Chapter 6 - The Missing Girl
The sheer magnitude of the betrayal hit Grant like a physical blow to the chest.
His trusted doctor had blinded him, and his right-hand man had murdered his family.
"We need a vehicle that is not tracked by the estate's security grid," Grant told Hannah urgently.
"I have my old sedan parked behind the staff quarters," she replied, her voice steady despite the fear.
Grant's vision was still incredibly blurry, allowing him to see only vague shapes and contrasting shadows.
He could not navigate a firefight, which meant stealth was their only option for survival.
"Go to your room, pack a single bag, and get Lucy," Grant ordered quietly.
"Meet me by the service elevator in exactly twenty minutes."
Hannah nodded, her silhouette darting quickly out of the study and into the bustling hallway.
Grant moved carefully through his private wing, relying on his five years of muscle memory to avoid bumping into furniture.
He opened his personal wall safe by touch, ignoring the blurry numbers, and retrieved two heavy stacks of emergency cash.
He also pulled out his old, heavy pistol, checking the loaded magazine with familiar, practiced hands.
The cold steel felt deeply reassuring against his palm.
He slipped out through the secret panel behind his bookshelf, walking silently down the narrow servant corridors.
When he reached the dark alcove by the service elevator, he waited patiently in the shadows.
Twenty minutes passed, then twenty-five, and the silence in the corridor began to feel suffocating.
Finally, Grant heard the frantic, uneven sound of Hannah running down the metal stairs.
She practically collapsed into his chest, completely out of breath and shaking uncontrollably.
"She is gone," Hannah choked out, gripping the lapels of his suit jacket tightly.
"What do you mean she is gone?" Grant demanded, keeping his voice to a harsh whisper.
"I went to our room, but Lucy’s bed is completely empty," she sobbed desperately.
"I searched the entire staff wing, but I cannot find her anywhere."
Grant cursed softly, his grip tightening around the heavy handle of his pistol.
Daniel and Hale must have realized that Hannah was getting too close to the truth.
They had taken the toddler to ensure her total silence and cooperation.
"We are not leaving this house without your daughter," Grant swore fiercely.
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Suddenly, a massive, deafening explosion rocked the western wing of the mansion.
The floor violently shook beneath their feet as emergency alarms began screaming through the entire estate.
