Chapter 12 - Burn the Proof
Derek rushed toward the trash can.
Brenda slapped his arm away.
"Leave it."
"Are you insane?"
"We don't need those papers anymore."
Smoke thickened.
I pulled the fire extinguisher from the hallway wall.
Brenda stepped in front of me.
"No."
I looked at her.
"Move."
"It's too late."
I raised the extinguisher.
She grabbed the nozzle.
We struggled for half a second.
Then Marcus appeared.
He pulled Brenda away.
I discharged the extinguisher into the trash can.
White powder exploded across the office.
The flames disappeared.
Burned paper floated through the air.
Some pages were destroyed.
Others were only scorched.
Sirens grew louder.
Brenda stared at the ruined files.
Then at me.
"You have no idea what you've done."
"I saved evidence."
"You destroyed this family."
"No."
I stepped toward her.
"You did."
Derek grabbed my backpack.
I spun around.
"Give me that."
He yanked harder.
The zipper tore open.
My passport fell to the floor.
So did the envelope containing the cashier's check.
Derek saw it.
His entire expression changed.
There it was.
The real reason behind everything.
Forty-five thousand dollars.
He reached for it.
I grabbed it first.
"Give me the check, Chloe."
"No."
"It's marital property."
"You just announced I'm not your wife."
His face flushed.
"Don't play games."
"I'm not."
"You brought that money into my house."
"My parents gave it to me."
"For our marriage."
"For my safety."
Brenda laughed bitterly.
"Your parents certainly knew their daughter."
I turned toward her.
"Yes."
"They raised one who knows when to leave."
Derek stepped between me and the door.
"You're not leaving with that."
Behind him, two uniformed officers appeared in the hallway.
One raised his voice.
"Sir, move away from her."
Derek turned.
For the first time all day, he obeyed.
The officers separated us.
Another officer entered the office and stared at the smoking trash can.
"Who started this?"
Nobody answered.
Then Emma spoke.
"Brenda Hale."
Brenda turned slowly toward her.
Emma's face was wet with tears.
But her voice didn't shake.
"I saw her."
Marcus added, "So did I."
Brenda looked betrayed.
It was almost funny.
She had built an entire family around silence.
Now silence had finally abandoned her.
The officer asked me to come downstairs.
As I picked up my passport, I noticed something beneath the desk.
A black binder.
The fire had not touched it.
I pulled it free.
Derek saw the label.
His face became white.
May you like
"Don't open that."
So naturally, I did.
