Chapter 2 - The Uninvited Guest
Without my passport, the backup plan to take the children to my sister's house in Toronto was entirely ruined.
Grant knew I was a risk analyst.
He knew I would have multiple contingency plans, and he had systematically dismantled my best one.
"He's smarter than we thought," Natalie muttered, pacing the hardwood floor of the safehouse.
"He anticipated you making a move, just not the financial freeze."
"We need to get you a new passport, but it takes time we don't have."
I sat on the edge of the sofa, watching Lily and Owen coloring quietly in the corner.
They were so incredibly brave, completely unaware that their father was treating them like pawns in a chess game.
"What do we do now?" I asked, feeling the familiar grip of panic tightening my chest.
"We wait for the forensic accountant to finish tracing the rejected wire transfer," Natalie said firmly.
"If we can prove he was funneling money to a shell company, the FBI takes over."
"Until then, we stay locked down."
The sudden, sharp knock on the apartment door made all three of us jump.
Natalie instantly held up a finger, signaling me to stay perfectly still.
She crept toward the peephole, her hand instinctively reaching into her purse.
I held my breath, pulling the children close to my side.
Natalie looked through the glass lens and frowned in utter confusion.
She turned back to me, her face pale.
May you like
"It's Tessa," Natalie whispered.
"She's alone, and she's bleeding."
