Chapter 8 - THE LAST SECRET
Two days before the ceremony, Rachel disappeared.
Her phone went dead.
Her apartment was empty.
Harris searched for her.
Nothing.
Then I received a message.
If you want Rachel alive, come alone.
My heart stopped.
Harris told me not to respond.
I didn't.
But another message arrived.
A photograph.
Rachel sitting in a chair.
Alive.
Terrified.
Then:
Bring the original documents.
Harris traced the message.
An abandoned warehouse.
Police surrounded it.
Inside, they found Patricia.
She wasn't alone.
Victor was there.
And so was a third man.
The man who had helped move the money.
When police entered, Victor tried to run.
He was caught before reaching the exit.
Rachel was found unharmed.
The third man surrendered.
But Patricia looked at me as officers escorted her away.
"You ruined everything."
I said nothing.
She stopped.
"You don't understand."
"Then explain."
She stared at me.
"Victor wasn't supposed to hurt you."
I froze.
"What?"
"He was supposed to scare you."
"With a crowbar?"
She began crying.
"I told him to make you afraid."
I stared at her.
"You planned the attack."
She looked away.
"I didn't know he'd hit you that hard."
Those words were almost worse than the attack itself.
Because they confirmed everything.
There had never been an accident.
There had never been a moment of lost control.
There had only been a plan.
And they had underestimated how much evidence would survive.
Before she was taken away, Patricia whispered:
"You should have just stayed home."
I looked at her.
"No."
May you like
Then I turned away.
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