Chapter 3 - The Shattered Glass
The cold night air blew harshly through the shattered kitchen window, sending a violent shiver down my spine.
I stared at the threatening note in my hands, connecting the terrifying dots of my current nightmare.
My former boss had fired me after I uncovered a massive corporate fraud scheme during my time as the compliance director.
I thought my hefty severance package was a peace offering to keep me entirely silent.
I now understood that they never intended to let me walk away with their dark secrets.
My father and brother had clearly been bribed to completely ruin my life and reclaim this property.
I peeked through the broken window and saw Ryan standing near the edge of the woods with a smug grin.
I grabbed my cell phone and immediately called the police dispatcher to report the violent vandalism.
The same two officers arrived twenty minutes later, shining their bright flashlights across the broken glass on the porch.
They found Ryan sitting aggressively on the tailgate of the moving truck, pretending to be completely innocent.
I showed the officers the rock and the terrifying note written in bold red ink.
The taller officer finally lost his patience and placed Ryan in heavy steel handcuffs for destruction of private property.
Megan screamed hysterically, threatening to destroy my life as the police shoved her husband into the cruiser.
My father did not yell or try to stop the officers from taking his golden son to the local jail.
He simply walked up to the broken window and leaned his face close to the jagged glass.
He whispered that I was making a huge mistake by challenging people who possessed endless wealth and power.
He promised to release fabricated evidence to the federal government proving that I was the actual mastermind behind the corporate fraud.
My father then turned around and drove his luxury sedan down the dark driveway to bail Ryan out of jail.
Megan threw her kids into her own car and sped away, leaving the property completely deserted.
I boarded up the broken window with a thick piece of cardboard and a roll of heavy duct tape.
I finally allowed myself to breathe, believing that I had survived the worst part of the night.
I walked into the living room and flipped the light switch to illuminate the dark hallway.
Nothing happened.
I tried the kitchen lights, but the entire house remained completely consumed by total darkness.
I checked my cell phone to call the power company, but the screen showed absolute zero signal bars.
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Someone had cut the main power line and activated a strong signal jammer to isolate me completely.
I heard the distinct, terrifying sound of heavy boots slowly walking across the wooden deck in the backyard.
