On her way downstairs, Ste even ran into one of Foreman''s housekeepers.


    The housekeeper was surprised to see hering from upstairs but didn''t think much of it, assuming she was a guest Foreman had invited over. She greeted Ste politely and asked if she needed any help.


    Ste responded with equal politeness and asked the housekeeper to show her to the door.


    Walking out of Foreman''s vi, Ste felt as if she had been reborn.


    She had checked the time earlier; she had been held captive by Foreman for about a week.


    Perhaps because she had been shut away in a dim basement, deprived of sunlight and freedom, that one week felt even longer and more grueling than the month she had spent on the ind.


    Foreman had been stabbed twice and then struck on the head. He probably


    wouldn''t wake up anytime soon.


    If he remained unconscious in that secret passage without prompt medical attention, his life could very well be in danger.


    However, Ste felt not a ripple of emotion.


    Dying here might be the best end for Foreman.


    The vi was in a secluded, quiet area.


    Ste had no phone and had to walk toward a busier area to hail a car.


    However, she had only walked a few yards when a group of men in ck suits appeared before her.


    The man in the lead looked at Ste, his voice filled with surprise. "Ma''am? Is it really you?!"


    Ste immediately recognized the man as another of Haynes''s assistants, a man named Ryder.


    "What are you doing here?" Ste asked.


    Ryder replied, "Mr. O''Brien suspected Foreman was involved in the fire, so he sent


    me to secretly monitor his movements.


    Ma''am, it''s so good to see you''re alive!


    I''ll call Mr. O''Brien right now!"


    Ste said, "Please call me Ms. Cameron. I''ve already divorced Haynes."


    Ryder looked embarrassed. "My apologies. It''s just force of habit."


    With that, Ryder dialed Haynes''s number.


    After a brief exchange, Ryder handed the phone to Ste.


    "Ms. Cameron, Mr. O''Brien would like to speak with you."


    Ste nodded and took the phone from Ryder.


    "Star." On


    other end of the


    Haynes''s deep voice ca conto


    It''s good that you''re safe:"


    Ste immediately asked, "How is Joshua now?"


    Haynes didn''t answer. Instead, he told her, "I''m having Ryder take you to him."


    Ste''s heart sank.


    "Okay," she said quickly.


    Just as she was about to hang up, she heard Haynes say, "Aren''t you going to ask about Keen?"


    Ste''s tone was t. "Since Joshua promised he would get Keen out, I know he won''t be in trouble."


    Haynes was silent for a moment. "Yes, you''re right. Keen is fine."


    On the way, Ste pieced together a rough idea of what had happened from Ryder''s ount.


    The fire had imed many lives.


    Her body had supposedly been


    found,


    urned beyond recognition,


    with only a small amount of DNA. that could be extracted,  swn?vels


    A tracking device and a charred cell phone were also discovered on the body.


    After technicians repaired the phone, they recovered some data, confirming it was hers.


    Ryder said, "Mr. O''Brien never went


    to see the


    body. He said he was


    afraid he wouldn''t be able to


    met


    main


    calm if he did."


    The car soon stopped in front of an unfamiliar vi.


    When she opened the car door, Ste saw Haynes already waiting by the entrance.


    Ste looked at Haynes and said softly, "Thank you."