Chapter 5 - The Fishing Expedition
The fishing line swayed gently as I lowered it, catching the faint draft of the air conditioning.
Down below, Derek was rubbing his temples, completely absorbed in his financial ruin.
My hands were shaking, a betrayal of my own nerves, causing the paperclip to bounce erratically.
I forced myself to take a deep, grounding breath, channeling all my focus into my fingertips.
The hook dangled mere inches above the heavy silver ring holding the keys together.
Suddenly, Derek's cell phone buzzed loudly on the desk, vibrating right next to the keys.
He snatched the phone up, his elbow brushing against the key ring.
The keys slid closer to the edge of the desk, directly underneath my makeshift hook.
"Yeah, I have the paperwork ready," Derek barked into the phone.
While he was distracted by the call, I lowered the hook the final inch.
It caught the metal ring with a faint, almost imperceptible 'tink'.
I didn't jerk the line; I pulled it up with slow, agonizing smoothness.
The heavy keys lifted off the mahogany surface, spinning slowly in mid-air.
Derek was staring at his computer screen, completely oblivious to the magic trick happening above his head.
I hoisted the keys higher and higher, my arms burning from the tension.
Finally, they cleared the ceiling opening, and I grabbed them with my bare hand.
I collapsed onto the carpet, clutching the cold metal against my chest like a priceless treasure.
I had the keys.
I quietly replaced the air vent grate and scrambled back into the hallway.
I reached the master suite and slid the brass key into the padlock.
It turned with a satisfying click.
I pulled the heavy lock off the door and gently turned the doorknob.
Chloe was sitting on the edge of the bed, her face pale and her eyes wide with terror.
When she saw me, she practically flew across the room, throwing her arms around my neck.
"Mom," she sobbed into my shoulder.
"We have to go, Chloe. Right now," I whispered, pulling her toward the door.
May you like
But as we stepped into the hallway, the sound of the front doorbell echoed through the house.
Derek’s associate had arrived.
