She moved.
“Do not make a sound.”
Victoria's breathing became shallow.
Then she heard footsteps outside.
Slow.
Measured.
Someone walked across the back patio.
Victoria pressed herself against the wall.
The footsteps stopped.
A shadow passed beneath the kitchen door.
Then nothing.
Victoria waited.
Five seconds.
Ten.
Twenty.
Suddenly, headlights flooded the windows.
Several vehicles.
Doors opened.
Voices shouted.
Victoria nearly collapsed with relief.
Federal agents surrounded the house.
A minute later, the front door opened.
Robert entered.
“Victoria?”
She stepped into the hallway.
“Yes.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“You did the right thing.”
Victoria began to cry.
“I almost didn't.”
Robert nodded.
“I know.”
She wiped her eyes.
“Who was outside?”
“We're still checking.”
“Was it Gregory?”
Robert didn't answer.
That was enough.
Victoria sat down.
“I helped him.”
Robert looked at her.
“How?”
“I gave him information.”
“What information?”
“About Claire.”
“What exactly?”
Victoria told him everything.
The complaints.
The photographs.
The surveillance.
The signal box.
The schedules.
The days Atlas was outside.
The times Claire left the house.
Robert listened.
When she finished, he said:
“You may have helped someone build a surveillance profile.”
Victoria covered her face.
“I didn't know.”
“I believe you.”
“But I did it.”
“Yes.”
“What happens now?”
Robert crouched beside her.
“Now you help us undo it.”
Victoria looked at him.
“How?”
“You know the HOA records.”
She nodded.
“You know which cameras were installed.”
“Yes.”
“You know who had access.”
“Yes.”
Robert stood.
“Then you're going to tell us everything.”
Victoria wiped her face.
“Okay.”
For the first time, she wasn't acting like the president of anything.
She was simply a frightened woman who had finally realized that her need for control had allowed someone dangerous to get close to people who had trusted her.
Across town, Claire sat in a secure vehicle with Daniel and Emma.
Atlas lay at her feet.
Robert's voice came through the radio.
“Victoria is safe.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“Thank God.”
Daniel reached for her hand.
Claire squeezed it.
Then Atlas lifted his head.
He stared toward the rear window.
Claire followed his gaze.
“What is it?”
The agent driving looked in the mirror.