Chapter 9: The First Victim
I couldn’t stop looking at the photographs.
Different women.
Different years.
Same pattern.
The same pressure.
The same financial control.
The same excuses.
My father stood beside me, silent.
For once, he had no immediate answer.
Marcus sat across from us.
“I should have spoken sooner.””
I looked at him.
“Why didn’t you?””
His face tightened.
“Because I was afraid.””
That surprised me.
“You were afraid of Patricia?””
He nodded.
“You don’t understand how powerful she thinks she is.””
I looked down at the files.
“I think I understand now.””
Marcus opened another folder.
“Daniel’s first marriage ended because of this.””
My eyes widened.
“First marriage?””
“Yes.””
I looked at my father.
He looked just as shocked.
“Daniel was married before?””
Marcus nodded.
“Patricia made sure nobody knew.””
I picked up the document.
The woman’s name was Sarah Collins.
There were court records.
Police reports.
Financial statements.
My hands shook.
“What happened to her?””
Marcus looked away.
“She left with nothing.””
“Why?””
“Because by the time she understood what was happening, Daniel had already convinced everyone she was unstable.””
My chest tightened.
The same words.
The same story.
I thought about Patricia saying I was dramatic.
Daniel saying I exaggerated.
They had used the same strategy on someone else.
I turned the page.
There was a phone number.
Sarah’s.
“She’s still alive?””
Marcus nodded.
“She tried to warn people.””
“Did anyone listen?””
His silence answered.
That night, I called Sarah.
I expected anger.
I expected hesitation.
Instead, she answered after one ring.
“Who gave you my number?””
Her voice was tired.
But alert.
“My name is Emily Whitmore.””
Silence.
Then:
“Daniel?””
I swallowed.
“Yes.””
Sarah exhaled slowly.
“I wondered when it would happen again.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“What happened to you?””
A long pause followed.
Then Sarah said:
“Everything you’re afraid is happening.””
I looked toward my father.
“She hit me.””
Sarah became quiet.
“Daniel?””
“Yes.””
Her voice changed.
Not surprised.
Heartbroken.
“I’m sorry.””
Those two words almost broke me.
Because she understood.
She knew.
Sarah continued:
“Emily, listen to me carefully.””
I sat down.
“What?””
“Daniel will not admit what he did.””
“I know.””
“No.””
Her voice became urgent.
“He will do something worse.””
I froze.
“What?””
“He will try to make you look like the problem.””
I closed my eyes.
Because that was exactly what he had always done.
Sarah continued.
“He did it to me.””
A cold feeling moved through my body.
“What should I do?””
She was silent for a moment.
Then she said:
“Find out what Patricia is protecting.””
“Why?””
“Because Daniel is not the person making the biggest decisions.””
My heart stopped.
“What do you mean?””
Before Sarah could answer, the call cut off.
I looked at the phone.
No signal.
Then a message appeared.
Not from Sarah.
From Daniel.
*You’re looking in places you shouldn’t.*
I stared at the screen.
May you like
A second message appeared.
*Come home, Emily. We need to finish this.*
