“He’s up there, Daniel,” Charles said, his voice trembling with rage.

“The man is a lunatic.”

“He assaulted my entire security detail.”

“He has my wife trapped in the library.”

“Do whatever you have to do to stop him.”

Sheriff Mercer nodded, his jaw set in a hard line.

“I’ll handle it, Charles,” Mercer said.

“Go look after Evelyn.”

The sheriff began to ascend the stairs, his heavy boots squeaking on the wood.

Beside me, Emily’s fingers dug deep into my jacket.

“Dad,” she whispered, her breath hot against my neck.

“He’s going to kill us.”

“Stay behind me,” I whispered back.

I looked around the landing, searching for another way down.

There was a narrow corridor to the left, leading toward the rear of the mansion.

“Is there a service staircase?” I asked.

“Yes,” she whispered.

“It leads down to the pantry behind the kitchen.”

“But the back kitchen door has a digital security lock.”

“Only Charles and Ryan know the code to open it.”

“We’ll worry about the door when we get there,” I said.

We moved quickly and silently down the narrow side corridor.