Chapter 2 - The Woman in the Black Car
Daniel stayed outside for eleven minutes.
Rachel counted every one.
When he returned, his face was unreadable.
"Who was it?"
"No one."
"You're lying."
Daniel removed his jacket.
"Rachel, please."
She crossed her arms.
"You filed for divorce today. You lied to me about why. Your cousin is named in your financial documents. Someone is stealing money. And you just received a private call that made you look like you'd seen a ghost."
Daniel stared at her.
"I don't know how much danger you're in."
Rachel went still.
"What did you say?"
"I said I don't know."
"Daniel, danger from whom?"
He looked toward the windows.
"Did anyone follow you home?"
Rachel's pulse quickened.
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Daniel walked to the window.
Across the street, a black sedan was parked beneath a tree.
Its engine was running.
Rachel stared.
"How long has that been there?"
"I don't know."
Daniel's phone rang again.
He didn't answer.
The black sedan remained.
Then its headlights turned on.
Rachel stepped closer to the glass.
The car pulled away.
Daniel exhaled.
"You need to stay somewhere else tonight."
Rachel looked at him.
"You want me to leave my house because you filed for divorce?"
"I want you safe."
"From what?"
Daniel's silence was answer enough.
Rachel picked up her purse.
"Where am I supposed to go?"
"My sister's."
"No."
"Rachel."
"No."
She walked toward the stairs.
Daniel followed.
"You can't stay here alone."
"I'm pregnant, Daniel. I'm not helpless."
"I know."
"Then stop treating me like I am."
He stopped.
Rachel looked back.
"Do you know what hurts the most?"
Daniel's eyes softened.
"You didn't trust me enough to tell me the truth."
"I was trying to protect you."
"You don't get to decide what I can survive."
Daniel lowered his head.
Rachel went upstairs.
She locked the bedroom door.
For the first time in seven years, she slept on the opposite side of the room from her husband.
At 2:13 a.m., she woke to a sound downstairs.
A drawer closing.
Rachel sat up.
Her heart raced.
She reached for her phone.
No signal.
She quietly opened the bedroom door.
The hallway was dark.
A shadow moved across the staircase.
Rachel froze.
Someone was inside the house.
She heard a man's voice.
"Find it."
Another voice answered.
"We already searched."
Rachel backed toward the bedroom.
Then she heard Daniel.
"She's upstairs."
Rachel's breath caught.
They knew she was there.
She reached for the door.
But before she could close it, the lights came on.
Daniel stood at the bottom of the stairs.
Two unfamiliar men were behind him.
Rachel stared.
Daniel looked up.
His face was filled with panic.
"Rachel, don't move."
One of the men smiled.
"She's pregnant."
Daniel stepped forward.
"Don't touch her."
The man looked at him.
"Then tell us where the file is."
Rachel stared at Daniel.
"What file?"
Nobody answered.
May you like
The man smiled again.
And Rachel realized the divorce papers were only the beginning.
