Chapter 4 - The Lights Go OutAt 7:45 PM, the grand dining room on the main floor of the Queen Anne estate was filled with the warm, amber glow of crystal chandeliers, vintage wine, and heavy corporate triumph.
Richard sat at the head of the mahogany dining table, holding a glass of aged scotch, smiling warmly across at Nathan and Victor.
Ethan sat to his father’s right, reviewing the digital confirmation logs on his laptop, a cool, arrogant smirk resting on his handsome face.
Margaret stood near the sideboard, quietly clearing the dessert plates, her expression serene and unbothered.
"The transfer is ninety percent complete, Dad," Ethan announced, turning his laptop screen toward Richard. "The state banking board's automated clearinghouse has accepted Lauren's biometric signature. The ninety million dollars will clear into our Grand Cayman account at eight o'clock sharp."
Nathan set his cigar down on the crystal tray, raising his glass. "To a brilliant operation, Richard. Your daughter-in-law never suspected a thing?"
Richard let out a low, aristocratic laugh, taking a slow sip of his scotch. "Lauren is a quiet, diligent girl. She spent four months believing her body was simply failing her. People see what they expect to see, Nathan."
"And what happens to her after tomorrow?" Victor asked, leaning back in his leather chair.
Ethan shrugged casually, adjusting his cufflinks. "She'll have another unfortunate blackout next week near the cliffside path at Discovery Park. Her insurance policy will cover our secondary development costs in Portland."
CLICK.
Without warning, every light in the thirty-room estate went pitch black.
The grand crystal chandeliers, the wall sconces, the digital laptop screens, and the automated security panels vanished into absolute, suffocating darkness.
Margaret let out a sharp, surprised gasp from the sideboard. "Ethan?! Did the main circuit breaker trip?!"
"Stay calm," Richard ordered, his voice echoing through the dark dining room. "It's just a local power surge. Ethan, go down to the basement and check the primary panel."
Ethan pulled out his smartphone, turning on its flashlight beam, casting a pale, trembling cone of light across the mahogany table.
"I'll go check it," Ethan said, stepping away from the table.
He walked out through the swinging kitchen doors, down the narrow wooden stairs into the dark basement.
The basement was freezing, silent, and smelled of old concrete.
Ethan walked slowly across the concrete floor, his flashlight beam bouncing off the stone walls, approaching the primary electrical panel.
"Lauren...?" Ethan called out casually, a faint, mocking laugh escaping his lips. "Did you wake up early, sweetheart?"
Silence answered him.
May you like
Ethan reached out his hand to open the steel circuit door.
Standing directly beside the panel, wrapped in her tailored blazer, holding a heavy iron wrench in her right hand, was me.
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