Adam read the email that Liam seemed to have written in the morning.
Adam,
I saw Frederick and his men approaching our room when I emerged from the washroom last night. I tried waking you and Vera up but couldn’t. Time was short. So I picked up Marianne and escaped out of the backdoor. I escaped to Denis’s house with Marianne. I can’t come home since Frederick’s men are keeping a watch over our house 24/7. They have rented the house next to ours and are roaming around on the beach as well. Cara’s phone, uncle Joe and aunt Maggie’s phones are all tapped. I overheard them while escaping with Marianne. So use a different phone to contact me. Denis’s mom’s number is 310-456-2533.
I’m sure Frederick’s men are planning something big to harm us. Don’t worry about me and Marianne. We both are fine and I hope you are too. I’m sorry that I couldn’t save you, Vera, uncle Joe, and aunt Maggie. Once the men are arrested, we’ll come back.
Liam.
They all released the breath they were holding. “Thank God, they’re safe,” said Mrs. Donnelly.
“Let’s call him using my mobile phone,” suggested Nicholas, typing in the number Liam had given. After a few rings, a lady accepted the call introducing herself as Denis’s mom, Bianca Haverhill. Nicholas introduced himself and thanked her for taking care of the children. Later he asked for Liam and handed the phone over to uncle Joe.
Switching on the speaker mode, uncle Joe talked to Liam. He and Marianne were fine. He informed them that Denis had a telescope fixed up in one of the beach-front rooms of his house. It enabled him to find out about Frederick’s men. It was Frederick’s right-hand man and manager, Danny Morgan, and his men who were living in the house next door. The children knew him since he had accompanied Frederick many times to their house.
“Since when have they moved in?” asked Uncle Joe with horror.
“I’ve been seeing them since morning, uncle Joe. One of our security guards regularly goes to their house. I think he was the one who let them in last night,” said Liam, making them all gasp.
“Hi, Liam. I’m Lucas, Marcus’s older brother. Can you describe the guard who’s cooperating with them? Do you know his name?” asked Lucas.
“Hello, Lucas! Is Marcus too there with you? Cara will be happy if he comes back to her,” said Liam hopefully.
“Yes, Marcus is here but he had an accident. He’s better and sleeping. Cara is with him,” he added, touched by her brother’s concern.
“It wasn’t an accident, Lucas. I overheard Frederick yell at his men for not finishing off two people. Maybe he was talking about Cara and Marcus,” said Liam. They all gasped with horror although Lucas had guessed as much.
“I’ll ask officer Berkeley to investigate the accident. So do you know the security guard?” he repeated.
“Yes, I’ve seen him around but I don’t know his name. He has dirty-blonde hair with a bald patch in the middle of his head. He has brown eyes and a crooked nose with an old injury on his right eyebrow,” informed Liam.
“That’s John Morrissey. He joined us seven months back around the same time we moved in. I think he used to work with Frederick before joining us. Why didn’t I think of it before?” said Joe Smithfield as everything fell into place. No wonder Frederick had information of their whereabouts and their visitors. At first, he thought that Frederick monitored them through some sort of a hidden camera he planted somewhere but now he realized how.
“Okay, Liam. Take care of yourself and Marianne. Once the criminals are arrested, I’ll come down to get you both home,” said Lucas. While they felt relieved that Liam and Marianne were fine, a new feeling of dread started gnawing its way into their heads. Mrs. Jenner led the kids away while the others sat huddled thinking about their next step.
“We should inform officer Berkeley first. He could arrest the criminals,” said Nicholas. Lucas nodded and got up and walked over to the huge bay windows to call the police officer, informing him about the latest developments in the case. He promised to give them more coverage and arrest Frederick’s men immediately. Lucas disconnected the call and turned to return to the living room but his eyes caught a movement outside the window. He was instantly on high alert. There was someone outside who was either trying to listen to their conversation or trying to get in. He walked towards the living room as if he hadn’t seen anyone outside the closed windows.
“I think we should all sleep early. It’s been quite a day,” he said, ushering everyone out of the room. Thankfully, no one argued seeing his grave face. They must have realized that something was wrong. He switched off the lights and walked towards the spare room downstairs where the children had slept last night. “Nicholas, we’ll sleep here,” he whispered, pulling him inside.
“What’s going on, bro? We didn’t even have our dinner yet,” protested Nicholas.
“I think there’s someone outside, trying to get in. I’m alerting the team outside as well as asking for more protection,” said Lucas, making a call to officer Berkeley.
“Pretend to sleep. We’re on our way there. Don’t worry we’ll catch them red-handed,” said the officer. After disconnecting the call, they used the interconnecting door to communicate amongst themselves under the dim lights. The children were sleeping on the spare bed in the nursery with Mrs. Donnelly.
They could hear movements outside in the still night. “I think there are more people than one involved. What if they attack us bro?” asked Nicholas.
“I just hope officer Berkeley arrives before that but the question is how did they enter the property? What about the police team outside? How did they not notice the intruders?” asked a clueless Lucas.
“I don’t know what’s going on. Maybe there are more insiders involved and not just John Morrissey. Maybe they have used a sleeping spray on the cops outside just like that did last night,” said Nicholas.
“Maybe they’ve been sent by Fredrick to abduct Cara this time,” said Lucas. They waited but nothing happened for almost three hours. Then at 12:30 in the night the sound of someone tampering with the locks on the front door echoed in the air.
“Do you have a gun or something, Uncle Joe?” asked Lucas. Uncle Joe shook his head, his eyes going wide with fear.
“I have my licensed gun at home. My bodyguards also aren’t here,” said Lucas.
“I think we can go out through the back door and alert the police outside,” said Nicholas.
“No, that’s dangerous. What if the police are all unconscious like last night?” said Lucas. “Wait, I’ll call officer Berkeley.” He called the officer but he didn’t accept the call, making them panic all the more.
“Nikolas, grab something heavy. We will bang it on the head of whoever enters the house,” said Lucas. He picked up a heavy metal candle holder while Nicholas picked up a heavy cricket bat. They inched towards the door, standing on either side. “Target the head and hand, take them by surprise so that they cannot use the spray. If a gun falls from their hands, pick it up and shoot,” whispered Lucas.
It was easier said than done since they weren’t criminals nor used to this sort of thing. Although both of them were trained in self-defense, this wasn’t the usual type of open attack. Finally, the door clicked and slowly creaked open. With their heartbeats rocketing sky-high, they eagerly waited for the intruders to enter but no one did. It was impossible to understand how many people were outside.
“Everyone is sleeping. Just get to Rohesia. We have to finish her this time else sir will finish us,” whispered a raspy voice.
“Yes, Danny,” whispered back another. “Will I use the spray? It’s nearly finished.” It was obvious that Danny Morgan and his men had finally decided to attack them tonight.
“Not needed. Just use the silencer and shoot Rohesia. She shouldn’t get away,” said the man named Danny. Lucas and Nicholas panicked since the men had weapons and it was foolish to think of attacking them. He tried to catch Nicholas’s eye and gesture to him to hide but he stood pale and shocked without at all looking at him.
“What if anyone interfered?” asked the man.
“Use the spray. Don’t kill anyone else apart from Rohesia. Go in at the count of three,” said Danny Morgan. Lucas felt relieved that there were only two men outside. Danny and his accomplice who was about to enter their house. Could they tackle him and ease the gun off his hand? He looked at his brother and gestured to attack. Nicholas nodded, taking a deep breath.
“Ready? One, two, three, go,” said Danny.
All at once, four men carrying guns strode inside the house taking them by surprise since they were expecting only one!