Chapter 1 - TELL THEM TO CHECK THE BASEMENT
“Tell them to check the basement.”
Maya’s words were barely louder than the sirens outside.
But the effect on the Caldwell family was immediate.
Charles stopped breathing for what felt like several seconds.
Eleanor’s hand tightened around the back of a dining chair.
Adrian turned toward Maya so quickly that the panic on his face was impossible to hide.
“What did you just say?”
Maya swallowed.
Her eyes moved toward the front hallway as the doorbell rang.
“Tell the police to check the basement.”
Adrian stepped toward her.
Officer Daniel Ramirez entered the dining room before he could take a second step.
A female officer followed him.
Both froze when they saw me.
Blood covered the side of my face.
Broken porcelain littered the floor.
The white tablecloth was stained red beside my chair.
Officer Ramirez immediately looked at Adrian.
“Sir, step away from the women.”
Adrian raised both hands.
“This is being completely misunderstood.”
“No.”
Maya’s voice trembled.
“It isn’t.”
Charles glared at her.
“Maya, you need to stop talking.”
Officer Ramirez turned.
“Who are you?”
“Maya Caldwell.”
She hesitated.
“I live here.”
That was the first thing she said that made Charles look truly frightened.
Ramirez glanced toward him.
“Is that correct?”
Charles said nothing.
Maya nodded.
“My husband and I use the west wing when we’re here.”
Her eyes returned to the officer.
“I have access to the basement.”
Eleanor crossed the room.
“She is emotional.”
Maya laughed once.
There was nothing humorous in the sound.
“I’ve been emotional for seven years.”
Then she pointed toward Adrian.
“Because I’ve spent seven years watching this family do to women what they tried to do to Claire tonight.”
The room went silent.
My dizziness suddenly seemed distant.
“What are you talking about?”
Maya looked at me.
“The condo wasn’t a spontaneous idea.”
I already knew that.
What I didn’t know was how far back the plan went.
“They have a file on you.”
My stomach tightened.
“A file?”
“In the basement.”
Adrian’s face went white.
“Maya.”
“Shut up.”
It was the first time I had ever heard her speak to him that way.
“You don’t get to scare me anymore.”
Officer Ramirez stepped between them.
“What kind of file?”
Maya’s eyes filled with tears.
“Financial records.”
She inhaled shakily.
“Property records.”
Another breath.
“Copies of signatures.”
Eleanor interrupted.
“That is enough.”
Maya kept going.
“Divorce settlements.”
Charles moved toward her.
The second officer stopped him.
“Stay where you are.”
Maya’s voice became steadier.
“There are folders with women’s names on them.”
My hand tightened around the bloody napkin.
“How many?”
She looked at me.
“I don’t know.”
Then she whispered the answer she was terrified to say.
“Dozens.”
The paramedics arrived seconds later.
One examined my head while another asked me questions about nausea, vision, and whether I had lost consciousness.
Across the room, Officer Ramirez placed Adrian in handcuffs.
The sound of metal closing around my husband’s wrists should have felt like the end of something.
Instead, it felt like a door opening.
Adrian stared at me while the officer read him his rights.
“This is your fault.”
I looked directly at him.
“No.”
I pressed fresh gauze against my temple.
“This is the first thing tonight that is entirely yours.”
As Ramirez led him toward the hallway, Adrian twisted toward Maya.
“You have no idea what you’ve done.”
Maya’s face went pale again.
But she didn’t retreat.
“Yes.”
She looked toward the basement door.
“I do.”
Then she turned to Officer Ramirez.
“There’s one more thing.”
Charles closed his eyes.
Maya pointed toward the hallway.
“The room you need isn’t the basement you can see.”
May you like
My pulse slowed.
“There’s another room behind it.”
