CHAPTER 5 — THE SECOND CAMERA
CHAPTER 5 — THE SECOND CAMERA
Marcus's final words remained in Ethan's mind long after the call ended.
To protect the heir.
Ethan stood motionless beside his desk.
Mia watched him carefully.
“What did he mean?”
“I don't know.”
“You don't believe that.”
“No.”
Ethan turned toward the security monitors.
“I believe he knows something.”
“About me?”
“About all of this.”
Mia looked at the frozen image on the computer.
Her father.
Richard Cole.
Evelyn Hart.
Three people who had apparently been connected long before Mia ever became a nanny.
And now someone was warning Ethan to get her out of the house.
Mia wrapped her arms around herself.
“I should leave.”
Ethan immediately shook his head.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because that's exactly what they want.”
“You heard Marcus.”
“I heard him.”
“He said I'm dangerous.”
“He said you were connected to something.”
Mia stared at him.
“What's the difference?”
Ethan stepped closer.
“The difference is that I don't think you're the threat.”
“Then who is?”
Before Ethan could answer, the security monitor flickered.
One of the cameras went black.
Then another.
Then another.
Mia looked at the screens.
“Again?”
Ethan's security chief rushed into the room.
“Sir.”
“What happened?”
“Three cameras just lost connection.”
“Which ones?”
“The east hallway. Library. Basement.”
Ethan frowned.
“Basement?”
“Yes.”
“Why would anyone disable the basement camera?”
The security chief hesitated.
“Maybe they wouldn't.”
Ethan looked at him.
“What are you saying?”
“Someone may have activated a camera we're not seeing.”
Mia's stomach tightened.
“The second camera.”
Ethan looked at her.
She remembered the warning.
The mysterious photograph.
The transmitter.
The voice.
Someone had been watching them.
Not through Ethan's system.
Through something else.
Ethan's security chief pulled up the original network map.
“Your system has twenty-eight cameras.”
“I know.”
“No.”
He zoomed in.
“There are twenty-nine.”
Silence.
Ethan stared.
“That's impossible.”
“I checked the wiring.”
“Where is it?”
The man highlighted a tiny point on the blueprint.
“Behind the library.”
Mia whispered:
“Hidden.”
Ethan nodded.
“Find it.”
They searched the library for nearly twenty minutes.
Bookshelves.
Paintings.
Cabinets.
Even the fireplace.
Nothing.
Then Mia noticed something strange.
A painting above the fireplace was slightly crooked.
She touched its frame.
“Ethan.”
He walked over.
She pointed.
“This.”
He removed the painting.
Behind it was a small black lens.
No larger than a coin.
Ethan's face hardened.
“That's the second camera.”
His security chief examined it.
“This isn't connected to your network.”
“Can you access it?”
“Maybe.”
“Do it.”
The technician connected a portable device.
The camera came alive.
A live feed appeared.
Everyone stared.
It was the kitchen.
Then the hallway.
Then Ethan's office.
Then—
Mia's bedroom.
Her face went pale.
“No.”
Ethan immediately looked at her.
“What?”
“It was watching me.”
The footage switched.
Mia saw herself sleeping.
Changing clothes.
Crying.
Talking on the phone.
Alone.
For weeks.
Someone had been watching her every move.
Ethan's jaw tightened.
“Shut it down.”
The technician shook his head.
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“It's remotely controlled.”
“Then trace the signal.”
“Trying.”
A map appeared.
The signal originated from somewhere nearby.
Ethan leaned forward.
“Where?”
The technician zoomed in.
His face changed.
“Sir…”
“What?”
“The signal is coming from this house.”
Everyone froze.
Mia looked around.
“Someone is inside.”
Ethan immediately drew his phone.
“Lock every door.”
The mansion's security system activated.
Doors slammed shut.
The technician checked the sensors.
“No movement.”
Ethan frowned.
“Then how is the signal inside?”
Mia looked toward the ceiling.
“Maybe it isn't.”
Ethan turned.
“What do you mean?”
“The signal could be bouncing.”
“From where?”
She looked at the map.
Then noticed something.
The signal wasn't centered on the mansion.
It was coming from the property next door.
Ethan stared.
“That house has been empty for two years.”
Mia whispered:
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Then someone is using it.”
Five minutes later, Ethan stood outside the neighboring property.
His security team surrounded the house.
The windows were dark.
The front door was locked.
But Ethan knew someone had been there.
He could feel it.
They entered through the rear.
The house smelled abandoned.
Dust covered the furniture.
No electricity.
No water.
No signs of life.
Then the security chief found a door beneath the stairs.
It was locked.
Ethan kicked it open.
A narrow staircase led underground.
Mia stayed behind him.
“Ethan.”
“I know.”
They descended.
At the bottom was a room filled with monitors.
Dozens of them.
Every screen showed a different part of the Cole mansion.
Mia's bedroom.
The children's nursery.
The kitchen.
Ethan's office.
The garage.
The garden.
Even the front gate.
Mia stared in horror.
“How long?”
The technician checked the system.
“Almost fourteen months.”
Ethan's eyes hardened.
Fourteen months.
That meant someone had been watching the family almost from the moment Mia arrived.
Then another screen turned on.
A recording began.
Victoria entered the room.
Mia's blood ran cold.
Victoria wasn't alone.
She was speaking to a man.
His face was hidden.
But his voice was clear.
“You were supposed to get the watch.”
“I tried.”
“You failed.”
“He discovered the camera.”
“You were careless.”
Victoria looked furious.
“He doesn't trust me anymore.”
The man stepped closer.
“Then give him another reason to.”
“What do you want?”
“Mia.”
Victoria froze.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she knows too much.”
“She doesn't know anything.”
The man laughed.
“You don't even know who she is.”
Victoria looked confused.
“What does that mean?”
“It means your job isn't to destroy her.”
“Then what?”
“Control her.”
“How?”
“Make her afraid.”
Victoria shook her head.
“And if she refuses?”
The man leaned toward her.
“Then use the children.”
Mia covered her mouth.
Ethan's hands curled into fists.
The recording continued.
Victoria asked:
“And Ethan?”
The man answered:
“Keep him distracted.”
“With what?”
A pause.
Then:
“Your pregnancy.”
Victoria's face went pale.
Mia looked at Ethan.
He looked equally shocked.
“Pregnancy?” Mia whispered.
The recording continued.
Victoria said:
“I'm not pregnant.”
The man replied:
“You will be.”
Mia stared at the screen.
“What?”
Ethan said nothing.
Victoria asked:
“And if Ethan finds out?”
“He won't.”
“Why?”
“Because the test results will be altered.”
Ethan suddenly understood.
This wasn't simply about money.
They were planning to trap him.
The man continued:
“Once Ethan believes he's going to become a father, he'll sign whatever we put in front of him.”
Victoria smiled.
“And if Mia discovers the truth?”
The man's voice became cold.
“She won't.”
“Why?”
“Because by then she'll be gone.”
The screen suddenly went black.
Mia stood frozen.
Ethan turned toward her.
“Are you okay?”
She didn't answer.
Her eyes were fixed on the empty screen.
“They were going to use the children.”
“I know.”
“They were going to make Victoria pregnant.”
“I know.”
“They wanted to make you sign something.”
“Yes.”
Mia slowly looked at him.
“What?”
Ethan's expression was grim.
“Probably control of the company.”
The technician searched the room.
“Sir.”
Ethan turned.
“What?”
“We found something else.”
He held up a laptop.
“It was encrypted.”
“Can you open it?”
“Maybe.”
The technician connected it.
A password prompt appeared.
Ethan tried several combinations.
Nothing.
Then Mia noticed a folder name.
M.C.
Her initials.
She stared.
“That's mine.”
Ethan looked at the screen.
The password field remained empty.
“Try your birthday.”
Mia hesitated.
Then entered it.
The laptop unlocked.
Hundreds of files appeared.
Medical records.
Employment records.
Bank accounts.
Photographs.
And one folder labeled:
PATERNITY
Mia's heart stopped.
“What is that?”
Ethan opened it.
Inside was a scanned medical report.
Mia's name was on top.
She stared at the date.
It was from twenty-seven years ago.
The report listed her mother.
And a second name.
RICHARD COLE.
Mia stopped breathing.
“No.”
Ethan stared.
“That can't be.”
Her mother's name was listed beside Richard's.
Under relationship, one word appeared:
Biological father.
Mia backed away from the screen.
“No.”
Ethan looked at her.
“Mia…”
“My father was Daniel Carter.”
“I know.”
“He raised me.”
“I know.”
“He was my father.”
Ethan didn't answer.
Mia's eyes filled with tears.
“Then why is Richard Cole listed as my biological father?”
Before Ethan could respond, another file opened automatically.
A photograph appeared.
Richard Cole was holding a newborn baby.
On the back was a handwritten note.
My daughter.
Mia stared at it.
Her entire world seemed to tilt.
Then the laptop displayed one final document.
A legal trust agreement.
The beneficiary name was unmistakable.
MIA CARTER.
Ethan looked at her.
“You're the heir.”
Mia shook her head violently.
“No.”
“That's why they wanted the watch.”
“No.”
“That's why they hired you.”
“No.”
“That's why they were watching you.”
Mia backed toward the wall.
“I don't want this.”
Ethan stepped closer.
“You didn't choose it.”
“I don't want your family's money.”
“It may not be about money.”
“Then what is it?”
Ethan looked at the trust agreement.
His voice dropped.
“Control.”
Suddenly the lights in the underground room went out.
Every monitor turned black.
Then one screen came back.
A live video.
Victoria was standing somewhere inside the mansion.
Holding a gun.
Ethan's blood ran cold.
She was standing outside the children's room.
Her eyes were fixed directly at the camera.
Then she smiled.
And mouthed three words.
“It's too late.”
The screen went black.
Ethan grabbed Mia's hand.
“Run.”
They raced toward the stairs.
Behind them, the underground computer system began deleting itself.
One file after another disappeared.
But one final message remained on the screen.
THE HEIR HAS BEEN FOUND.
May you like
Then:
NOW THE HUNT BEGINS.
