Chapter 13 - The Teacher
Marilyn pointed the gun at the floor, but her finger rested inside the trigger guard.
“Sit.”
Anna sat. Her hidden microphone suddenly felt huge against her skin. Marilyn noticed.
“Don’t.”
“You’re wearing a wire.”
“No.”
Marilyn smiled. “You were always a terrible liar.”
She stepped forward and ripped the microphone from Anna’s sweater.
In the police van, Daniels would now hear nothing.
Marilyn dropped it into a glass of water.
“Why?” Anna asked.
“Why what?”
“Vanessa. Sophie. Emily. Leo.”
Marilyn tilted her head.
“You think this is about cruelty.”
“Isn’t it?”
“It’s about access.”
She sat opposite Anna.
“Wealthy families invite strangers into their homes every day. Nannies. Nurses. Tutors. Assistants. Drivers. People who hear everything and are seen by no one.”
Anna’s stomach turned.
“You trained Vanessa to marry Richard.”
“I taught her how to survive.”
“By killing people?”
Marilyn’s eyes hardened. “Careful.”
Anna glanced at the laptop.
“Do you have the full video?”
“Yes.”
“Why show me?”
“Because Vanessa became sloppy.”
Marilyn sounded almost disappointed.
“She was supposed to scare Richard into changing the trust structure. A hurt child makes a frightened father easy to control.”
Anna’s hands clenched.
“She pushed Leo.”
“She panicked.”
“You call that panic?”
“I call it incompetence.”
Anna stared at her.
“You’re worse than she is.”
Marilyn laughed softly.
Then sirens sounded outside.
Her smile vanished.
Anna lunged.
The gun fired.
The shot punched into the wall.
Anna grabbed Marilyn’s wrist. They crashed into the table. The laptop hit the carpet.
Police shouted in the hallway.
Marilyn slammed Anna against the dresser.
Anna saw stars.
Then the motel door burst open.
Daniels entered with his weapon raised.
“Drop it!”
Marilyn looked at Anna.
Then at the window.
And smiled.
“Ask Richard why Emily was afraid of him too.”
She threw herself backward through the glass.
Anna screamed.
By the time officers reached the parking lot below, Marilyn was gone.
May you like
Only blood remained on the broken window frame.
And the laptop was missing.
