The Ultrasound Photo

Chapter 2 The Smart Mansion Trap

The next day, I was lecturing on Renaissance art patronage when a red icon appeared on the tablet propped against my lectern: *Level One Breach, main gate.* The time in the corner read noon exactly.

I kept talking and touched the alert with my stylus. An encrypted window opened in the corner of the screen, angled away from the class.

The foyer camera came up.

Chloe, Mia, and two friends were already inside. They stumbled across the marble floor while Chloe filmed the two-story chandelier, the staircase and the Vance crest set into the foyer wall.

"Welcome to my new home, followers! The old hag is gone. This is what the V-A-N-C-E lifestyle looks like!"

While I explained the Medici family's influence, Chloe kicked off her stilettos and jumped onto my custom Fendi sofa. Mia went straight to the bar, selected the oldest bottle she could find and opened the vintage champagne Arthur and I had been saving.

I tightened my grip on the stylus until its edge pressed into my finger. The security system had logged every face, every door and the bottle leaving its rack. The four of them supplied the rest on Chloe's public livestream.

Chloe began describing her plans for the living room. A banner dropped across the top of her phone and appeared clearly in the livestream.

*PAYMENT FAILED: Prenatal Vitamin, Installment Plan.*

The camera tipped sideways. Mia stopped laughing. Comments rolled up the screen before Chloe could cover them.

*“lol installment plan for vitamins?”*

*“I thought she was a billionaire’s girl now?”*

*“Is this a joke? My mom pays for my vitamins.”*

Chloe swiped the message away, but everyone had seen the ten-dollar co-pay and the words *Installment Plan*. Red patches climbed over her cheeks as more laughing emojis appeared.

"Spam! My finance team handles my bills."

I had seen enough.

I finished my point about Brunelleschi's dome and tapped *Omega Defense Protocol*.

The foyer feed shook with the first impact.

Titanium shutters dropped over every window and glass door. Each impact shook dust from the upper frames. The front door locked with a heavy metallic clunk, and the one-ton magnetic seal engaged. Phone screens lit the dark foyer for another second before the Wi-Fi cut out.

The livestream stopped.

My tablet displayed one line: *Perimeter Secured. Intruders Contained.* Behind the notice, Chloe was still yanking at the front door while Mia searched the walls for another exit.

I closed the security window and faced the class. "Any questions about the High Renaissance?"

After class, I packed my briefcase and called 911.

"I'd like to report a break-in at my home in Crestwood Hills. Several intruders are locked inside. Please send a unit."

Then I texted my lead attorney, Marcos. *West Hollywood Sheriff's Station. One hour. Bring the estate file, especially the list of contractors who handled Arthur's belongings.*

I wanted a look at the man who had opened Arthur's safe.