Chapter 20
As the dinner party drew to a close and the guests departed, Clara walked into her private study to lock up for the night.
The room was dark, save for the soft glow of the moonlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling glass doors.
She walked over to her desk to pick up her silver smartphone, intending to set the house alarm for the evening.
Suddenly, the phone's screen illuminated on its own, displaying an incoming satellite transmission from an encrypted, untraceable number.
Clara's eyes narrowed slightly as she tapped the screen, opening a audio file that began to play automatically in the silent room.
A distorted, deep electronic voice echoed through the speaker, speaking words that caused the smile to fade completely from her face.
"You thought Victoria was the mastermind, Clara... but she was just the pawn we sent to test your defenses."
The screen flickered, displaying a live high-definition camera feed of Clara's own balcony, filmed from an adjacent skyscraper across the street.
May you like
A second text message flashed across the bottom of the display, written in cold, precise white lettering that froze her blood.
"Welcome to the real game, Mrs. Vance."
