Chapter 2: The Locked Guest House
The hospital room changed the moment Abigail mentioned the envelope.
Nicholas stopped pretending to be bored.
Patricia stopped pretending to be calm.
Gregory stopped pretending he was amused.
I noticed all three.
That was enough.
I looked down at my daughter.
“What envelope?””
Abigail swallowed.
“I don't know where it is now.””
Nicholas stepped forward.
“She's confused.””
I didn't look at him.
“Abigail.””
She shook her head.
“Mom, please. Not here.””
Patricia moved toward the door.
“We should give her some privacy.””
“No.””
I pointed toward the hallway.
“You should leave.””
Patricia's eyes narrowed.
“This is my son's wife.””
“And she's my daughter.””
She smiled thinly.
“You're going to regret making enemies of the Ferguson family.””
I didn't answer.
A doctor entered before she could say more.
“Mrs. Ferguson?””
Abigail nodded.
The doctor looked at me.
“Are you her mother?””
“Yes.””
He glanced at Nicholas.
“And you?””
“Her husband.””
The doctor looked uncomfortable.
“Mr. Ferguson, I need to speak with Mrs. Ferguson privately.””
Nicholas immediately protested.
“I should be present.””
“No,” the doctor said.
Something about his tone ended the argument.
Nicholas walked out.
Patricia and Gregory followed.
But before Patricia disappeared through the door, she leaned toward Abigail.
“You know what happens when family matters become public.””
Abigail's face drained of color.
I closed the door behind them.
The doctor waited until they were gone.
Then he looked at Abigail.
“You told the nurse you fell.””
Abigail stared at the blanket.
“I lied.””
“I thought so.””
He pulled a chair closer.
“Your injuries don't look consistent with a simple fall.””
My daughter's fingers trembled.
“I don't want to cause trouble.””
The doctor looked at me.
“Does she have somewhere safe to go?””
I answered immediately.
“With me.””
He nodded.
“Then I recommend she not return to the Ferguson residence tonight.””
Abigail looked at me.
“I can't go back there.””
“You won't.””
“They'll come after you.””
“They already did.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
The doctor quietly left us alone.
For a moment, there was only the hum of the air conditioner.
Then Abigail whispered, “They took everything.””
“What?””
“My phone. My passport. My driver's license. My bank cards.””
I stared at her.
“Why?””
“Because I told Nicholas I wanted a divorce.””
The words landed harder than I expected.
“When?””
“Three days ago.””
“And what happened?””
She looked toward the closed door.
“They laughed.””
I sat beside her.
“Tell me everything.””
She hesitated.
Then she began.
“Nicholas said I was emotional. His mother said divorce would embarrass the family. Gregory told me nobody would believe me.””
Her voice cracked.
“I packed a bag.””
“And?””
“Nicholas took it.””
She rubbed her bruised wrist.
“Then they moved me into the guest house.””
I looked at the marks around her wrist.
“They locked you inside?””
She nodded.
“From the outside.””
“How long?””
“Two days.””
My pulse slowed.
That was when I became truly dangerous.
Not angry.
Focused.
“What happened tonight?””
Abigail looked at me.
“Nicholas came to the guest house.””
“What did he say?””
“He asked if I'd changed my mind.””
“And you?””
“I told him no.””
Her breathing became uneven.
“He grabbed my arm.””
I waited.
“He said, ‘You don't leave this family, Abigail.’”
She closed her eyes.
“Then Gregory came in.””
“What did Gregory do?””
“He put my phone on the table and said I could have it back if I signed something.””
“What?””
“I didn't read it.””
“Why?””
“Because Patricia told me it was a confession.””
I leaned forward.
“A confession to what?””
“That I had been unstable during the marriage. That I'd been violent toward Nicholas. That I had threatened his mother.””
I stared at her.
“And if you didn't sign?””
“They said they'd destroy me.””
She began crying.
“I tried to get away.””
“What happened?””
“Nicholas shoved me.””
Her voice became almost inaudible.
“I hit the table.””
I looked at her injuries.
“And then?””
“I don't remember everything.””
She covered her face.
I reached for her hand.
“You don't have to remember tonight.””
But she suddenly grabbed my wrist.
“The envelope.””
I looked at her.
“What about it?””
“Before they locked me up, I found something.””
“Where?””
“In Nicholas's office.””
“What did you find?””
“A brown envelope.””
“What was inside?””
“I saw my name.””
My heart beat once.
Hard.
“Only your name?””
“No.””
She looked toward the door.
“There was another name.””
“Whose?””
She hesitated.
Then she whispered it.
“Yours.””
I felt the room go still.
“My name?””
“Yes.””
“What did it say?””
“I couldn't read all of it.””
“Abigail, this is important.””
“I know.””
She wiped her eyes.
“I took pictures.””
My chest tightened.
“Where are the pictures?””
Her face suddenly changed.
“I don't know.””
“What do you mean?””
“They took my phone.””
“Were the pictures backed up?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
I stood.
“We'll deal with that later.””
But Abigail grabbed my sleeve again.
“No, Mom.””
“What?””
“They didn't know I had another copy.””
I stared at her.
She whispered:
“I hid the envelope.””
“Where?””
She looked toward the hallway.
Then toward the hospital window.
“Inside Nicholas's house.””
My phone rang.
The screen displayed an unfamiliar number.
I answered.
“Colonel Gardner.””
Silence.
Then a man's voice said:
“Stop asking questions about your daughter's marriage.””
I turned toward Abigail.
“Who is this?””
The caller laughed softly.
“You're not dealing with the Fergusons anymore.””
The line went dead.
Abigail stared at me.
“Mom?””
I lowered the phone.
“What?””
May you like
Her lips trembled.
“They know you're here.””
