Chapter 7 - THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
Ethan's mother lived twenty miles away.
Her name was Patricia.
She answered the door herself.
She looked surprised to see police.
“What happened?”
Morales showed his badge.
“We need to ask you some questions.”
“About Ethan?”
“Yes.”
Patricia looked at me.
Then Claire.
Her expression hardened.
“I knew this would happen.”
I stepped forward.
“What did you know?”
“That my son would eventually go too far.”
Claire stared at her.
“You knew?”
Patricia looked at her.
“I warned you.”
“You told me my mother hated Ethan.”
Patricia closed her eyes.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“Then why didn't you tell me the truth?”
“Because Ethan threatened me.”
“With what?”
“My grandson.”
Claire's hand went to her stomach.
Patricia began crying.
“He told me if I went to the police, he'd make sure I never saw my grandchild.”
I felt rage.
“What exactly did Ethan do?”
Patricia sat down.
“He was involved with them long before he met Claire.”
“Who are they?”
“I don't know the full name.”
“Try.”
She hesitated.
“The Circle.”
Morales looked at me.
Patricia continued.
“They find vulnerable families with money. They insert themselves into their lives.”
“Marriage?”
“Yes.”
“Then what?”
“Control.”
“How?”
“Debt. Isolation. Threats. Financial manipulation.”
Claire whispered:
“And if the victim resists?”
Patricia looked at her.
“They make the victim look unstable.”
Silence.
I remembered every time Ethan had called Claire emotional.
Every time he had said she was overreacting.
Every time he had told me she was stressed.
Patricia continued.
“Liv was the first woman I knew about.”
“What happened to her?”
“I helped her escape.”
Olivia, standing near the door, stared at Patricia.
“You?”
Patricia nodded.
“I put her in a car and drove her across state lines.”
“Why didn't you go with me?” Olivia asked.
“Because Ethan had already threatened my husband.”
Olivia's eyes filled with tears.
“He died anyway.”
Patricia nodded.
“I know.”
Then she looked at Claire.
“When Ethan married you, I tried to stop him.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because by then, he already had access to your father's finances.”
I stepped forward.
“How?”
Patricia looked at me.
“Your financial advisor.”
“Martin.”
She nodded.
“Martin introduced Ethan to the Circle.”
My fists tightened.
Then Patricia said:
“There is one thing you need to know.”
“What?”
“Ethan didn't lock Claire in that shed because she embarrassed him.”
I stared at her.
“Why then?”
“Because she found something.”
“What?”
Patricia looked at Claire.
“The ledger.”
Claire's face went pale.
“What ledger?”
“The one listing every woman.”
Olivia whispered:
“And every person they paid.”
Morales asked:
“Where is it?”
Patricia looked toward the window.
“Ethan has it.”
May you like
Then every light in the house went out.
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