PRICE OF PROTECTION

EPISODE THREE: THE EVIDENCE

Elena backed away from the door.

Her hip slammed the dresser.

A perfume bottle tipped. Fell.

Crystal exploded on marble.

No!

The smell hit. Heavy. Floral. Suffocating.

Elena dropped to her knees. Grabbed glass with bare hands. Sharp edges bit her fingers. Blood welled up.

Mrs. Chen will know.

She grabbed tissues from the nightstand. Tried to soak it up. The liquid spread across marble. Seeped into cracks.

The smell filled everything. Her clothes. Her hair.

Evidence.

The papers. The open drawer. The unlocked door.

She had to get out.

Moonlight through the window.

Elena ran to it. Pushed. It opened.

Second floor. Narrow ledge. Her window fifteen feet away.

Don't look down.

She grabbed the photograph. Shoved it deep in her pocket. Climbed onto the sill.

Wind hit her face. Cold. Sharp.

She pressed against the wall. Started moving sideways.

Her fingers found grooves in stone. The ledge was six inches wide. Below, gravel and marble steps waited in darkness.

One slip.

Wind pulled harder. Stone cut her palms.

Halfway. Ten feet left.

Her foot slipped.

Elena gasped. Her fingers scraped stone. She caught herself. Pressed harder against the wall.

Don't look down.

Her heart hammered. Too loud. Someone would hear.

Five feet.

Three.

She reached her window. Grabbed the frame. Pulled herself through.

Hit the floor hard.

Safe.

She lay there gasping. Blood dripped from her fingers onto carpet.

The key.

Elena's heart jumped. The gold key was still in her pocket. She went back to the kitchen to return it.

Downstairs. Dark. Silent.

She hung the key back on the rack. Exactly where she'd found it.

Done.

Check Mia.

Elena crept to the nursery.

Mia slept. Thumb in mouth. Giraffe under her arm.

Elena went back to her room. Shoved the photograph under her mattress.

Stared at her bleeding hands.

Mrs. Chen would see the perfume tomorrow.

Elena didn't sleep.

7 AM. Mia cried.

Elena bolted upright. Her body ached. Her hands throbbed.

She ran to the nursery.

Mia stood in her crib. Tears streaming. "Mama! Mama!"

"I'm here, sweetheart." Elena scooped her up. Tried to hide her bandaged hands.

Mia buried her face in Elena's neck. Tiny body shaking.

"Shh, it's okay. I've got you." Elena swayed. Hummed the lullaby.

Mia's crying stopped. She lifted her head. Big brown eyes found Elena's.

"Lena here?"

"Yes, baby. Lena's here."

Mia smiled. Small. Then put her head back down.

Elena's chest tightened. This little girl. So broken. So desperate for love.

Don't get attached.

Too late.

She carried Mia downstairs. Her stomach twisted.

9 AM. Right on schedule.

Gravel crunched outside.

Mrs. Chen was back.

Elena stood in the foyer. Holding Mia. Heart pounding.

The front door opened.

Mrs. Chen stepped inside. Black coat. Severe bun. Cold eyes immediately found Elena's face.

"Good morning, Ms. Hayes." She set down her purse. Removed her gloves slowly. "How was the night?"

"Fine."

"You look tired." Mrs. Chen's eyes traveled over Elena's face. Her wrinkled clothes. Pale skin.

"Mia had a rough night."

"Did she." Mrs. Chen removed her coat. Hung it on the rack.

Not a question.

"I'll prepare Mia's breakfast." Mrs. Chen walked toward the kitchen. Paused. "Though first, I should check upstairs. Make sure everything is in order."

Elena's blood froze.

Mrs. Chen's heels clicked against marble. Past Elena. Heading for the stairs.

She's checking.

Elena stood frozen. Mia played with her collar.

Footsteps on the stairs. Climbing higher.

Elena counted. Twenty-three steps to the second floor.

Silence.

Footsteps in the hallway.

A door opening.

The late mistress's room.

Forever passed. Each second stretched.

Elena's grip on Mia tightened.

"Down, Lena."

"Not yet, baby."

Footsteps coming back.

Slow. Deliberate.

Mrs. Chen appeared at the top of the stairs. Face completely blank.

She descended. One step at a time.

Elena couldn't breathe.

Mrs. Chen reached the bottom. Stopped directly in front of Elena.

"Everything's in order." Voice flat. Professional. "Though a perfume bottle shattered in the late mistress's room."

Elena's heart stopped.

"Strange." Mrs. Chen's eyes bored into Elena's. "That room's been locked for months. Only two people have keys."

The words hung in the air.

"I..." Elena's voice failed.

Mrs. Chen walked past toward the kitchen. "I'll have it cleaned."

Paused in the doorway. Didn't turn around.

"These old houses. Things fall."

Gone.

Elena stood shaking. Mia patted her face.

"Lena okay?"

"Yes, baby. I'm okay."

Liar.

The day crawled.

Elena played with Mia. Built block towers. Read picture books. Made silly faces that made Mia giggle.

But every sound made her jump.

Every creak.

Every footstep.

Mrs. Chen moved through the mansion like a ghost. Always watching. Always there.

Elena felt her eyes everywhere.

Lunch. Mrs. Chen prepared Mia's food in silence. Sliced fruit into perfect pieces. Warmed milk to exact temperature.

"She's eating better," Mrs. Chen observed. "Since you arrived."

"She just needed someone patient."

"The others weren't patient?"

"I don't know. I wasn't here."

Mrs. Chen's eyes narrowed. "No. You weren't."

The way she said it made Elena's skin crawl.

After lunch, Elena took Mia outside. The garden. Fresh air felt like freedom.

Mia toddled through grass. Chasing butterflies. Laughing.

Elena sat on a bench. Watching. Trying to breathe normally.

Tomorrow. 8 PM.

Less than thirty hours until her employer arrived.

The man who paid $50,000.

The man connected to the photograph.

Elena pulled out her phone. The email.

Your employer returns tomorrow evening, 8:00 PM. Be presentable.

She typed: What is his name?

Reply came instantly: All information will be provided upon his arrival.

Elena stared at the screen. Can you at least tell me what he does?

No response.

She tried again: I'd like to know who I'm working for.

Nothing.

Elena put her phone away. Watched Mia play.

What am I doing?

That afternoon, Mia napped. Elena organized the nursery. Folded tiny clothes. Straightened toys.

But her mind raced.

The photograph. The contract. The locked room.

Elimination protocol authorized if subject presents security risk.

Was she the security risk?

Her phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

Her hands shook as she answered. "Hello?"

Silence.

"Hello?"

A breath. Then the line went dead.

Elena stared at her phone. Heart hammering.

Wrong number? Or something else?

Evening came fast.

Elena gave Mia her bath. Put her in star pajamas.

"Story, Lena."

"Which one?"

"Princess."

Elena read about a princess in a tower. Waiting for rescue that never came.

"Night night, Lena."

"Sweet dreams, baby."

Elena kissed Mia's forehead. The little girl smiled in her sleep.

So trusting. So innocent.

I won't let anything happen to you.

Elena went to her room. Called Jenna.

"Elena! Finally! How's it going?"

Jenna's voice. Normal. Far from this nightmare.

"It's... fine."

"You sure? You sound weird."

*Everything's wrong. I'm trapped. I'm scared.*

"I just miss you."

"Come on, Elle. What's really going on?"

Elena's throat closed. "The house is big. The housekeeper is strict. The baby is sweet."

"But?"

"But nothing. It's fine."

Silence. Then: "If you need me, I'm here. Day or night. You call me, I'm on the next train."

"I know."

"Promise me. If anything feels wrong really wrong you leave."

"I promise."

"I love you."

"Love you too."

Elena hung up.

She lay on her bed. Pulled out the photograph.

Half her face. One eye.

ELIMINATE HER IF HE DOESN'T DO THE NEEDFUL.

Tomorrow. 8 PM.

She'd know.

Elena closed her eyes.

Tomorrow felt too far and too close.

She must have dozed becaus

Midnight.

A car engine woke her.

Elena sat bolt upright.

No. Tomorrow. 8 PM.

But the engine was real. Close. Gravel crunching.

It stopped.

Car doors. Two of them.

Footsteps on gravel.

Elena's heart pounded. She crept to her window. Pulled the curtain back.

Two men in dark suits stood by a black SUV.

One called out: "Mrs. Chen!"

Light flooded downstairs. The front door opened.

Mrs. Chen stepped outside. Cardigan wrapped tight.

"This is too early!" Her voice carried up. Sharp. Angry. "At least give some time. I said some time!"

Elena's grip tightened on the curtain. Breath came in gasps.

The other man pulled out a cigar. Struck a match. Lit it. Orange glow.

He took a long drag.

Then spoke. Voice cold and flat:

"Contract is signed. Elimination starts now."

Elena's heart stopped.

Her hand flew to her mouth.

Elimination.

The photograph. The words burned in her mind.

ELIMINATE HER IF HE DOESN'T DO THE NEEDFUL.

Her legs gave out. She sank to the floor.

They were here.

They were here for her.

Her body shook. She pressed both hands over her mouth to keep from screaming.

Contract is signed.

Elimination starts now.

Tears streamed down her face.

The voices continued outside. Mrs. Chen arguing. The men responding. Elena couldn't hear over the roaring in her ears.

Just her heartbeat. Loud. Frantic.

She looked at Mia's closed door.

Oh god. Mia.

Elena crawled to her bed. Grabbed her phone.

Call police?

And say what?

Her vision blurred.

Contract is signed. Elimination starts now.

She'd found the photograph. Broken into the locked room.

She knew too much.

Outside, car doors slammed.

Engine started.

But the sound didn't fade.

They were still here.

Elena crawled back to the window. Peeked over.

The SUV sat in the driveway. Engine running. Headlights off.

Waiting.

The front door closed downstairs.

Footsteps. Mrs. Chen walking through the house.

Elena held her breath.

The footsteps moved through the first floor. Stopped.

Silence.

Then started again.

Climbing the stairs.

Slow. Deliberate.

Getting closer.

Elena's eyes locked on her bedroom door. She'd locked it. Right?

The footsteps reached the second floor.

Moved down the hallway.

Past guest rooms. Past the late mistress's door.

Getting louder.

Elena's chest heaved. She couldn't breathe.

The footsteps grew louder.

Closer.

Right outside her room.

Stopped.

Complete silence.

Elena sat frozen. Tears pouring. The photograph clutched in her hands.

A shadow appeared under her door.

Someone standing there.

Right there.

She could hear breathing.

Slow. Steady.

Elena's vision tunneled. Her body shook.

The doorknob moved.

Just slightly.

Testing.

Elena's hand flew to her mouth. She bit down on her palm.

The doorknob stopped.

Silence.

Then footsteps walking away.

Down the hallway.

Fading.

Elena couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.

Outside, the SUV's engine revved.

Tires on gravel.

Fading into distance.

Gone.

Elena sat on the floor. Sobbing into her hands.

Contract is signed. Elimination starts now.

They were coming for her.

And there was nowhere to run.