PART 2 — THEY KNEW SOMEONE WAS HIDING
My heart stopped.
The man tapped the blueprint again.
Right where I was sitting.
The attic.
Tristan shook his head.
"No."
"He won't come up here."
One of the strangers wasn't convinced.
"Your source says the old man is careful."
Tristan laughed.
"Careful?"
"He still writes passwords on sticky notes."
"I've been living here four days."
"I know everything."
Every word felt like a punch.
I'd treated him like family.
He'd been studying me.
The second man unfolded another sheet of paper.
Not a blueprint.
A photograph.
It was me.
Standing in my driveway.
Another photo.
Walking my dog.
Another.
My mailbox.
My garage.
My backyard.
They hadn't come tonight by accident.
They'd been watching me.
Tristan pointed toward my home office.
"The safe is behind the bookshelf."
"The combination should still be the same."
One man frowned.
"Should?"
Tristan shrugged.
"I never found the code."
A slow smile crossed the stranger's face.
"Then we'll ask him."
I instinctively covered my mouth.
Don't breathe.
Don't move.
Below me...
A flashlight beam swept across the ceiling.
One of the men looked up.
"Think he's home?"
Tristan answered quietly.
"His truck's outside."
A heavy silence followed.
Then...
Someone started climbing the attic stairs.
One step.
Then another.
The old wood groaned beneath each footfall.
I reached into my pocket.
My phone still had one percent battery.
No signal.
Then...
It vibrated.
One new message from Dominic.
Just three words.
STAY ABSOLUTELY SILENT.
The footsteps stopped...
May you like
Right outside the attic hatch.
END OF PART 2.
