I froze, holding my breath, listening to the quiet of the grand house.

The grandfather clock in the main hallway ticked with a heavy, slow rhythm.

Otherwise, the house was dead silent.

I crept toward the grand staircase, my hand hovering near the wooden banister but never touching it.

The nursery was at the far end of the east wing, away from my mother’s bedroom.

My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird.

I pictured Leo’s small face, his tiny hands clutching at the air.

I had to get him, find a car, and get out of this town before morning.

I reached the bottom of the stairs, my eyes adjusting to the deep shadows.

Suddenly, a floorboard creaked on the landing above.

I shrank back into the darkness of the hallway, my hand reaching for the pocket where the documents were hidden.

A light flickered at the top of the stairs, casting a long, thin shadow down the steps.

Someone was coming down.

The shadow lengthened, stretching across the polished steps like a stain.

I pressed myself into the alcove beneath the stairs, holding my breath.