Chapter 4 - THE VISIT
The police station smelled of coffee, disinfectant, and old paperwork. David sat beside Margaret on a hard plastic bench, staring at the floor.
They had arrived early in the morning. Mr. Calloway, the family lawyer, waited nearby. They had insisted on a private meeting with Rachel before formal questioning began.
When the door finally opened, and Rachel walked into the small interview room, David barely recognized her.
She wore a standard detention uniform. Her hair hung loose and unkempt. Her face was pale, her eyes red-rimmed. She looked smaller than he remembered. Fragile. Almost defeated.
Then she saw Margaret. And her eyes hardened.
“You came to gloat,” Rachel said. Her voice was rough.
Margaret sat across the metal table. She placed her cane beside her and folded her hands.
“I came to save you,” Margaret said calmly. “Or at least… give you the chance to save yourself.”
Rachel laughed bitterly. “Save me? You put me here.”
“You put yourself here,” Margaret said. “When you pushed me toward those stairs. When you planned a second accident. When you took money and followed orders like a pawn.”
Rachel went still.
Margaret leaned forward slightly.
“Who is giving you orders, Rachel?”
Rachel said nothing. She looked down at her hands.
“The list,” Margaret said. “The seven names. The dates. The note at the bottom. Others are waiting.”
Rachel’s head snapped up. Her eyes widened in genuine fear.
“Where did you get that?”
“Does it matter?” Margaret said. “Whoever is behind this… they wrote your name down too, didn’t they? You are useful now. But once you have served your purpose… you become a liability. Just like the rest of us.”
Rachel swallowed hard. She looked toward the mirrored window, then back at Margaret.
“They will kill me,” she whispered. “If I talk… they will kill me.”
“Who will?” David asked. It was the first time he had spoken.
Rachel looked at him. Her expression softened, just for a moment.
“David… stay out of this. Please. For Sophie’s sake.”
“I am already in it,” David said. “Your list includes my name. And Sophie’s. Whoever this is… intends to hurt our daughter.”
Rachel flinched. She gripped the table edge.
“I never wanted to hurt Sophie,” she said. “That was the one rule. Never touch the child.”
“But you were willing to hurt my mother,” David said.
Rachel looked away. Tears spilled over.
“I was desperate,” she said. “They promised me everything. Money. Status. Respect. They told me Margaret would never miss a little control. They told me it would be quick. That she would recover. That no one would get hurt.”
Rachel shook her head.
“They lied. By the time I realized… it was too late. They had photos. Emails. Records. Proof that I had already broken the law. And they told me—keep going… or I go down alone.”
“So you chose to endanger my mother to save yourself,” Margaret said.
Rachel did not argue. She nodded slowly.
“Who are they?” Margaret asked again.
Rachel stood up and stepped back from the table. Her fear was absolute now.
“I can’t tell you,” she said. “If I tell you… they will kill Sophie. They promised. If I speak… the next accident happens to her.”
David stood up. “Rachel, listen to me—”
“Get out,” Rachel said. She backed toward the door. “Leave me alone. I won’t say a word. I’ll take the blame. I’ll go to prison. Just keep Sophie away from all of this.”
“Rachel—” Margaret began.
“GO!” Rachel screamed.
The door opened. Two officers stepped in. Rachel turned away, refusing to look at either of them again.
Margaret stood slowly. She picked up her cane.
“She is terrified,” Margaret said quietly as they walked back through the station. “Not of prison. Of them.”
“But who are they?” David said. “She wouldn’t tell us.”
“Not yet,” Margaret said. “But she gave us one clue.”
Margaret stopped and looked at him.
“She said they had photos. Emails. Records. Proof against her. Which means… whoever this is… has been watching her. Watching us. For a long time.”
Margaret walked toward the exit.
“Someone close to this family,” she said. “Someone who knows our routines. Someone who knows our weaknesses. Someone we all trust.”
David stopped on the steps outside. Morning sun felt cold against his skin.
“So the traitor is inside the house,” he said.
May you like
Margaret looked back at him. Her face was grave.
“I am afraid,” she said, “that the traitor has been sitting at our dinner table all along.”
