Chapter 4: BAD: Landline Blunder

👉 Previous Decision: You chose Option B – Call the house landline directly to scream at Arthur over the speakerphone.

My hand shot out, hitting the button to dial my home landline. The ringing was immediate, echoing through the house.

Arthur Pendelton recoiled from Chloe’s door as if struck. His head snapped towards the living room, his eyes scanning wildly.

“What was that?” the caller shrieked, her voice amplified through my headset. “Did you call?”

I heard the blare of my own voice, distorted and crackling, through the house speaker system. “Arthur! I see you! Get out of my house!”

Arthur’s face twisted, a flash of pure malice. He didn’t hesitate. He rushed to the side table, where our internet router sat blinking. With a furious grunt, he ripped the cords from the wall.

The camera feed instantly froze, then went black. All communication severed.

“He broke something!” the caller screamed. “He’s running! Out the back!”

By the time the sirens wailed down the street, Arthur was gone. He had escaped, taking the forged documents with him, the crucial evidence against him destroyed or spirited away.

Chloe was safe, for now. But the proof of his scheme, the very thing I needed, was lost.