Chapter 7 - THE EMPTY BEDROOM
Edward ran upstairs.
Chloe followed.
Sophia and Isabella were gone.
Their bedroom window was open.
The curtains fluttered violently.
Edward's face became expressionless.
That terrified Chloe more than his anger ever had.
“Lock every gate,” he ordered.
Security scrambled.
Daniel pulled out his phone.
“I'll call the police.”
Edward stared at the empty beds.
Then he noticed something.
A stuffed rabbit sat on the floor.
Sophia never slept without it.
He picked it up.
There was a note beneath it.
COME ALONE.
Edward's jaw tightened.
Chloe grabbed his arm.
“You're not going alone.”
“I have to.”
“No.”
“They have my daughters.”
“And they want you alone.”
Edward looked at her.
“If I don't go, they could hurt them.”
Chloe stared into his eyes.
“You're not thinking clearly.”
“My children are missing.”
“And that's exactly what they want.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“She is right.”
Edward glared.
“You don't know them.”
“I know enough.”
The memory card from Chloe's pendant was inserted into a laptop.
A video appeared.
Laura sat in front of the camera.
She looked exhausted.
Terrified.
But alive.
Edward's breath caught.
“Laura.”
The recording began.
“If you're watching this, Edward, then I'm probably dead.”
Edward covered his mouth.
Laura continued.
“I need you to understand something. I never stopped loving you.”
Tears filled Edward's eyes.
“But I became afraid of the man you were becoming.”
She paused.
“You inherited your father's empire without realizing how much blood was underneath it.”
Edward whispered:
“I didn't know.”
“I know.”
Laura looked directly into the camera.
“That's why I trusted you with the girls.”
The video paused.
Then resumed.
“There is someone in your household who has been working for your father since before you inherited the company.”
Edward looked at Mrs. Whitmore.
She shook her head.
“No.”
Laura continued.
“He has access to everything.”
Edward whispered:
“Who?”
The video cut.
A second clip appeared.
Security footage.
A man entered the estate late at night.
Chloe recognized him.
Edward's chief of security.
The same man who had been standing downstairs.
Edward's face hardened.
“Where is he?”
Daniel checked his phone.
“He left the property.”
Edward immediately grabbed his keys.
Then Chloe's phone rang.
She answered.
A distorted voice spoke.
“Mr. Montgomery has ten minutes.”
Chloe's heart stopped.
“Who is this?”
“You don't need to know.”
“Where are the girls?”
A child's voice suddenly came through.
“Chloe?”
Sophia.
Chloe almost collapsed.
“Sweetheart!”
“I'm scared.”
“I'm coming.”
Edward grabbed the phone.
“Where are you?”
The voice returned.
“Bring the pendant.”
Edward looked at Chloe.
“No police.”
The line went dead.
Daniel said, “It's a trap.”
Edward nodded.
“I know.”
Chloe held up the pendant.
“Then why do they want this?”
“Because whatever is on that memory card is worth killing for.”
Edward turned toward the garage.
Chloe followed.
“I'm coming.”
“No.”
“You need me.”
He stopped.
“What?”
“They asked for the pendant.”
She held it tightly.
“They won't take it from you.”
Edward looked at her.
For the first time, his voice softened.
“Chloe, I can't lose you too.”
She stared at him.
May you like
“Then don't.”
Together, they drove into the night.
