Chapter 2 - The Lion's Den
Two days passed. I survived on cash I’d kept stashed in my truck’s emergency kit, sleeping in cheap motels under fake names. Every TV screen in every diner showed my face. Local Man Wanted in Brutal Slaying of Elderly Neighbor.
They painted me as a monster. The news anchors talked about my "explosive temper" and how the murder weapon—my own claw hammer—was found buried near my greenhouse. Sarah gave a tearful interview, her eyes red, holding a tissue.
"Elias has been under a lot of stress," she sobbed to the cameras, Mark standing right behind her, a supportive hand on her shoulder. "He just snapped. I never thought the man I loved could do this. Please, Elias, if you're watching... turn yourself in."
The betrayal burned like acid in my chest. I couldn't just hand over the USB drive to the police. Sarah’s brother was a captain in the local precinct; the drive would likely "disappear" before it ever reached a courtroom. I needed an airtight case. I needed to destroy them publicly.
I bought a cheap burner phone and a dark hoodie. Under the cover of a moonless night, I made my way back to my own neighborhood. I slipped through the woods behind our subdivision, creeping up to the edge of my property.
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The house was dark, save for the living room. Peering through the gap in the curtains, I saw them. Sarah and Mark. They weren't grieving. They were drinking champagne. Sarah was laughing, tracing a finger down Mark's jawline before leaning in to kiss him. It wasn't just a setup. It was an affair. They were clearing me out to start a new life together.
I pulled out my burner and recorded a quick video of them through the window. It wasn't enough to clear my name, but it was the start of my revenge.
