Chapter 7 - Safe Haven
Richard Lawson drove through the storm without saying a word.
Rebecca sat silently in the passenger seat, holding Emma so tightly that the little girl finally fell asleep against her shoulder.
Only when they crossed the gates of the Lawson Estate did Richard speak.
"How long?"
Rebecca stared out the rain-covered window.
"I don't know."
He glanced at her bruised face.
"How long has he been hurting you?"
Her lips trembled.
"Almost three years."
Richard tightened his grip on the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white.
Three years.
Three years while she had smiled through birthdays, holidays, charity galas, and family dinners.
Three years while he believed her excuses.
The guilt struck harder than anger ever could.
Inside the mansion, Dr. Evelyn Morris, the Lawson family's private physician, examined Rebecca.
Multiple fractured ribs that had healed incorrectly.
A damaged wrist.
Scars older than anyone had imagined.
When the examination ended, the doctor quietly handed Richard a folder.
"I've seen victims like this before."
Richard looked at the report.
"Will she recover?"
"Physically?"
The doctor nodded.
"Emotionally..."
She sighed.
"That may take much longer."
Late that evening Richard entered the security command center beneath the mansion.
Twenty-four-hour surveillance covered every entrance.
Former intelligence officers now guarded the estate.
No one entered unnoticed.
One technician suddenly looked up.
"Sir..."
"What is it?"
"We've detected someone attempting to access our internal network."
Richard frowned.
"Can you stop it?"
The technician typed rapidly.
His face slowly turned pale.
"They're already inside."
Every monitor in the room suddenly went black.
One sentence appeared in white letters.
May you like
YOU CAN HIDE HER.
YOU CANNOT SAVE HER.
