Chapter 12 - THE WOMAN IN THE STORAGE ROOM
Daniel helped us find Sarah.
The location was an abandoned warehouse outside the city.
Police were involved now.
But we couldn't wait.
Inside the building, we found a locked room.
Sarah was alive.
Barely.
She had been held for three years.
She told us Victor had kept her hidden because she had proof.
Proof that Claire had not planned Daniel's death.
Proof that Victor had.
But there was more.
Claire had not merely helped hide money.
She had secretly been gathering evidence against her father.
The recordings.
The documents.
The photographs.
She had planned to expose him.
Then Victor discovered the plan.
And threatened Lily.
Claire stopped.
She became silent.
She became cold.
She married me.
And she spent eight months pushing me away from Lily.
Not because she hated me.
Because she was terrified that loving me would make me a target.
I looked at Claire.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
She cried.
“Because everyone I trusted ended up hurt.”
I looked at Lily.
The little girl stood beside me.
“Your daughter was hurt anyway.”
Claire lowered her head.
“I know.”
That was the first honest thing she had said.
We left the warehouse with Sarah.
But Victor was gone.
He had disappeared before the police arrived.
And on my phone was one final message.
YOU HAVE THE WOMAN. I HAVE THE CHILD.
May you like
I turned.
Lily was gone.
