Chapter 10 - PHASE TWO
Tomorrow arrived with a police car in Lucas’s driveway.
Evelyn had filed a complaint alleging he had threatened to kill her.
The evidence was an audio recording.
Lucas listened to it in stunned silence.
His own voice said, “If you come near my family again, I swear I’ll end you.”
Except Lucas remembered the actual conversation.
He had said, “I swear I’ll end your access to this family.”
The middle had been cut.
Priya sent the file to a forensic audio analyst.
By evening, the conclusion was clear: the clip had been edited.
But Evelyn had already sent it to relatives.
Then to two members of the foundation board.
Then, somehow, to Lucas’s employer.
His boss called.
“We need you to take a few days off while this gets sorted out.”
Lucas stood in the kitchen after the call, staring at nothing.
Hannah walked over and took his hand.
“I’m sorry.”
He shook his head.
“No. You lived inside this for weeks while I kept asking you to be patient with her.”
Hannah’s eyes filled.
Lucas swallowed.
“I made you negotiate with someone who was hurting you because I wanted peace.”
“You didn’t know how far she would go.”
“I knew enough to listen. I just didn’t want to.”
That night, Sophie finally slept for three straight hours.
Lucas and Hannah sat on the nursery floor beside the crib, too tired to move.
For the first time since the attack, the house felt quiet.
Then the security system chimed.
Back door opened.
Lucas stood instantly.
Hannah grabbed Sophie.
Another chime.
Motion detected: kitchen.
Lucas checked the camera feed.
A woman in a dark coat stepped into view.
Evelyn.
May you like
She still had a key.
And in one hand, she carried an empty infant car seat.
