Chapter 2
Anthony left with four men.
I remained.
Hardest decision of the night.
Every part of me wanted to be in that car.
But my mother had not eaten properly in six days.
My daughter had witnessed enough.
And Hattie and Nolan were finally trapped inside the same patio where they had acted untouchable.
Mother drank broth slowly.
No banquet plate.
Nothing heavy.
I sat beside her.
“Why didn’t Ella tell me?”
Mother closed her eyes.
“She tried.”
I looked at my daughter.
Ella’s face changed.
“Hattie said Daddy busy.”
My chest tightened.
“What else?”
“She took phone.”
Of course.
During my trip, I had spoken to Ella through Hattie’s device twice.
Hattie always held it.
Always chose when the call ended.
I had interpreted that as helping a toddler.
Now I remembered Mother never appeared on camera.
Bianca never appeared after the first day either.
Hattie told me Bianca had gone to visit a sick friend.
I accepted it because Bianca sometimes traveled without me.
Trust made the lie easier.
I looked at Nolan.
“Why Graham?”
No answer.
Hattie finally spoke.
“Because you knew about him.”
Yes.
Bianca and Graham met at twenty.
They were close for several years.
Not lovers by the time Bianca met me.
Still, he represented a life before Carbone.
Someone believable enough.
“You thought jealousy would do your work.”
Hattie’s chin lifted.
“You’re not immune to it.”
“No.”
I admitted it.
“But you needed more than my jealousy.”
I looked toward Mother.
“You needed her blessing on the lie.”
That was the cruel brilliance.
If Nolan claimed Bianca ran away, I would investigate.
If Hattie claimed it, I would question motive.
If my mother looked me in the eyes and said:
I saw Bianca leave with Graham willingly.
Different.
They knew which voice I trusted.
So they starved her.
Humiliated her.
Tried to convert credibility into a weapon.
Mother whispered:
“I wouldn’t say it.”
I kissed her hand.
“I know.”
Then Anthony called.
I answered immediately.
His voice was controlled.
“Boss.”
My heart stopped.
“We found Graham.”
A pause.
“He’s alive.”
“And Bianca?”
Another pause.
“She was here.”
Was.
Not is.
May you like
The cottage contained the man they used as her supposed lover.
My wife was gone.
