Chapter 7 - The Ticking Clock
Arthur stared down at the vintage silver pocket watch spinning slowly on the dusty concrete. The ticking sound was magnified in the quiet basement, echoing like a metronome counting down the remaining seconds of his freedom. He knelt down, picking up the heavy metal object, and flipped open the front cover. Engraved on the inside casing were the initials V.R., along with a specific date from five years ago—the day Victor Ross had supposedly saved Arthur's company from bankruptcy by securing their very first major venture capital investment. It was clear now that the partnership had been built on a foundation of deception from day one.
"Dad, can you hear me?" Leo's voice strained through the small utility window, snapping Arthur back to the present crisis. "A black SUV just pulled up the driveway! Two men got out and went inside through the back door!"
"Leo, listen to me very carefully," Arthur said, pressing his face close to the iron bars of the window. "You need to take Maya and your mother out through the front garden gate right now. Go straight to Officer Miller's house down the street. Do not look back, do not pack anything, just go!"
"I'm not leaving you here!" Leo protested, his voice cracking with fear and defiance. "They're inside the house with Mom!"
"Go!" Arthur roared, a command born of pure desperation that finally silenced the boy.
Through the glass, Arthur saw Leo hesitate for a fraction of a second before scrambling backward out of the window well. A moment later, the muffled sound of shouting echoed from the upper floors of the house. Arthur attacked the wooden basement door again, kicking furiously at the deadbolt until his shin burned with pain. With one final, desperate heave, the wooden frame splintered inward, the heavy latch tearing completely out of the drywall.
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Arthur burst out of the basement stairwell and into the kitchen, only to find the room utterly empty, save for a single item left behind on the marble kitchen island: Elena’s wedding ring, resting neatly on top of another white envelope.
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