The heavy iron gates at the end of the driveway rattled open with a mechanical groan.
Through the front living room window, I watched a pristine black limousine glide up the gravel path, flanked by two armored SUVs. There was only one man in this state who traveled with that level of armed security.
Third Character (The Pivot) Whitmore.
"He's here," Main Antagonist whispered from the top of the stairs, clutching Lily and Sophie behind her in the dark corridor. "He knows, Main Protagonist. Someone tipped him off."
"Take the girls into the master bathroom and lock the heavy deadbolt," I instructed, my voice deadly calm. "Don't come out until you hear my voice."
I slipped the black box dossier into my inner coat pocket and walked down the stairs to the front foyer. Before I could reach the brass handle, the front door was pushed open by two muscular men in charcoal tailored suits.
Then Third Character (The Pivot) stepped across the threshold, holding a delicate bouquet of white lilies in one gloved hand and an antique walking cane in the other.
"Good evening, Main Protagonist," Third Character (The Pivot) said smoothly, his silver hair neatly combed, his cold blue eyes scanning the entryway with predatory precision. "I trust my daughter and grandchildren are sleeping soundly?"
"What do you want, Third Character (The Pivot)?" I asked, refusing to take a single step backward.
Third Character (The Pivot) handed the bouquet to his bodyguard and stepped closer, the smile vanishing from his face like ice melting into grey water. "I believe you've been digging through matters that were permanently settled five years ago."
"You mean the car accident you arranged?" I retorted, staring directly into his unblinking eyes. "The memory wipe? The daughter you locked behind a wall?"
Third Character (The Pivot) let out a low, dry chuckle that sent a chill through the room. He reached inside his tailored coat and pulled out a glossy color photograph, tossing it onto the foyer table between us.
It showed a seven-year-old girl with dark wavy hair and my exact amber eyes, standing behind the wrought-iron gates of St. Jude Boarding Academy.
Ava.
Third Character (The Pivot) leaned in close, his breath cold against my ear as he whispered:
"Sophie was just the decoy, Main Protagonist. Someone found Ava before us. And you have exactly six hours before she disappears forever."