Chapter 2 - The Empty Safe
The library remained shrouded in a terrifying silence.
Carmine kept his weapon aimed at the shattered window, his breathing heavy and measured.
"Stay down," Carmine ordered, his eyes scanning the dark tree line outside the estate.
Gabriel groaned in pain, clutching his bleeding shoulder as he lay on the floor.
I crawled across the carpet, pressing a clean towel against his open wound to stop the bleeding.
His skin was still burning with fever, but his eyes were sharp and focused.
"Thank you," Gabriel whispered, looking at me with a strange intensity.
I nodded, too terrified to speak.
Carmine finally lowered his gun and closed the heavy steel security shutters over the broken window.
"The shooter is gone, Boss," Carmine announced, helping Gabriel back onto the bed.
Gabriel turned his attention to me.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"Elena," I replied softly.
Gabriel pointed toward a large oil painting hanging on the far wall.
"Behind that painting is a wall safe, Elena," he instructed.
"The code is four, zero, nine, one."
Carmine stepped forward, looking confused.
"Boss, you shouldn't trust a maid with the vault," Carmine protested.
"She is the only person in this room who didn't try to kill me today," Gabriel replied coldly.
I walked over to the painting, my hands trembling as I swung it open.
The metal keypad beeped as I entered the four digits.
The heavy steel door clicked and swung open.
I gasped, staring into the dark cavity of the safe.
Gabriel looked at me, his jaw clenching.
"Bring me the red ledger, Elena," he commanded.
"I can't," I whispered, stepping back from the wall.
Carmine raised his gun again, pointing it directly at my back.
"The safe is completely empty," I said, turning around to face them.
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Someone inside the house had already stolen the list of every corrupted politician in New York.
And a bloody fingerprint on the safe's handle matched the exact size of Carmine's thumb.
