BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.<\/i><\/p>\n
A mechanical, automated voice echoed through the house:\u00a0\u201cFront door opened. Guest access code activated.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
Bruno froze, his grip on my wrist loosening just a fraction. \u201cWhat the hell? Who is that? Did you invite someone over?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I whispered, ripping my hand out of his grip, dropping the pen.<\/p>\n
Heavy, frantic footsteps began racing up the stairs. But it wasn\u2019t the sound of one person. It sounded like a stampede.<\/p>\n
Before Bruno could stand up from his chair, the office door was violently thrown open.<\/p>\n
Standing in the doorway was Chloe Vance. Her hair was completely disheveled, her expensive makeup smeared across her pale face, and she was clutching a designer handbag to her chest as if it were a shield. She was trembling violently, her eyes wide with sheer, unadulterated terror.<\/p>\n
\u201cBruno!\u201d Chloe shrieked, her voice cracking into a panicked sob. \u201cBruno, we have to go! We have to leave right now!\u201d<\/p>\n
Bruno stood up, his confusion turning into anger. \u201cChloe? What the hell are you doing here?! I told you never to come to the house! Arthur is here, we\u2019re in the middle of\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t care about the paper!\u201d Chloe screamed, stepping into the room and grabbing Bruno\u2019s lapels. \u201cThe police just raided the corporate office! They have everything, Bruno! They have the offshore accounts, the forged medical records, the dummy trust files\u2014all of it!\u201d<\/p>\n
Bruno turned pale, his jaw dropping. \u201cWhat? That\u2019s impossible! Who could have given them access to the secure server? Only you and I have the keys!\u201d<\/p>\n
Chloe slowly turned her head, her tear-filled, venomous eyes locking onto me. She raised a trembling finger, pointing it directly at my face.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer,\u201d Chloe whispered, her voice shaking with an ancient rage. \u201cThe cleaning lady. She didn\u2019t just clean your office, Bruno. She\u2019s been using your administrative login for the last three weeks from the smart-vacuum\u2019s embedded Wi-Fi router. The feds aren\u2019t just coming for the money, Bruno\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Chloe swallowed hard, a cold sweat breaking out across her forehead as she looked toward the open window.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey brought a forensics team. They\u2019re digging up the backyard right now. They found your first wife.\u201d<\/p>\n