Chapter 2 - Sarah Already Knew Emily’s Name
Sarah reached Emily before the tactical officers reached Margaret.
“Emily Carter?”
Emily nodded, trembling.
Sarah immediately crouched beside her.
“Don’t move. Medics are coming.”
“How do you know my name?”
Sarah looked toward the villa.
“Because someone sent me a warning forty-three minutes ago.”
Margaret shouted from across the pool.
“This is private property!”
Sarah stood.
“You can explain that after you put the bat down.”
Margaret finally released it.
Victoria remained frozen near the patio doors.
Emily noticed something strange in her hand.
A small black phone.
Not Victoria’s normal phone.
Victoria saw Emily looking and slipped it behind her back.
Sarah noticed too.
“Ma’am, set the phone on the table.”
Victoria obeyed.
The screen was still lit.
One outgoing message showed only three words:
SHE FOUND IT.
Sarah’s expression changed.
“Who did you send this to?”
Victoria whispered:
“Not you.”
Emily stared.
If Victoria had not summoned Sarah, someone else inside the villa had
known the attack was coming.
Then a medic lifted Emily’s purse from beside the pool.
Something metallic fell out.
A small brass key.
Margaret saw it.
May you like
And for the first time, she looked more frightened by the key than by
the officers.
