Chapter 9: The Woman From That Night
The woman introduced herself as Margaret Ellis.
She was in her late sixties.
Her hands shook as she held the photograph, but her voice was steady.
“I waited a long time to come here.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She looked like she had seen a ghost.
“You know her?””
Vanessa didn’t answer.
That scared me more than anything.
Margaret stepped inside.
“I knew Laura.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“How?””
“She was helping me.””
“Helping you with what?””
Margaret looked down.
“She discovered something about a financial scheme.””
My eyes moved toward Vanessa.
“No.””
Margaret nodded.
“Yes.””
Vanessa whispered:
“Margaret, please.””
The woman looked at her.
“You had years to tell him.””
I turned.
“Tell me what?””
Margaret placed the photograph on the table.
It showed Laura.
Standing outside an office building.
Beside her was Vanessa.
And another man.
Richard.
My stomach dropped.
“You all knew each other?””
Margaret nodded.
“Laura discovered Vanessa and Richard were gathering information about wealthy clients.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“You told me you barely knew him.””
She looked away.
“I lied.””
The honesty hurt.
But I needed the truth.
Margaret continued.
“Laura planned to report them.””
“Did Vanessa know?””
“Yes.””
The room became silent.
“Then what happened the night Laura died?””
Margaret took a deep breath.
“I followed Laura because she asked me to.””
“Why?””
“She was afraid.””
My throat tightened.
“She thought someone was watching her.””
Margaret looked at Vanessa.
“And she was right.””
Vanessa started crying.
“I never wanted her dead.””
Margaret’s eyes hardened.
“But you wanted her silent.””
Vanessa didn’t respond.
I felt sick.
“How did Laura die?””
Margaret looked at me.
“She was driving home when another car followed her.””
My hands tightened.
“Do you know who was driving?””
Margaret nodded slowly.
“I saw the driver.””
The entire room stopped.
“Who?””
Margaret looked directly at Vanessa.
Then she said:
“Not Vanessa.””
I froze.
“What?””
Vanessa looked shocked too.
Margaret continued.
“She wasn’t alone that night.””
My heartbeat increased.
“Who was with her?””
Margaret reached into her bag.
She pulled out another photograph.
A man.
The same man from the picture.
Richard.
But this time, he wasn’t smiling.
“He was there.””
I stared.
“Richard?””
Margaret nodded.
“He was the one who followed Laura.””
Vanessa covered her face.
“No…”
I looked at her.
“You knew.””
She cried.
“I knew he was involved.””
“And you said nothing.””
“I was afraid.””
“Afraid?””
I stepped back.
“My wife died.””
Her tears fell.
“I thought he would come after me too.””
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message.
From an unknown number.
I opened it.
My blood turned cold.
It was a picture.
Taken from outside my house.
A picture of Sophia sleeping in her room.
My hands started shaking.
Underneath the image was a message.
*Stop digging into the past, or you’ll lose what you’re trying to protect.*
I looked at Margaret.
Then Vanessa.
Then upstairs.
Toward my daughter.
Because suddenly, this wasn’t only about what happened years ago.
May you like
Someone was watching my family now.
And they were willing to use Sophia to keep the truth buried.
