Chapter 6 - The Infiltration
By 2:00 AM, the storm had quieted to a bitter, icy drizzle over Manhattan.
Three unmarked police vans sat parked two blocks away from the massive wrought-iron gates of Sterling Manor. Inside the lead van, Emma sat beside Detective Delgado, reviewing a blueprint of the mansion laid out on a digital tablet.
"The party is over, but Isabella’s private security guards are still patrolling the perimeter," Emma explained, pointing to the rear access road. "There is an old coal chute near the laundry room that connects directly to the sub-basement corridor. It’s unmonitored because the staff uses it for bulk linen delivery."
"My SWAT team will secure the main gates and neutralise the estate security quietly," Delgado said, adjusting his tactical vest. "Emma, you stay in the van with the backup unit."
"No," Emma said firmly, looking Delgado dead in the eye. "William’s private bedroom suite is locked with a bio-metric keypad that only responds to his code or the master house key. The master key is kept inside the main kitchen safe. I know the combination to that safe—Mrs. Gable forced me to memorize it last month."
Delgado stared at her for a moment, seeing the motherly fierce resolve radiating off the quiet housekeeper. He reached into a gear bag and pulled out a lightweight bulletproof vest, tossing it to her. "Put this on under your jacket. You stay right behind me at all times. If a single shot is fired, you drop to the floor."
Five minutes later, the tactical team moved like shadows across the manicured lawns of Sterling Manor. The estate’s private guards were caught completely off guard, subdued quickly and silently near the gatehouse by Delgado's officers without a single alarm being raised.
Emma led Delgado and two SWAT officers through the narrow coal chute entrance, slipping into the dark, echoing laundry room where she had hidden Ethan hours earlier.
The mansion was eerily quiet now. The crystal chandeliers in the ballroom were dim, casting long, spooky shadows across the marble floors.
They moved silently down the staff corridor toward the baroque painting. Delgado stepped up to the gold frame, gripped the edge, and pushed it aside. The exposed brick entrance swung open, revealing the dark stone steps leading down into the secret basement.
"SWAT, secure the lower level and preserve all medical evidence," Delgado ordered softly into his radio headset. Two officers slipped down the stairs, their weapons raised.
Emma led Delgado up the grand central staircase toward the master wing. The plush carpets muffled their footsteps.
When they reached the heavy double oak doors of William Sterling’s master suite, Emma stepped up to the wall-mounted security panel beside the kitchen service pantry, punched in the six-digit master safe code, and pulled out the brass master key.
She inserted the key into the master suite door, turned it silently, and pushed the door open.
The master bedroom was vast and dark, lit only by the pale moonlight filtering through towering floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Central Park.
In the center of the room sat a massive king-sized four-poster bed. William Sterling lay stretched out on top of the covers, still wearing his white tuxedo shirt, breathing heavily in a deep, unnatural sleep.
Sitting in a armchair near the fireplace, holding a silver tray with a steaming porcelain teacup, was Isabella Sterling.
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She didn't look surprised. She slowly raised her eyes to look at Emma and the armed police detective standing in her doorway.
"You really are a persistent little pest, aren't you, Emma?" Isabella said calmly, setting the teacup down on the mahogany side table with a faint, dainty clink.
