Chapter 1 - Red and Blue Lights in the Snow
The distant wail of sirens sliced through the freezing night air, growing louder until red and blue lights painted the snow-covered driveway. I sat in the driver’s seat of my Jeep, holding Elena’s frozen hand, watching the pulse of the emergency lights illuminate the frosted windows of the house.
Two police cruisers and an ambulance skidded to a halt. Paramedics rushed the vehicle before I even had the door fully open. They moved with terrifying efficiency, sliding Elena onto a stretcher, wrapping her in thermal foil blankets, and securing an oxygen mask over her pale, blue-tinged lips.
“Core temp is dropping fast. We need to move,” one of the medics shouted over the howling wind, pushing the stretcher toward the back of the ambulance.
I wanted to ride with her, to never let her out of my sight again, but a heavy hand landed on my shoulder. It was a police officer, looking grimly between me and the grand front door of the estate.
“Sir, are you the one who called 911?” the officer asked, his breath pluming in the cold air.
Before I could answer, the front door swung open. My mother stepped out onto the porch, clutching a cashmere shawl around her shoulders, feigning a look of absolute shock. Chloe was right behind her, playing the part of the frightened, innocent sister.
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“Officers! Thank goodness you’re here,” my mother cried out, her voice dripping with artificial distress. “My daughter-in-law has been suffering from a severe mental break. She locked herself out in a hysterical fit! We tried to stop her!”
I looked at the officer, my voice dead calm. “I have live security feeds synced to my phone. Let’s see who locked the door.”
