Chapter 5 - The Man Standing in the Darkness
Weeks became months.
Leo became happier.
Dominic became less distant.
And Beatrice began forgetting that the Russo estate was dangerous.
That was exactly when danger became interested in her.
The first warning was small.
Her bedroom door was open when she knew she had closed it.
The second was stranger.
Her handbag had been moved.
The third frightened her.
A note appeared beneath her pillow.
STOP LOOKING WHERE YOU DON’T BELONG.
Beatrice carried it directly to Dominic.
He read it once.
The temperature of the room seemed to fall.
“Who has access to this floor?”
“Staff.”
“Names.”
She listed them.
Victor was among them.
Dominic summoned security.
Victor arrived first.
He inspected the note.
“Could be a prank.”
Dominic looked at him.
“Nobody threatens someone under my roof as a prank.”
Victor lowered his eyes.
“Of course.”
Dominic doubled security.
Beatrice considered leaving.
Then Leo crawled into her lap that evening.
“Are you going away?”
Her heart broke.
“No.”
“Promise?”
Beatrice looked across the room.
Dominic was watching.
She hesitated.
Then said, “I promise I won’t disappear without telling you.”
It was not the promise Leo wanted.
But it was the only one she could safely give.
That night Dominic walked her to her bedroom.
At the door, Beatrice asked, “Do you trust everyone in this house?”
Dominic’s answer came too quickly.
“Yes.”
She thought about Victor.
About wet shoes.
Open cabinets.
Missing footage she did not yet know existed.
“Maybe you shouldn’t.”
May you like
Dominic stared at her.
And for the first time, doubt entered his eyes.
