Chapter 2 - The Woman Who Knew Too Much
At 6:30 the next morning, Daniel walked into the kitchen wearing a navy suit.
He looked perfect.
He always did.
That was part of his power.
He could hurt me at midnight and smile at a charity breakfast at eight.
“Coffee,” he said.
I poured it.
“Good girl.”
The words made my stomach turn.
He picked up his phone.
“Ready?”
“For the bank?”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
Before we left, he stopped beside me.
“You're going to behave today.”
I looked at him.
“I always do.”
He smiled.
“That's why we've been married so long.”
We drove downtown.
Daniel spoke the entire way.
He talked about our friends.
His company.
A charity gala.
The future.
As though nothing had happened.
I listened.
At the bank, we entered a private office.
The manager greeted Daniel warmly.
“Mr. Mercer.”
Then he looked at me.
“Mrs. Mercer.”
Daniel placed a folder on the desk.
“She'll be transferring her separate assets into our family account.”
The manager looked at me.
“Is that correct?”
I opened my mouth.
Daniel's hand rested lightly on my knee.
Not enough for anyone else to notice.
Enough for me to understand.
“Yes.”
The manager prepared the documents.
Then something unexpected happened.
A woman entered the office.
She was in her sixties.
Elegant.
Gray hair.
She looked directly at me.
Then at Daniel.
Her expression changed.
“Claire?”
I froze.
Daniel looked irritated.
“Do you know my wife?”
The woman didn't answer.
She looked at me again.
“Your mother was Evelyn Hart?”
“Yes.”
The woman took a step closer.
“I knew her.”
Daniel stood.
“That's interesting, but we're busy.”
The woman ignored him.
“She told me something before she died.”
My heart started racing.
“What?”
“She said if you ever needed help, I should contact someone.”
“Who?”
The woman looked at Daniel.
Then she whispered:
“Detective Ruiz.”
Daniel's face changed.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
The woman saw it too.
She immediately turned around.
“I've said enough.”
Daniel grabbed my wrist.
“We're leaving.”
The bank manager looked uncomfortable.
I followed him outside.
Once we reached the parking lot, Daniel's fingers tightened around my arm.
“Who was she?”
“I don't know.”
“Don't lie.”
“I don't.”
He pushed me against the car.
“You're becoming a problem.”
Then he noticed people nearby.
His expression instantly changed.
He released me.
“Are you okay, sweetheart?”
I stared at him.
“Yes.”
He smiled at the strangers.
“She gets dizzy sometimes.”
One woman nearby frowned.
“Do you need help?”
Daniel answered before I could.
“She'll be fine.”
Then he opened the car door.
I got inside.
My heart was pounding.
The woman had known my mother.
And Daniel had recognized her.
That meant one thing.
My mother had known something about him.
Back at home, Daniel went upstairs.
I stayed in the kitchen.
Five minutes later, I heard him shouting.
“Where is it?”
I froze.
He was searching my room.
Then I heard drawers opening.
My notebook.
He knew about it.
I quietly stepped toward the staircase.
Then I heard something fall.
A moment later, Daniel came downstairs.
He held the notebook.
His face was pale.
“You kept records.”
I didn't answer.
He opened it.
His eyes moved across the pages.
“You stupid little liar.”
I stepped backward.
He tore one page out.
Then another.
“You think this is going to save you?”
I stayed silent.
He ripped the notebook in half.
Then he smiled.
“You should have burned it.”
He threw the pieces into the trash.
Then he walked upstairs.
I waited.
When his footsteps disappeared, I opened the trash.
The notebook was gone.
But Daniel didn't know one thing.
I hadn't written the real evidence in that notebook.
The notebook was bait.
May you like
The actual evidence had been hidden inside the lining of my mother's old suitcase.
And Detective Ruiz already had a copy.
