Chapter 4 - The Red Folder.
Daniel reached his office first, but Emily was only seconds behind him.
He yanked open the top drawer and cursed.
"Looking for something?"
Daniel spun around.
His face was gray.
"Emily, go back upstairs."
"That is not an answer."
She held up Nora's brass key.
Daniel stared at it.
"She had no right."
"Neither did you."
Emily unlocked the bottom drawer.
Daniel moved toward her.
Emily stepped back and lifted her own phone.
"I have already started recording."
She opened the red folder.
Emily read the columns twice because the language seemed impossible.
Each row contained notes about Emily's life.
One entry described the night Emily cried after her father died as "prolonged instability witnessed by minor child."
Emily's hands began to shake.
"Who made this?"
Daniel said nothing.
There were photographs of Emily entering hotels during business trips.
Printouts of emails she had sent to Rebecca during stressful months.
Then came a draft petition requesting emergency guardianship of Sophie.
Margaret's name appeared as the proposed temporary guardian.
Daniel was listed as a cooperating parent.
Emily looked up.
"You were going to take my child."
"No."
"Your name is on the petition."
"I never agreed to file it."
"You signed the authorization."
Daniel covered his face with both hands.
"I was trying to keep the company alive."
Emily laughed once, without humor.
"And Sophie was collateral?"
"No."
"Then explain the money."
Daniel sank into the desk chair.
"I invested in a development outside Nashville."
"Without telling me."
"I thought it was safe."
"How much?"
Emily stared at him.
"We only had four hundred and eighty in that account."
Daniel looked at the floor.
"My mother covered the rest."
Emily understood.
Margaret had not simply helped him.
"What did she demand?"
"Control until I paid her back."
"Control of what?"
"The company at first."
Emily held up the guardianship draft.
"And then?"
Daniel's eyes filled with shame.
"She said you would divorce me if you found out."
"So you helped her build a case to keep Sophie close to you."
"I thought it was leverage."
Emily stepped away as if he smelled dangerous.
"Leverage against your wife."
"I never thought she would touch Sophie."
The sentence enraged Emily more than an admission would have.
"You thought locking her in a closet was acceptable as long as there were no bruises?"
Daniel stood.
"I didn't know about the closet."
"You knew your mother was documenting me."
"Yes."
"You knew she wanted authority over Sophie."
"Yes."
"You signed a paper without my consent."
Daniel whispered, "Yes."
Emily closed the folder.
"Then stop asking me to grade your betrayal by degree."
Emily opened the office door.
Margaret was standing in the hall.
She looked at the red folder in Emily's hand.
"That belongs to me."
"Not anymore."
Margaret's face hardened.
"You have no idea what your husband has done."
Daniel rose sharply.
"Mom, enough."
Margaret turned on him.
"You think protecting her now will save your marriage?"
Emily studied the older woman.
"What else did he do?"
Margaret smiled.
Daniel stepped between them.
"Do not answer her."
Margaret's smile widened.
"Ask him why there are two phones in that drawer."
Emily looked back at the desk.
Daniel reached for the second phone.
Emily got there first.
The lock screen displayed a photograph of a woman Emily had never seen.
A message notification appeared beneath it.
WHERE IS THE MONEY, DANIEL?
Emily looked at her husband.
He whispered, "That is not what you think."
May you like
Margaret gave a quiet laugh.
"It is worse."
