Chapter 5 - The Emergency Call
Robert was sitting alone in his kitchen when the phone rang.
The number was unfamiliar.
He nearly ignored it.
Then he answered and heard Emily breathing.
“Dad?”
Robert stood so quickly that his chair fell behind him.
“Emily? Where are you?”
“At the mansion.”
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“Are you safe?”
“No.”
Robert reached for his keys.
“What happened?”
“Grant took my phone. He’s moving money from Mom’s foundation. He has false medical papers. Vivian knows everything.”
Robert closed his eyes for one second. He had imagined this call many times, but never under circumstances like these.
“Listen to me. Lock the door.”
“They locked me inside.”
“Is there another exit?”
“The balcony, but it’s too high.”
Robert opened a second phone and called emergency services while keeping Emily on the line.
“Police are coming,” he told her. “I’m coming too.”
“Dad, there’s more. The doorbell camera has the recordings. I set it to send everything if I activate the emergency signal.”
“Can you reach it?”
“Tomorrow night. They’re having guests. Grant wants me downstairs to sign the transfer papers.”
A sound came from outside Emily’s room.
Someone was unlocking the door.
“Emily?” Robert said.
Her breathing quickened.
The door opened.
Grant’s voice came through the line.
“Who are you talking to?”
Emily whispered the only words she had time to say.
“Dad, help.”
The call disconnected.
Robert was already moving.
During the drive, he forwarded the address and details to the police. He also contacted the foundation’s attorney, who confirmed that several suspicious transfers had been flagged that morning.
By the time Robert reached the mansion gates, rain had begun falling heavily.
Police vehicles arrived seconds behind him.
May you like
Inside, music was still playing.
Guests had no idea they were attending the final act of Grant Whitmore’s carefully built deception.
