Chapter 8: The Hidden Account
Patricia’s old house had been empty for almost a year.
That was what Daniel told me.
A place they were “waiting to sell.””
But when my father and I arrived, I immediately knew something was wrong.
The front door wasn’t locked.
My father stopped outside.
“Stay behind me.””
I nodded.
The house was quiet.
Too quiet.
Dust covered the furniture, but someone had been inside recently.
A glass sat on the kitchen counter.
Fresh.
My father looked at it.
“Someone was here.””
My heart started beating faster.
We searched carefully.
Not because we wanted to invade Patricia’s privacy.
Because we needed answers.
The living room was empty.
The bedrooms were empty.
Then I noticed something strange.
A small scratch on the wall near the hallway.
I ran my fingers over it.
“What is this?””
My father looked closer.
It was a hidden panel.
Behind it was a small compartment.
Inside were several envelopes.
And a notebook.
I opened the first envelope.
My hands immediately went numb.
Bank records.
Names.
Dates.
Amounts.
I turned the pages faster.
Patricia wasn’t just receiving money.
She was moving it.
Lots of it.
My father read over my shoulder.
“This isn’t normal.””
Then we found something worse.
A list of names.
Including mine.
My name was written beside a number.
A very large number.
“What is this?””
I flipped the page.
There were notes.
Private information.
My salary.
My savings.
My account numbers.
They had been tracking me.
For years.
I felt sick.
“She wasn’t trying to help herself.””
My father looked at me.
“What?””
I held up the notebook.
“She was planning.””
A sound came from upstairs.
We both froze.
Someone was inside.
My father quietly closed the notebook.
“Emily.””
I nodded.
We moved toward the hallway.
A floorboard creaked above us.
Then another.
Someone was walking down the stairs.
My heart pounded.
The person appeared slowly.
And I recognized him.
Marcus Hale.
The man from the photo.
He stopped when he saw us.
His face changed.
“You shouldn’t be here.””
My father stepped forward.
“Who are you?””
Marcus looked at me.
Then at the notebook in my hand.
“You found it.””
I tightened my grip.
“Who are you?””
He sighed.
“I was Patricia’s accountant.””
My eyes narrowed.
“Then why are you hiding in her house?””
His expression became serious.
“Because I found out what she was doing.””
My father crossed his arms.
“Explain.””
Marcus looked around.
Then lowered his voice.
“Patricia has been using Daniel for years.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“She built a system.””
He pointed at the notebook.
“She convinced Daniel that controlling money meant controlling people.””
I felt a chill.
“That doesn’t explain why my information is here.””
Marcus looked at me.
“Because you were not the first wife she tried this with.””
The room went silent.
My father’s expression changed.
“What did you say?””
Marcus reached into his jacket and pulled out another file.
Inside were photographs.
Other women.
Other bank records.
Other names.
My stomach turned.
“How many?””
Marcus looked at me.
“Enough.””
Then he said the sentence that changed everything.
“Emily, Daniel didn’t become this way after he married you.””
May you like
He placed the file on the table.
“He was trained.””
