“I have the messages.”

He stopped, his body going completely rigid.

His eyes flicked to his mother, who had gone pale.

“What drive?” he whispered.

“The one Juliette gave me,” I said.

“She gave me everything.”

For a second, the house was completely silent.

Then, Mark’s face twisted into something monstrous.

He reached behind his back, his hand disappearing into the waistband of his trousers.

“Get down!” Sheriff Miller yelled.

The deputies lunged forward, grabbing Mark’s arms before he could pull his hand free.

A heavy silver revolver clattered onto the hardwood floor of the foyer.

Patricia screamed, dropping her tea cup.

The porcelain shattered, splashing hot brown liquid across the white rug.

Mark kicked and screamed as the deputies slammed him against the wall.

“You ruined me!” he shrieked, his eyes bulging as they pulled his arms behind his back.

“I will burn this place to the ground before you get it!”

Suddenly, a loud, crackling sound came from the library down the hall.

A thick plume of black smoke began to roll out of the doorway.

The fire alarm on the ceiling began to shriek.