Chapter 6 - The Phone in the Drawer
Ryan swore his phone had been in his office all morning.
That was the problem.
Linda knew the code.
His father’s birthday.
The same four digits Ryan used for almost everything because grief had turned a date into a habit.
Detective Harper searched our house with a warrant that afternoon. I stayed at my sister Natalie’s with Lily and watched the door every time a car slowed down outside.
Ryan joined the search.
At 4:18 p.m., he called me.
“They found a phone.”
“What phone?”
“A prepaid phone. In the guest room.”
I closed my eyes.
“Let me guess. Unknown number?”
“Yes.”
The same number that had texted me: YOU’RE SEEING THINGS.
There were more messages in the device.
Drafts Linda had never sent.
One said: SHE’S GETTING WORSE. RYAN IS SCARED TO LEAVE THE BABY WITH HER.
Another: EMMA WON’T LET ANYONE HELP. WE MAY NEED AN EMERGENCY EVALUATION.
And one made my hands go cold.
IF SHE DOES SOMETHING, WE HAVE TO PROTECT RYAN FROM BLAMING HIMSELF.
Linda wasn’t simply trying to hurt Lily.
She was preparing people to blame me.
But why?
That answer came from a place none of us expected.
Ryan’s attorney, Michael Chen, called after hearing police had questioned Linda.
“Ryan,” he said, “I need you to come to my office.”
“Why?”
“Because your father’s estate has a provision involving Linda and your first child.”
Ryan put the call on speaker.
I heard paper moving.
Michael continued. “Your father created a family trust. Linda has been receiving distributions from one portion of it.”
“How much?” Ryan asked.
“Twenty-two thousand dollars a month.”
I almost laughed because the number sounded unreal.
“When does it stop?” I asked.
Silence.
Then Michael said, “Thirty days after the birth of Ryan’s first living child.”
I looked at Lily asleep against my chest.
She was twenty-one days old.
May you like
Nine days.
Linda had nine days left.
