Chapter 6 - The Tiger UnmaskedWith a guttural roar, Richard lunged forward, tackling Ethan to the ground. The two men rolled across the plush carpet in a violent struggle for dominance. Richard drove a heavy elbow into Ethan’s ribs, knocking the wind out of him, but Ethan retaliated by slamming his heel down onto Richard’s instep, making the other man cry out in agony.
Meanwhile, Celeste spotted the fallen gun sliding out from under the bed. Her eyes lit up with predatory glee. She scrambled across the floor, her manicured fingernails stretching out to wrap around the cold steel grip of the firearm.
"Ethan! Look out!"
The heavy oak study door burst open, and six-year-old Sophie stood in the doorway, holding a heavy glass paperweight she had managed to carry from the desk. Without a second thought, the brave little girl hurled the crystal sphere across the room with all her might.
CRASH!
The heavy glass struck Celeste squarely in the temple just as her fingers grazed the gun. Celeste let out a sharp cry, her eyes rolling back as she crumpled sideways onto the floor, knocked instantly unconscious by the impact.
Distracted by the commotion, Richard glanced back for a split second—and that was Ethan’s opening.
With a surge of adrenaline-fueled strength, Ethan threw his weight upward, pinning Richard beneath him, and drove a swift, crushing punch straight into Richard’s temple. Richard went limp instantly, passing out cold on the carpet.
Panting heavily, bleeding from a graze on his cheek, Ethan scrambled to his feet. He rushed over to the doorway, scooping Sophie up into his arms and pulling her tight against his chest.
"You okay, sweetheart? Are you hurt?" Ethan asked frantically, checking her over.
"I'm okay, Daddy," Sophie whispered, burying her face in his shoulder. "Is the bad lady gone?"
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"She's not going anywhere," Ethan said grimly, stepping over the unconscious bodies of Celeste and Richard. He grabbed the secure flash drive, the medical ledger, and Clara’s photograph from the floor. He walked over to the wall-mounted console and hit the master broadcast button, connecting his phone directly to the local police dispatch.
"This is Ethan Vance," he spoke clearly into the receiver, his voice echoing through the sprawling mansion. "I need an immediate tactical unit at 442 Crestwood Lane. We have two armed intruders, attempted kidnapping, and a confession of premeditated homicide."
