nging them into a vast, silent darkness. The grand foyer of the Monroe estate was usually bri

ickered to life, illuminating an empty, echoing space. There w

sed. This was exact

slightly as she tried to impose some normalcy on the unnerving situation.

layer of dust coated the polished surfaces. They hadn't even bothered to have it cleaned. She stripped off her damp clothes and stepped into t

burst into the bathroom, her face stricken. In her hands, she held a

ears. "The kitchen... it's empty. They took ev

a towel and bega

cial advisor. My access has been revoked. I tried your credit cards to

n said, her voice quiet a

e injustice of it overwhelming her. "Yo

ps. "To them, a Monroe without the Beaumont

on the edge of the bed. She took the package of crackers

ackage back toward Arden. "You first

keeping the other for herself. They sat there in the opulent,

They saw us come in. They just turned and walked away.

c starvation. Social isolation. They wanted to break her spirit, to humil

ing to be so

irm. "They want to see us desperate.

sound of the gate's internal line

r a moment, and her expression soured. She held the receiv

's a couple of guys down here. Say their names are Arthur Hayes and Cillian Sul

llian. Her grandfather's right-hand

. They wouldn't be here unless... un