Chapter 1 - The Finger“She tried to kill me!”
The words tore through the bedroom.
Richard Coleman stopped breathing.
His mother's trembling finger remained pointed directly at Victoria.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Emily Carter was still on the floor beside the bed. Blood from the small cut on her lower lip touched her fingertips when she instinctively covered her mouth.
Victoria stood near the armchair.
Her face was colorless.
Then the mask returned.
“Richard…”
Her voice was soft.
Controlled.
Almost wounded.
“Your mother is confused.”
Richard didn't answer.
Victoria slowly approached him.
“You know how sick she is.”
Eleanor's eyes widened.
“No…”
Victoria continued.
“She barely knows what she's saying.”
Eleanor shook her head violently.
“Her!”
Richard stared at his mother.
Then at Emily.
Then at the broken ceramic fragments scattered across the hardwood.
His eyes stopped on Emily's face.
The red mark from his hand was already appearing across her cheek.
His expression changed.
He had struck her.
He had never even asked what happened.
Emily looked away from him.
That hurt more than if she had screamed.
Richard turned toward Victoria.
“What happened before I came in?”
“I told you.”
“Tell me again.”
Victoria hesitated.
“Emily became aggressive.”
“Why?”
“She was arguing with your mother.”
“About what?”
Victoria's eyes flickered.
“Medication.”
Emily looked up.
“That's a lie.”
Richard's jaw tightened.
Victoria immediately pointed.
“See?”
Emily struggled to her feet.
“She picked up the vase.”
Richard looked at her.
Emily continued.
“She told your mother she should've kept her mouth shut.”
Victoria laughed nervously.
“This is ridiculous.”
“Then she threw it.”
“At my mother?”
“Yes.”
“And you?”
“I jumped in front of Mrs. Coleman.”
Richard stared at the bruising beginning to form on Emily's shoulder.
Victoria said:
“She's making this up because she knows she's fired.”
Emily looked at Richard.
“I don't care about this job.”
Her voice shook.
“I care that your mother is terrified of your wife.”
Richard looked toward Eleanor.
His mother's eyes filled with tears.
Victoria approached the bed.
“Eleanor, sweetheart—”
Eleanor recoiled.
It was tiny.
Barely an inch.
But Richard saw it.
His mother was afraid of Victoria.
“Don't touch her.”
Victoria stopped.
“What?”
Richard stepped between them.
“I said don't touch her.”
Victoria stared at him.
“You believe the caregiver over your wife?”
Richard looked at Eleanor.
“I believe my mother.”
Victoria's expression hardened.
Only for a fraction of a second.
Then she began crying.
“After everything I've done for this family…”
Richard's phone was still in his hand.
He looked at it.
Then dialed.
Victoria froze.
“Who are you calling?”
“Security.”
“Richard.”
“And an ambulance.”
“For what?”
“My mother.”
He looked at Emily.
“And Emily.”
Emily shook her head.
“I'm fine.”
“No.”
His voice softened.
“You're not.”
She stared at him.
Richard could barely meet her eyes.
“I hit you.”
Silence.
Victoria interrupted.
“She manipulated you!”
Richard turned.
“Stop.”
“Richard—”
“STOP.”
His voice shook the room.
Victoria fell silent.
Then Eleanor whispered:
“Drawer…”
Richard turned.
“What?”
His mother moved her eyes toward the antique nightstand.
“Drawer.”
Victoria's face changed.
Emily saw it.
So did Richard.
He approached the nightstand.
Victoria stepped forward.
“Richard, don't.”
He stopped.
Slowly looked at her.
“Why?”
“No reason.”
Richard opened the drawer.
Medication.
Tissues.
A small prayer book.
Then he noticed something beneath the book.
An old smartphone.
Not his mother's current phone.
A second device.
Victoria lunged.
Richard grabbed it first.
“What is this?”
Eleanor began crying.
Victoria whispered:
“Richard…”
He turned on the phone.
The screen illuminated.
There was one video.
Recorded forty-eight minutes earlier.
Richard pressed play.
Victoria's voice filled the room.
Cold.
Nothing like the woman standing beside him.
“You think he'll believe you?”
Richard slowly raised his eyes toward his wife.
On the recording, Eleanor whimpered.
Victoria continued:
“You can't even lift your hand.”
Richard stared at Victoria.
Her face collapsed.
The recording continued.
“And by the time Richard realizes what's happening…”
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A pause.
“…you'll already be dead.”
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