Chapter 7 - A Key With No Door
Lorenzo lowered the binoculars.
Marco was supposed to be behind him.
He wasn't.
Penny walked toward the house unaware.
"Stop her."
But Marco had controlled the communications system.
Every channel went dead.
Lorenzo ran.
Inside the house, Penny stared at Marco.
"What are you doing here?"
"Saving your life."
"By working with Derek?"
"No."
Derek entered behind her.
"He's working with me."
Marco punched him.
Derek crashed against the wall.
Penny screamed.
Marco grabbed her shoulders.
"Listen. Gabriel knows Lorenzo is coming."
"You betrayed him."
"I made Gabriel believe I did."
"Why?"
"Because somebody had to get inside."
Derek lunged.
Marco struck him again.
Then gunfire erupted outside.
Marco shoved Penny down.
"Stay here."
Penny didn't.
She crawled toward a side corridor.
A door stood open.
Inside was an office filled with monitors.
One showed Lorenzo approaching.
Another showed Elaine in a vehicle.
A third showed Penny's apartment.
Years of recordings.
Penny felt sick.
She found a hard drive.
Then footsteps approached.
Derek appeared.
Blood ran from his mouth.
"You always were nosy."
Penny backed away.
"You lied about everything."
"Not everything."
"Name one thing."
He smiled.
"I really did love you."
Penny stared at him.
Then laughed.
It shocked him.
"That's what you call love?"
His expression changed.
"I took care of you."
"You controlled me."
"You needed controlling."
There it was.
The sentence that finally killed whatever remained.
Derek moved toward her.
Penny lifted a metal lamp.
"Stay back."
"You won't hit me."
She did.
The lamp struck his shoulder.
Derek stumbled.
Penny ran.
She reached the hallway as Lorenzo entered.
Their eyes met.
Relief flashed across his face.
Then a gunshot sounded.
Marco staggered.
Blood spread across his shirt.
A man emerged from the staircase above.
Older than Lorenzo.
Same eyes.
Same posture.
Gabriel Moretti.
"Hello, brother."
Lorenzo raised his weapon.
Gabriel smiled.
"Careful. Penny's mother is still useful to me."
Penny froze.
Gabriel held up a phone.
Onscreen, Elaine sat bound to a chair.
Penny whispered, "Mom."
Gabriel looked delighted.
"Now we can finally discuss the ledger."
Lorenzo didn't lower his weapon.
Gabriel's thumb hovered over the screen.
"One wrong move."
Penny watched the live feed.
Something caught her attention.
Behind Elaine was a red door.
Above it hung a sign.
Penny reached into her pocket.
The brass key was still there.
Then Elaine looked directly into the hidden camera.
May you like
And mouthed two words.
USE IT.
