Chapter 4 - The Shadow in the Nursery
I burst through the double doors of the private medical suite, my gun raised, my pulse racing at a dangerous speed.
The two guards stationed outside the door were lying unconscious on the carpet, hit with silent, high-dose stun darts. The electronic lock on the nursery door was blinking green—breached.
I kicked the heavy oak door open! "STAY DOWN!"
Inside, Eleanor was trapped against the window, shielding Ethan behind her back. Standing in the center of the room was a tall figure dressed in a dark tactical suit, wearing a black ski mask and holding a leather bag.
On the floor near the crib sat little Lily, holding her stuffed bunny, her eyes wide with fear as she pointed at the intruder’s right hand.
“The shiny buttons!” Lily cried out, her small voice ringing through the room. “He has the silver box!”
The intruder turned toward me, pulling a suppressed pistol from a side holster!
I didn't hesitate. I fired two rapid shots toward his shoulder! The heavy caliber rounds shattered the glass frame behind him, but the intruder ducked with incredible agility, throwing a flashbang grenade onto the floor between us!
A blinding light and a deafening boom exploded in the small room!
I was thrown back against the doorframe, my eyes burning, my ears ringing with high-pitched static. Through the white smoke, I saw the intruder leap through the shattered second-story balcony window, dropping into the dark rose garden below!
“Julian!” Eleanor screamed through the smoke. “Ethan! Is Ethan okay?!”
I staggered forward, checking my son. Ethan was terrified but unharmed, held tightly in his mother's arms.
I rushed to the balcony rail, looking down into the rain-soaked garden. The intruder had vanished into the shadows of the estate perimeter, leaving behind a single item caught on the wrought-iron balcony railing.
I reached down and snagged it. It was a torn piece of black silk fabric—a custom sleeve lining from a high-end designer suit.
And embroidered along the inner edge of the fabric were two initials stitched in silver thread:
May you like
G. S.
Gabriel Sterling.
