To make sure his story stayed consistent.” She paused.
“There’s also a letter.”
I hadn’t seen a letter.
I went back through the pages.
Near the middle, folded in half and tucked between two bank statements, was a single sheet of paper.
I unfolded it.
It was handwritten.
Daniel’s handwriting — I would have recognized it anywhere.
It was addressed to someone named Ray.
*The settlement is done.
K got the house proceeds and the account.
She doesn’t know about the Hartwell transfer.
Keep the LLC quiet for another eighteen months and then we can move the asset.*
My vision blurred for a second.
*K.* Me.
He had written about me like I was a line item.
“Who is Ray?” I said.
“I don’t know yet,” Chloe said.
“But the name comes up in the messages on the second phone too.”
I set the letter down on the table.
“Chloe,” I said carefully.
“Why did you call me?
Tonight, of all nights — why me?”
She looked at me for a long moment.
“Because he did this to you first,” she said.
“And you deserved to know.” She glanced at the folder.
“And because I’m twenty-four years old and I don’t know what to do with any of this, and you’ve already survived him once.”
Something moved in my chest.
Not warmth exactly.
Recognition.
“I’m going to take this folder,” I said.
“I know.
I made copies.”
“Smart.”
“I’ve been called worse.” She almost smiled.
I stood up, folder in hand.
My legs felt steadier than I expected.
“Don’t let him back in tonight,” I said.
“He has a key.”
“Change the locks in the morning.
First thing.”
She nodded.
I walked to the door.
Then stopped.
“Chloe.
The second phone — don’t give it to him.
Don’t let him know you still have it.”
“I won’t.”
“And don’t be alone with him.”
She looked at me with something I hadn’t expected to see on her face.
Fear.
“Karen,” she said.
“There’s one more thing I didn’t show you.”
I turned around.
She picked up the second phone and opened it to a message thread.
She held it out to me.
I read the last message Daniel had sent — not to a woman, not to Ray, but to a number with no name attached.
*She’s asking too many questions.
