Chapter 6 - THE WOMAN IN THE SECURITY FOOTAGE
By dawn, the mansion was surrounded by investigators and private security personnel.
The intruder had escaped.
No one was injured.
But the library had been searched, and the original parchment was missing.
Selene sat at the breakfast table staring into a cup of coffee.
Dante stood by the window.
Luca entered carrying a tablet.
"We recovered footage from a camera outside the east wing."
Dante turned.
"Show me."
The recording displayed a woman in a dark coat entering through a service door.
Her face was partially concealed.
Selene leaned forward.
Then froze.
She recognized the woman's walk.
The slight limp.
The habit of carrying her bag against her left hip.
"No."
Dante looked at her.
"What?"
Selene shook her head.
"That's my sister."
Luca stopped the video.
Dante stared at her.
"Mira?"
Selene nodded.
Her younger sister was supposed to be living quietly in Vermont under a different surname.
She hadn't seen her in person for seven months.
"Why would she be here?" Dante asked.
Selene couldn't answer.
Then her phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
Mira sat in a chair beneath a bare lightbulb.
Her wrists were bound.
Below the photograph was a message.
FINISH THE TRANSLATION. COME ALONE.
Selene stood so quickly her chair fell backward.
Dante caught the edge of the table.
"What happened?"
She showed him.
His expression darkened.
"Who sent it?"
"I don't know."
Another message appeared.
THE GIRL IN THE VIDEO WAS FORCED TO ENTER. SHE IS STILL ALIVE. FRIDAY MIDNIGHT.
Selene pressed a hand over her mouth.
Dante took out his phone.
"We're contacting the authorities."
"No!"
He stopped.
Selene's eyes filled.
"They said to come alone."
"And you think they'll keep their word?"
"I don't know what else to do."
Dante approached slowly.
"Selene, listen to me. You are not responsible for the choices of the people threatening your sister."
She stared at him.
"They'll kill her."
"Then we make sure the people who can rescue her have the information they need."
For the first time, she saw genuine fear in his face.
Not fear of losing money.
Not fear of the Commission.
Fear for someone who had become important to him.
He reached toward her hand, then stopped.
"May I?"
Selene nodded.
He held her hand gently.
May you like
"We'll find her."
And for reasons she couldn't explain, she believed him.
