Chapter 2 — Sophie Was Suddenly Missing From Her Own Party
Richard turned toward the crowded living room.
“Where’s Sophie?”
Nobody answered.
Her friends looked around.
One girl said Sophie had gone upstairs almost twenty minutes earlier.
Another thought she had gone outside.
Richard pulled out his phone.
Called.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Marcus checked the access-control application.
The black card was registered as:
MASTER GUESTHOUSE / SERVICE ACCESS — R.H.
Richard frowned.
“That’s my backup card.”
“Who has access to it?” Marcus asked.
“Me.”
“Anyone else know where you keep it?”
Richard hesitated.
“Family probably knows it’s in the office.”
Marcus opened the recent entry log.
His expression changed.
“Richard.”
“What?”
“This card has been used seven times this week.”
Richard stared.
“Impossible.”
“Monday, 6:17 PM.”
“Tuesday, 7:03.”
“Wednesday morning.”
Then two entries Thursday.
One Friday.
And one earlier that evening.
Every entry:
GUESTHOUSE SIDE DOOR.
Richard looked toward Ethan.
For the first time, embarrassment appeared on his face.
He had accused Ethan within seconds.
Yet the access record showed somebody had been using the card for nearly a week.
Long before Ethan arrived for the party.
Ethan said nothing.
Richard understood the silence.
“Ethan.”
The teenager looked at him.
“I was wrong to accuse you.”
Ethan’s expression remained serious.
“Yeah.”
Richard nodded.
“You were holding the card, but that wasn’t proof you took it.”
“No.”
“I’m sorry.”
Ethan finally nodded.
“Okay.”
Not forgiveness.
But acknowledgment.
Richard turned back toward Marcus.
“Open the guesthouse cameras.”
Marcus tried.
Then frowned.
“Interior camera is offline.”
“Since when?”
“Monday.”
The exact day the unauthorized entries began.
Richard’s expression hardened again.
“Sophie disabled it?”
Marcus shook his head.
“Maybe.”
“Or somebody disconnected it.”
Richard began walking toward the back door.
Ethan followed instinctively.
Richard stopped.
“You don’t have to come.”
Ethan shrugged.
“I want to know why I almost got blamed.”
Fair enough.
They crossed the backyard.
Music from the party faded behind them.
The detached guesthouse sat beyond the pool.
Its curtains were closed.
The side door appeared locked.
Marcus used the black card.
The reader flashed green.
Richard opened the door.
Then everyone stopped.
Something moved inside.
A low sound came from behind the couch.
Ethan whispered:
“Was that a growl?”
Richard stared.
Then a large golden-brown dog slowly stepped into view.
And behind him…
Sophie appeared.
“Dad.”
Richard looked at the dog.
Then his daughter.
“What have you done?”