It was almost midnight when Amy finally dialed the number.
Her hands trembled as she pressed the phone to her ear, the glow of the screen lighting up her pale face. The dining room felt colder than before, shadows stretching unnaturally across the walls as the second hand of the clock crept closer to twelve. Every sound seemed amplified—the faint hum of electricity, the distant creak of the house settling, the shallow rhythm of David's breathing across her.
"Put it down," the leader ordered quietly.
Amy hesitated for half a second.
"On the table," he repeated, lifting the gun just enough to remove all doubt. "Speaker."
She swallowed and placed the phone on the dining table, her finger tapping the speaker icon. The ringing echoed through the room, each tone stabbing into her nerves. The leader stepped back, eyes fixed on the phone, his posture relaxed but lethal.
The huge burglar began making his way toward the staircase. His movements were slow and heavy, boots dragging against the wood as he climbed. Each step groaned beneath his weight, announcing his presence long before he reached the landing.
At the end of the hallway, the tall burglar stood watch, arms crossed, blocking the bedroom where Jen and the twins were being held. His silhouette barely shifted as the huge burglar approached.
Jen heard the voices first—low, irritated murmurs drifting through the hallway. Her heart leapt. She glanced down at her wrists, raw and red, looking at the zip tie that was already near its breaking point.
"I just wanna check on 'em," the huge burglar said, his voice thick, almost defensive. "Make sure they ain't tryin' anything."
The tall burglar didn't budge. "We all got our duties tonight," he replied sharply. "Mine's here. Yours ain't. Go back to your post and stop being a nuisance."
As they argued, Jen seized the moment. Gritting her teeth, she braced her arms and pulled with brutal force. The zip tie snapped apart with a muted crack. Pain shot through her wrists, but she barely noticed. She froze instantly, listening, heart hammering, terrified the sound had carried.
Downstairs, the phone continued to ring.
Finally, a voice came through the speaker. "Hello?" The regional head sounded tired—but instantly alert. "Mrs White? Is everything okay?"
"Yes," Amy said quickly, forcing steadiness into her voice. "Everything's fine. I just need you to finalize a transaction on your end. The codes have already been put in by David and me."
The leader began circling them slowly, boots whispering against the floor. He moved like a predator, eyes never leaving their faces, the gun held firmly in both hands.
There was a pause on the line. "It's very late," the regional head said cautiously. "You sound... stressed."
"I'm okay," Amy replied, her voice tight. "We just need this completed tonight."
"Is David there with you?" he asked.
Amy nodded instinctively. "Yes. He's right here."
David leaned toward the phone, heart pounding so hard he thought it might give him away. "I'm here," he said. "What Amy said is correct. It's a joint account. We've already entered the necessary authorization codes. So please proceed."
Upstairs, the tall burglar shoved the huge one backward. "I said go," he growled. "You're gonna cause trouble."
The huge burglar muttered something under his breath but hesitated, glancing toward the stairs.
The muffled scuffle echoed down through the house—just loud enough.
The leader's head snapped up. His eyes narrowed.
Without breaking his stare from Amy and David, he lifted one hand and motioned sharply toward the calm burglar standing nearby. "Go see what that noise is," he said under his breath.
The calm burglar nodded and slipped toward the staircase, quiet and controlled.
On the phone, the regional head exhaled. "All right," he said. "I'm finalizing it now. Give me a moment."
Relief flickered through Amy—fragile, dangerous hope. David squeezed his bind hands together beneath the table, willing himself not to shake.
The leader stopped pacing and stood directly in front of them, looming. His shadow fell across the phone, the table, their faces. The gun remained steady, unwavering.
"I'm on it," the regional head continued. "Just a few more steps and—"
A sudden bang shattered the air.
The sound thundered through the house, violent and unmistakable. Amy screamed. David lurched back in his chair. The leader reacted instantly, slamming his hand down and ending the call in one sharp motion.
The room fell into a suffocating silence.
The leader slowly raised his head, eyes blazing. "What the hell was that?" he demanded.
No one answered.
Somewhere upstairs, something had gone horribly wrong—and whatever it was, it had just changed everything.