Criminal

Chapter 22

I tiptoed through the house, the silence ringing in my ears like a deafening roar. He wasn't home, at least not yet. I needed to seize this opportunity, to find a way out before he returned.

My stomach growled with hunger, leading me to the kitchen where I found some steak and potatoes in the fridge. As I cooked, the scent of sizzling meat filled the air, momentarily distracting me from the terror that lurked around every corner.

But as I explored further, I stumbled upon a room that looked like a makeshift computer hub. My heart raced as I saw screens displaying surveillance footage, including one of my father, Victor LaSalle, in his office.

Desperation clawed at my throat as I searched for a way to communicate with him, to scream for help and pray that he could hear me. But before I c