Chapter 7 - THE NIGHT THE MANSION WENT DARK
The power failed at 11:42 p.m.
I was in my bedroom when the lights disappeared.
The backup generator should have activated immediately.
It didn't.
I reached for my phone.
No signal.
Then I heard footsteps in the hallway.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Not the familiar movements of the night staff.
My bedroom door opened.
Faith stood there holding a flashlight.
“Dominic.”
I turned.
“What happened?”
“I don't know. Mrs. Gable is checking the generator.”
She looked frightened.
Not panicked.
Focused.
Then we heard glass break downstairs.
Faith moved toward the door.
I grabbed her wrist.
“Stay here.”
She looked at me.
“Someone may need help.”
“Faith.”
Another crash.
Then a man's voice shouted from the lower floor.
I recognized it.
Carmine.
“Find the documents!”
My blood went cold.
Faith stared at me.
“What documents?”
I looked toward the study.
The investigation files.
The safety reports.
The records Elena had collected.
I reached for the emergency phone.
Dead.
Faith pulled out her mobile.
“One bar.”
“Call the police.”
She did.
Then she locked the bedroom door.
We waited.
Footsteps approached.
Someone tried the handle.
Then a voice spoke.
“Dominic.”
Carmine.
I closed my eyes.
“Open the door.”
I looked at Faith.
She shook her head.
I turned toward the door.
“No.”
Silence.
Then Carmine spoke again.
“You're making a mistake.”
I stared at the dark wood.
“For fifteen years,” I said, “I thought you were my brother.”
The silence that followed told me everything.
May you like
Then sirens rose outside.
And Carmine ran.
