Chapter 6 - The Trap Closes
Teresa didn't stay to watch her son mourn. She turned her back on the pool and walked purposefully toward the pool house. Mounted on the exterior wall was a heavy steel control panel, usually locked behind a glass casing.
Teresa pulled a small hammer from a decorative tool belt hanging nearby and smashed the glass.
Inside was a series of switches, and one large, ominous red button.
She slammed her palm against the red button.
Instantly, a deep, powerful motor roared to life beneath the pool deck, vibrating through the terracotta tiles.
The guests, initially distracted by the band, finally noticed the commotion. The music ground to a halt as people began pointing and shouting.
"What's happening?!" a woman screamed.
From the far end of the pool, a massive, automated heavy-duty security cover began to unroll. It was designed to completely seal the pool during the winter, made of thick, reinforced Kevlar slats that could hold the weight of a car. It slid slowly but unstoppably across the surface of the water, driven by a heavy hydraulic track system.
"Stop the cover!" a guest yelled, running toward the control panel.
But two massive men in dark suits—private contractors Teresa had specifically hired for the day—stepped in front of the panel, crossing their arms and blocking anyone from interfering.
In the water, Daniel heard the grinding of the hydraulic gears. He looked up and saw the black shadow of the cover creeping across the sky, cutting off the sunlight.
May you like
He understood instantly.
Once that cover sealed completely into the locking mechanism at the other end, there would be no air. There would be no escape. The pool would become a watery tomb.
