Chapter 2 - The Invisible Listener
Vincent stared at the final terrifying sentence written on the back of the photograph.
The silence in the sterile master suite suddenly felt heavier and far more dangerous.
He looked up at Tessa, whose face was pale with genuine shock.
He instructed her to place the envelope and the device back exactly where she found them.
Tessa hesitated, asking in a trembling voice if she should call the police.
Vincent let out a bitter, humorless laugh.
He reminded her that half the police in Chicago were on the payroll of the men who wanted him dead.
He explained that this was an internal syndicate matter, and bringing in the law would only guarantee both of their deaths.
Vincent needed to know who was listening to his most vulnerable moments.
He asked Tessa to do something highly dangerous.
He told her to download a specialized radio frequency scanner on her smartphone.
Tessa nodded silently, her fingers flying across the screen as she downloaded the application.
She scanned the room, the digital needle on her screen jumping wildly as it picked up the bug's signal.
Vincent asked her how far the signal was transmitting.
Tessa looked at the data and swallowed a hard knot of fear in her throat.
She revealed that the device was using a short-range frequency.
The listener was not sitting in a surveillance van miles away.
The person listening to the bug was somewhere inside the mansion.
Before Vincent could process this horrifying betrayal, the heavy oak door of the bedroom swung open.
Lauren walked back into the suite, carrying a fresh vase of expensive white roses.
She smiled warmly, asking Vincent if he had enjoyed his morning sponge bath.
Vincent forced a polite smile in return, realizing he was engaged to a beautiful monster.
He told her the bath was fine, keeping his voice perfectly steady.
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But his sharp eyes caught a terrifying detail as she set the vase down.
Lauren's hands were trembling violently.
