Chapter 5 - Vincent’s Most Trusted Man
Norah grabbed the nearest thing she could reach.
A cast-iron skillet.
The man smiled.
“You going to cook me?”
She swung.
He ducked.
The skillet smashed into the pantry shelf.
Glass shattered.
He grabbed her wrist.
Norah drove her knee upward.
He cursed.
She ran.
He caught her apron.
Fabric tore.
Then the kitchen door exploded inward.
Vincent hit the man before Norah even saw him move.
The fight lasted seconds.
Vincent slammed him against the island.
Enzo arrived with two guards.
The intruder laughed through a bloody mouth.
“Too late.”
Vincent searched him.
No identification.
Only the vial.
Norah looked at it.
“What is that?”
The man smiled at her.
“Dinner.”
Vincent hit him again.
They locked him downstairs.
Norah’s hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
Vincent noticed.
“You’re done.”
“With what?”
“This.”
“You’re firing me?”
“I’m sending you somewhere safe.”
“No.”
“Norah.”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“This isn’t negotiation.”
“You don’t own me.”
His eyes flashed.
“I know.”
“Then stop acting like you do.”
“I almost found you dead in my kitchen.”
“And I found you starving at your table.”
That silenced him.
Norah lowered her voice.
“They’re attacking me because your food is the easiest way to reach you. If I disappear, they replace me.”
“With whom?”
“Someone they control.”
Vincent knew she was right.
That night, they tested the vial.
Same poison.
The compound that had nearly killed Vincent.
Vincent went downstairs to interrogate the prisoner.
The cell was empty.
A guard lay unconscious.
The security camera had been disabled.
Only three people knew the prisoner was there.
Vincent.
Norah.
Enzo.
Vincent looked at his oldest friend.
Enzo looked back.
“No.”
Vincent’s voice was almost a whisper.
“Give me your phone.”
Enzo did.
Nothing.
Then Norah noticed his watch.
A smartwatch.
“Messages sync to that?”
Enzo hesitated.
Vincent took it.
Deleted notifications remained in temporary storage.
One had arrived fourteen minutes before the prisoner escaped.
CELL B. CAMERA OFF FOR 90 SECONDS.
Sent from Enzo’s account.
Enzo stared.
“I didn’t send that.”
Vincent’s face hardened.
“Then someone wants me to believe you did.”
Norah examined the timestamp.
Her eyes narrowed.
“Or someone knew exactly where Enzo would be when it was sent.”
Vincent looked at her.
“What are you thinking?”
Norah turned toward the kitchen camera.
“The cameras aren’t just recording us.”
A cold realization settled over her.
“They’re learning our routines.”
Then Vincent’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A distorted voice spoke.
“Bring Norah Bennett to Pier Nine at midnight.”
Vincent said nothing.
The voice continued.
“Come alone.”
A scream sounded in the background.
Caleb.
May you like
Then the caller whispered one final sentence.
“Or this time, her brother loses more than money.”
