Chapter 5 - Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN IN THE RED COATSerena Blake first met Michael at a commercial property conference.
She owned a small real-estate advisory firm and specialized in finding distressed properties before they reached the public market. Michael saw in her everything he believed Emily was not: reckless, flattering, and willing to confuse ambition with entitlement.Serena knew Michael was married.At first, he told her the marriage was ending.Then he said Emily had become controlling.Eventually, he claimed Emily cared only about money and kept him financially dependent.Serena chose to believe him because the story made their relationship easier to justify.Michael promised her a new condominium overlooking Lake Michigan. He showed her photographs of the building, selected furniture with her, and discussed where they would travel after his divorce.The down payment was due before the end of the month.Serena assumed the money came from Michael’s consulting business.She did not ask many questions.Then she accompanied him to the hospital.Michael said his mother needed to sign a family investment document. Serena waited in the hallway until he motioned for her to enter.Margaret looked directly at her.“You’re the woman from the messages.”Serena froze.Michael’s smile disappeared.“My mother is confused.”“No,” Margaret said. “You left your phone here last week. I saw what you wrote to her.”Serena looked at Michael.“You said she didn’t know.”“She doesn’t understand what she saw.”Margaret pointed toward the envelope in his hand.“Is that Emily’s money?”Michael ignored the question.He gave Serena the envelope and told her to confirm the condominium deposit.Serena accepted it, but uneasiness tightened her stomach.“What is she talking about?”“Nothing.”Margaret reached toward the call button.Michael removed it before she could touch it.That was the moment Serena understood that something was terribly wrong.She could have returned the envelope.She could have called a nurse.She could have walked away.Instead, she remained silent.Michael leaned over his mother and threatened to have her declared incapable of making decisions. He described the facility where he would send her if she refused to cooperate.Serena whispered his name.He turned toward her.“Do you want our new life or not?”She looked at the envelope.Then she looked at Margaret.“I didn’t agree to this.”“You agreed when you took the money.”Michael’s words carried a warning.Serena put the envelope into her handbag.She told herself she would confront him later.She told herself Margaret was not in immediate danger.She told herself many things people tell themselves when courage becomes inconvenient.What Serena did not know was that St. Anne’s had recently installed additional cameras after medication disappeared from several rooms.One camera was positioned above Margaret’s doorway.Another covered the corridor.Both recorded Serena entering Room 120, accepting the envelope, and leaving without alerting anyone.Afterward, Michael drove her to the unfinished condominium.He stood beside the panoramic windows and placed his arms around her.“Soon, none of this will matter.”Serena stared down at the traffic far below.“What happens to your mother?”“She signs the trust.”“And if she doesn’t?”Michael’s arms tightened.“She will.”For the first time, Serena wondered whether Emily was not the obstacle in Michael’s story.Perhaps Serena was simply the next person he intended to use.
---
