Chapter 24 THE ALARM

I was hurrying up the grand imperial staircase when the sharp cry of the emergency alarm blared furiously from the ceiling speakers, shattering the peaceful stillness of the Mansion. Shock jolted me from my deep, racing thoughts, and abruptly whirled me back to reality with force.

Abruptly, I pulled into a stop in the middle of the staircase. My fingers tightly gripped the handrail for support. Reeling from shock, I took a deep breath to calm my jumpy nerves, then release it with a deep sigh. I repeated the inhale and exhale process until my pulse rate returned to normal.

Did a burglar enter the house? It was the first question popping in my mind after pulling myself together.

Alerted, my eyes sharpened at the thought as it surveyed the expanse of the house in search of a man I imagined wearing a black overall whose face was covered with a black cloth to shield his identity.