Chapter 2 — The Night Sophie Stopped Breathing
Two nights later, Ethan pretended to leave again.
This time he never even drove away.
He watched the house from the detached garage through the security monitors.
At 11:43 p.m., Sophie suddenly sat upright in bed.
Her breathing became fast.
Panic.
A nightmare.
The blue hallway lamp was glowing exactly the way Clara had promised.
Within seconds Clara hurried upstairs in slippers, wrapped Sophie in a blanket, and quietly rocked her beside the bed.
No panic.
No drama.
Only patience.
Five minutes later Sophie was asleep again.
Ethan wiped his eyes.
Then another camera activated.
Patricia.
She wasn't upstairs comforting anyone.
She was downstairs.
Standing in Ethan's office.
Using his fingerprint scanner while he was supposedly in Chicago.
She failed three times.
Then pulled a small silicone fingerprint mold from her handbag.
Ethan stared at the screen.
His blood turned cold.
She hadn't fallen in love with him.
She had been preparing to rob him.
At that exact moment Clara appeared in the hallway.
She noticed the office light.
Slowly walked toward it.
Patricia heard footsteps.
She shoved the fake fingerprint into her purse and forced a smile.
"Oh... I couldn't sleep."
Clara looked at her quietly.
Neither woman spoke.
May you like
But both understood.
One of them had just discovered the other's secret.
