Chapter 7 - The Safehouse
They drove for two hours into the deep, rural outskirts of Illinois.
The safehouse was an abandoned farmhouse completely hidden by dense forest.
Dominic parked the car in the barn and locked the heavy wooden doors.
The inside of the house was dusty but fully stocked with weapons and medical supplies.
Dominic collapsed onto a worn leather sofa in the living room.
The temporary adrenaline had worn off, and the paralytic withdrawal was beginning.
He was shaking violently, his skin pale and covered in cold sweat.
Clare found clean blankets and wrapped them tightly around his broad shoulders.
She built a fire in the old stone hearth to warm the freezing room.
"Why are you helping me?" Dominic asked, his teeth chattering.
"Because you are the only one who can protect my daughter tonight," Clare answered honestly.
Ellie was sitting on the floor near the fireplace, playing with her wooden latch toy.
The little girl suddenly stopped playing and tapped the wooden floorboards.
"Mommy, this one is empty."
Clare frowned and walked over to her daughter.
Ellie was pointing at a specific floorboard that sounded distinctly hollow.
Clare found a loose nail and pried the heavy wooden board upward.
Beneath the floor was a small, hidden metal lockbox.
Dominic watched her from the sofa, his eyes widening in genuine surprise.
"I did not put that there," he whispered.
Clare pulled the box out and smashed the flimsy padlock with a fire poker.
She opened the lid and pulled out a thick, manila dossier.
She opened the file and felt all the blood drain from her face.
Inside were dozens of photographs of her and Ellie.
They were candid pictures taken in parks, grocery stores, and their old apartment.
But the most terrifying detail was the date stamped on the photos.
They were taken three years ago, months before she ever applied for a job at the Vale estate.
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She looked up at Dominic, her hands trembling with rage.
"You have been watching us since before I ever worked for you."
