Chapter 2: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
The judge ordered a recess.
Daniel carried the envelope into a private conference room while the court clerk documented every detail. Michael remained under guard, and Emily sat beside him, holding the sleeve of his orange jumpsuit.
Victoria refused to sit.
She paced outside the courtroom, her expensive heels clicking against the marble floor.
When the prosecutor approached, she grabbed his arm.
"Collins, you need to stop this.""
He pulled away.
"Stop what?""
"That envelope. Whatever is inside it.""
"How do you know what's inside?""
Victoria stared at him.
"I know Sarah. She was unstable. She wrote things. She imagined things.""
"Then why are you worried?""
Victoria's jaw tightened.
"Because Michael has spent months manipulating everyone around him. This is another one of his tricks.""
Collins looked through the glass window toward Michael.
"Mrs. Victoria, I have spent eleven months building this case. If that envelope contains evidence we haven't seen, I need to know.""
"You don't understand.""
"Then explain it.""
Victoria leaned closer.
"If Michael walks out of this courthouse, you will regret ever getting involved.""
Collins stepped back.
"Are you threatening me?""
"I'm warning you.""
Inside the courtroom, Michael watched his mother-in-law through the glass.
He had known Victoria for eight years.
She had never liked him.
But he had always believed it was because she thought he wasn't wealthy enough for Sarah.
He remembered the first time he met her.
Sarah had brought him to her mother's house for Thanksgiving. Victoria had examined his secondhand shoes, his inexpensive watch, and his old car before asking what his salary was.
"You're an electrician?"" she'd asked.
"Yes, ma'am," Michael replied.
"And you intend to support my daughter on that?""
Sarah had immediately intervened.
"Mom, he runs his own electrical company.""
Victoria had smiled without warmth.
"How ambitious.""
Michael had swallowed his pride because he loved Sarah.
He never imagined that the same woman would one day stand in court and accuse him of murdering her daughter.
"Why does Grandma hate you?"" Emily whispered.
Michael turned toward her.
"She doesn't hate me, sweetheart.""
Emily studied his face.
"Then why does she keep telling people you killed Mommy?""
Michael struggled to answer.
"Sometimes people get so scared of losing something that they do things they shouldn't.""
"Did Grandma lose something?""
Michael looked at the little girl.
"I don't know.""
Emily leaned against his arm.
"Mommy used to say Grandma had a secret.""
Michael's stomach tightened.
"What secret?""
Emily looked around before whispering.
"Mommy said Grandma took something that didn't belong to her.""
Michael stared at her.
"Did she say what?""
Emily shook her head.
"She said it was money. A lot of money.""
Before Michael could ask another question, Daniel returned.
His expression had changed.
He wasn't smiling.
He wasn't frowning.
He looked like a man who had just discovered that an entire investigation might have been built on a lie.
"Michael, I need you to listen carefully.""
Michael stood.
"What was in the envelope?""
Daniel placed a folder on the table.
"Several documents, a handwritten letter, and a small flash drive.""
Victoria, standing near the courtroom entrance, suddenly stopped moving.
Daniel noticed.
"There's something else," he continued.
"Your wife specifically instructed that the contents not be handed to the police until they had been examined by an independent attorney.""
Michael's eyes widened.
"Why?""
"Because she believed someone inside the investigation was connected to what happened to her.""
Michael stared at him.
"Who?""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Your wife's letter names one person.""
He opened the folder and turned it toward Michael.
At the top of the first page was Sarah's handwriting.
Daniel, if you're reading this, then Michael has probably been arrested. I am sorry I couldn't protect him myself.
Michael's breathing became uneven.
"That's Sarah's writing.""
"I know," Daniel said.
Michael reached for the page, but his hand shook so badly that he couldn't hold it.
Daniel continued reading.
My husband did not kill me. He has no idea why I'm being followed, and I have kept him away from the truth because I believed it would keep him safe.
Michael closed his eyes.
"She knew.""
Daniel nodded.
"Apparently.""
"She knew somebody was coming after her?""
"That's what this letter suggests.""
Michael looked up.
"Then why didn't she tell me?""
Daniel paused.
"Maybe she thought telling you would put you in danger.""
Emily reached for the letter.
"Can I see Mommy's handwriting?""
Daniel hesitated, then lowered the page so she could look without touching it.
Emily smiled faintly.
"She made her S's like that.""
Michael wiped his face.
"She used to write little notes and leave them in my lunchbox.""
Emily pointed at the bottom of the page.
"There's more.""
Daniel looked down.
Beneath the letter was a short handwritten message.
If Victoria claims Michael was alone with me that night, ask her about the hotel camera.
Michael frowned.
"What hotel camera?""
Daniel turned toward him.
"Do you remember where you were the night Sarah died?""
"Of course. I was at the emergency electrical repair on Westbrook Avenue. The entire apartment building lost power.""
"Who can confirm that?""
"Three employees. The building manager. The emergency dispatcher.""
Daniel nodded.
"We have that testimony.""
"Then why am I sitting here in an orange jumpsuit?""
"Because the prosecution produced a witness who claims you left the building at 9:15 p.m. and returned shortly before midnight.""
Michael shook his head.
"That's impossible.""
"Who was the witness?""
Michael stared at him.
"Victoria.""
Daniel closed the folder.
"Exactly.""
Michael looked toward the hallway.
Victoria was still there.
Watching them.
"She told the police she saw me?""
"She testified that you came home angry, argued with Sarah, and left again.""
Michael slammed his palm against the table.
"I never went home that night!""
Emily flinched.
He immediately lowered his voice.
"Sorry, princess.""
Daniel turned another page.
"Sarah mentions a hotel camera. Does that mean anything to you?""
Michael shook his head.
"Not unless...""
He stopped.
Daniel leaned forward.
"Unless what?""
Michael looked at the floor.
"Sarah once told me she had met someone at the Bellmont Hotel. She wouldn't tell me who. She said she was trying to fix a financial problem.""
"Was Victoria involved?""
"I don't know.""
Daniel tapped the letter.
"Your wife seems to believe she was.""
Then the prosecutor entered the conference room.
"Mr. Brooks, we need to discuss the evidence.""
Daniel closed the folder.
"Of course.""
Collins glanced at Michael.
"Your client remains charged with first-degree murder. The existence of an unsigned letter doesn't change that.""
"It's signed," Daniel replied.
"And the handwriting appears consistent with the deceased's known correspondence.""
"That still doesn't establish its authenticity.""
Daniel nodded.
"Which is why we're requesting an independent forensic examination.""
Collins looked toward Emily.
"Where did the child get the envelope?""
"Her mother gave it to her.""
"When?""
Emily answered before anyone else could.
"Mommy put it in my teddy bear.""
Everyone turned toward her.
Daniel crouched.
"Your teddy bear?""
Emily nodded.
"The yellow one. Grandma took it away after Mommy died.""
Michael looked confused.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Emily's eyes filled.
"Grandma said I wasn't allowed to talk about it.""
Daniel slowly stood.
"Where is that teddy bear now?""
Emily looked toward the courtroom doors.
"Grandma has it.""
The prosecutor's expression changed.
"Mrs. Victoria?""
But Victoria had already disappeared from the hallway.
Daniel rushed to the door.
"Get security!""
A court officer ran toward the elevators.
Michael gripped the edge of the table.
"She's leaving?""
Daniel looked back.
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Emily answered in a whisper.
"Because there's another letter.""
Michael turned toward his daughter.
"What other letter, sweetheart?""
Emily wiped her nose with her sleeve.
"Mommy said there was one inside the bear.""
Daniel froze.
"Are you certain?""
Emily nodded.
"Mommy told me the red heart on the bear meant it was a special hiding place.""
Michael stared at her.
He remembered the teddy bear.
Sarah had bought it for Emily on her fifth birthday. A yellow bear with one red heart sewn over its chest.
He also remembered Victoria taking it away the morning after the funeral.
She had said it was too painful for Emily to keep.
Daniel rushed back toward the courtroom.
But before he reached the door, his phone rang.
He answered.
"Brooks.""
A security officer's voice came through.
"Mr. Brooks, we found Mrs. Victoria.""
"Where?""
"Parking garage. She's trying to leave.""
"Did you recover the teddy bear?""
There was a pause.
"No, sir.""
Daniel's stomach tightened.
"Then what does she have?""
The officer lowered his voice.
"A suitcase.""
"What kind of suitcase?""
"The kind you usually use to carry documents.""
Daniel looked at Michael.
Then he heard the officer say something that made his blood run cold.
"Mr. Brooks, there's a photograph inside it.""
"What photograph?""
"Your client. Standing outside the victim's house on the night she died.""
Michael went completely still.
May you like
Because he knew that photograph.
And he knew it was impossible.
