Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN IN RED
Victoria had always been Clara’s wealthy, overly competitive best friend.
When Clara supposedly died, Victoria was the first person to arrive at Julian’s door with a shoulder to cry on.
She had slowly integrated herself into his life, his business, and his children's daily routines.
She had been the one to recommend the isolated mountain road Clara took on the night of the tragic crash.
Julian took a slow, menacing step toward his fiancée.
“Did you cut the brake lines on her car, Victoria?” Julian asked in a terrifyingly calm whisper.
Victoria’s eyes darted frantically around the room, looking for an escape route.
“You cannot seriously believe this dirty maid over me!” Victoria shrieked defensively.
Clara stood up slowly, her legs shaking, but her voice was gaining strength.
“I started remembering everything three months ago when the clinic accidentally lowered my medication.”
“I remembered my name, my children, and the face of the woman who visited the clinic to pay the doctors.”
Clara reached into the pocket of her gray apron and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
“I stole this from the doctor's private filing cabinet before I escaped into the night.”
She handed the crumpled paper to Julian.
It was a heavily redacted bank transfer receipt for half a million dollars.
The signature at the bottom belonged undeniably to Victoria Sterling.
Julian stared at the signature, feeling a wave of absolute nausea wash over his entire body.
He had invited a literal monster into his home and let her sleep in his bed.
He had let the architect of his wife’s murder read bedtime stories to his daughters.
Julian pulled his cell phone from his tailored pocket and dialed his head of private security.
May you like
“Lock every single gate on the estate,” Julian ordered into the phone.
“No one leaves this property tonight.”
