Chapter 8: The Woman in the Photograph
I spent the entire afternoon searching the farmhouse.
Not for hidden money.
Not for valuable documents.
For answers.
Robert had trusted me with his life.
But apparently, there were parts of it he kept hidden.
And I needed to know why.
I returned to his study and emptied every drawer.
Old letters.
Tax records.
Family documents.
Nothing.
Then I found a photograph.
It was tucked inside a book I had never opened.
A photograph of Robert standing beside another man.
I recognized him immediately.
Richard Collins.
But they were younger.
Much younger.
The picture was taken nearly thirty years earlier.
I turned it over.
There was writing on the back.
*Partners before betrayal.*
My stomach tightened.
Partners?
I sat down.
Robert had never mentioned Richard.
Not once.
Why?
I called Eleanor.
She answered immediately.
“Margaret?””
“I found something.””
Her tone changed.
“Are you safe?””
“Yes.””
“Where are you?””
I hesitated.
“The property.””
A pause.
“You went there alone?””
“Yes.””
“Margaret.””
“I found a letter from Robert.””
Silence.
Then:
“What kind of letter?””
I told her everything.
The land.
The hidden documents.
The Collins name.
When I finished, Eleanor spoke carefully.
“Your husband and Richard Collins had history.””
“I know that now.””
“What you don’t know is that Collins Development Group was much smaller back then.””
“How small?””
“Small enough that Robert was involved.””
I froze.
“Robert?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t I know?””
“I don’t know.””
That answer bothered me.
Eleanor was rarely uncertain.
“Find out,” I said.
“I’ll make some calls.””
After hanging up, I stared at the photograph.
Partners before betrayal.
What happened between them?
And why had Robert carried that secret for decades?
That evening, Daniel came to the farmhouse.
I almost didn’t let him in.
But when I saw his face, I knew something was wrong.
“What happened?””
He walked inside.
“Tiffany left.””
I frowned.
“Left where?””
“I don’t know.””
“Daniel.””
“She took some things and disappeared.””
I looked at him.
“Are you worried about her?””
“Yes.””
That surprised me.
Even after everything, he still cared.
Maybe that was his weakness.
Maybe it was also his humanity.
“She gave me the documents.””
Daniel looked at me.
“She did?””
“Yes.””
He sat down.
“Then she’s in danger.””
I stared.
“What do you mean?””
Daniel looked toward the window.
“Because my father-in-law doesn’t forgive betrayal.””
“You mean Richard.””
He nodded.
“What happened between them?””
Daniel looked confused.
“Who?””
“Your father and Richard Collins.””
His expression changed.
“My father?””
I showed him the photograph.
He stared.
“I’ve never seen this.””
“Neither have I.””
Daniel sat quietly.
Then he whispered:
“Mom…”
“What?””
“There’s something else.””
I waited.
“Tiffany told me something before she left.””
“What?””
“She said my father knew Richard was dangerous.””
I felt a chill.
“What does that mean?””
“She said Robert tried to warn people.””
“About what?””
Daniel looked at the photograph again.
“About a company scandal.””
I frowned.
“What scandal?””
“I don’t know.””
A notification appeared on Daniel’s phone.
He looked at it.
Then his face changed.
“What?””
He turned the phone toward me.
It was a message from Tiffany.
*Your father was right about Richard. Find the old ledger before he does.*
I stared.
“What ledger?””
Daniel shook his head.
“I don’t know.””
The phone buzzed again.
Another message.
This time from an unknown number.
My blood ran cold when I read it.
*Stop searching.*
A second message appeared.
*Your husband couldn’t protect you. Neither can your son.*
Daniel stood.
“Mom.””
I looked toward the dark window.
Someone was watching the farmhouse.
I could feel it.
The same way I felt it when Richard stood in the field.
“They know we’re here.””
Daniel grabbed my arm.
“We need to leave.””
I looked at him.
For the first time in days, he wasn’t thinking about himself.
He was afraid for me.
But before we could move, the power suddenly went out.
The farmhouse went completely dark.
Then came a sound.
A quiet click.
From downstairs.
The basement door.
Opening.
Daniel whispered:
“Mom…”
I grabbed the flashlight.
“Stay behind me.””
We moved slowly toward the basement.
The door was open.
But neither of us had touched it.
Inside, something moved.
A shadow.
Then a voice spoke from the darkness.
“Margaret.””
I froze.
Because I knew that voice.
It wasn’t Richard.
May you like
It wasn’t a stranger.
It was someone I never expected to see again.
