Chapter 14 - The Story They Had Written for Me
The itinerary changed the investigation.
Until then, Derek could pretend the morning had been a grotesque family argument.
The fake travel plan suggested something else.
The ticket had been purchased eight days before the wedding.
One way.
New York to Buenos Aires.
In my new married name.
I had never been to Argentina.
I had never discussed going.
The officer asked Derek who bought it.
He didn't know.
Brenda said it might have been a wedding surprise.
A one-way ticket without Derek was apparently her idea of romance.
Then Olivia found something worse.
She searched the reservation number from the printed itinerary.
The contact email belonged to Derek.
The contact phone number belonged to Brenda.
Allison stood beside me in the foyer.
"They did it to me too."
I turned.
"What?"
"Not Argentina."
"Canada."
"After I escaped, everyone was told I'd gone to Toronto."
Emma covered her mouth.
Allison continued.
"They had a reservation printed in my name."
"So people would believe you'd left voluntarily."
She nodded.
My hands went cold.
The story of my disappearance had already been prepared before I walked down the aisle.
I looked at Derek.
"What happened tomorrow?"
He said nothing.
"What was the plan?"
"Chloe, stop."
"No."
I stepped closer.
"You forged a transfer document dated tomorrow."
"Your mother had a one-way plane ticket for me dated tomorrow night."
"You locked me in a bedroom this morning."
"What happened tomorrow?"
Derek looked at the floor.
Brenda answered for him.
"You would have calmed down."
I turned toward her.
"Is that what Allison did?"
Brenda smiled faintly.
"Allison was unstable."
Allison stepped forward.
"Say it again."
Brenda looked at her.
Allison's voice was steady.
"Say I was unstable."
"You were."
"Good."
Allison held up her phone.
"Because I've spent six years learning not to be afraid of people hearing your lies."
Brenda's smile vanished.
Outside, another vehicle arrived.
A woman in a navy suit entered with an officer.
She introduced herself as Detective Elena Martinez.
She asked Derek and Brenda to remain separated.
Then she asked me if I would speak with her privately.
We entered the library.
I told her everything.
The brunch.
The grease.
The rag.
The deadbolt.
The files.
The forged authorization.
The ticket.
When I finished, Martinez was silent for several seconds.
Then she asked one question.
"Ms. Bennett, do you believe your husband intended to prevent you from leaving this property?"
I thought about the blocked gate.
The locked bedroom.
The missing escape plan they had written for me.
"Yes."
She nodded.
Then corrected herself.
"One more question."
"Okay."
"Did Derek know about the $45,000 before the wedding?"
Before I could answer, Olivia opened the library door.
"You need to see this."
She held Derek's laptop.
On the screen was an email he had sent to Brenda three weeks earlier.
May you like
The subject line contained only three words.
SHE HAS 45K.
