PART 11

PART 11

Before Julian could answer, something struck the study window. We both froze. The security officer rushed into the room. “Stay away from the glass.” A second sound came from the front of the house. The gate buzzer began ringing repeatedly. Margaret hurried downstairs. “Penelope,” she called. “There’s a man outside.” The security officer checked the camera. Victor stood at the front gate. His shirt was torn near the collar, and dried blood marked one side of his face. He looked as though he had not slept since leaving the mediator’s office. My phone rang. Victor. I answered but said nothing. “Penelope, listen carefully,” he panted. “Do not let anyone inside.” “You are the one standing at my gate.” “I came to warn you.” “How did you find this house?” “My father tracked the envelope.” I looked toward the cream-colored envelope on the desk. “What?”

“Daniel was supposed to give it to you. My father wanted him to. There’s a tracking device hidden inside the wax seal.” The security officer grabbed the envelope and examined it. A second alarm sounded at the rear of the house. Victor’s voice rose. “My father sent two men ahead of me. They aren’t coming for the drive.” “Then what do they want?” Before he could answer, every light in the house went out. Glass shattered upstairs. Abigail screamed. I dropped the phone and ran. The security officer followed me up the staircase. I reached the girls’ bedroom and threw open the door. Charlotte was crying beneath the blankets. Abigail stood beside her holding a lamp in both hands like a weapon. The window was broken. A man was climbing through it. “Stay away from my daughters!” I shouted. The security officer raised his gun. “Hands where I can see them!” The intruder lifted both hands. Blood covered the front of his shirt. His face was bruised, but I recognized him immediately. Daniel Reynolds. “Please,” he gasped. “Walter’s men are in the garden.” Julian rushed into the room behind us. Daniel looked at Abigail, then at me. “Did you open the trust file?” “Yes.” “Then you know the girls own shares.” “Julian was about to tell me how many.” Daniel shook his head. “The number on the first amendment is wrong. Open the Vance Contingency folder.” “Why?” “Because Victor’s divorce activated the final amendment.” My heart pounded. “What final amendment?” Daniel looked toward Abigail. “The one Walter was willing to kill me to hide.” He took a shaking breath. “At 10:16 this morning, your daughter became the legal owner of fifty-one percent of Reynolds Engineering.” Before I could respond, a man’s voice rose from the dark garden below. “Give us the girl, Penelope, and everyone else walks away.” Then a red laser sight appeared against Abigail’s bedroom wall.