”
“Runs from basement to the old guesthouse.”
Graham grabbed his ankle.
“Don’t.”
“He has evidence.”
“He has a boat.”
Ethan looked toward the dark ocean.
May you like
Behind the burning house, an engine started.
“He’s getting away.”
