We climbed the marble staircase to the second floor. The silence in the house was heavy, almost oppressive. Every creak of the floorboards sounded like a gunshot.
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The master bedroom was a scene of chaos disguised as luxury. The wardrobe doors were flung open, revealing rows of fur coats and designer suits that would be worth a fortune today. But on the bed, two suitcases lay open, half-packed.
I looked closer at the bedside table. There was a jewelry box, unlocked. Inside were diamond earrings and a heavy gold watch. “Why would they leave this?” Thomas asked. “If you’re running, you take the gold. Unless you don’t have time to grab it.”
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