Chapter 4 - THE MESSAGE
Emily stared at the unknown number.
DON'T TRUST THE BOX. LUKE KNOWS ABOUT IT.
“Caroline,” she whispered.
Caroline looked at her sister.
“What?”
Emily showed her the phone.
For several seconds, Caroline couldn't breathe.
The box.
She had hidden it years ago.
Nobody knew.
Not Emily.
Not her parents.
Not even the doctor who had written the note.
Nobody except Caroline.
At least, that's what she had believed.
“Call the number,” Caroline said.
Emily did.
Straight to voicemail.
She tried again.
Nothing.
Then another message appeared.
HE'S ALREADY AT THE HOUSE.
Emily's face went pale.
“Who?”
Caroline closed her eyes.
Luke.
“He must have followed you.”
Emily shook her head.
“No. I didn't tell anyone where I was going.”
Caroline's heart began racing.
“He doesn't need to know.”
“What?”
“He knows me.”
Emily stared at her.
Caroline whispered, “He always knew where I would hide things.”
The hospital door opened.
A detective entered.
He introduced himself as Daniel Reed.
“We need to talk about what happened tonight.”
Caroline nodded.
“I'll tell you everything.”
Luke had spent years convincing her that nobody would believe her.
Now she was going to give them every reason to.
She told Detective Reed about the beatings.
The threats.
The pregnancies.
The accusations.
The hospital visits.
And finally, the boiling water.
The detective listened without interrupting.
When she finished, he asked one question.
“Do you have evidence?”
Caroline looked at Emily.
“The box.”
Detective Reed frowned.
“What is in it?”
“Medical records. Photos. Prescriptions. Notes.”
“Where is it?”
“My old house.”
Reed immediately stood.
“We'll secure the property.”
Caroline shook her head.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“If Luke is there, you can't go.”
“I don't want to go.”
“Then why are you refusing?”
Caroline swallowed.
“Because if Luke thinks the box is still hidden there, he'll destroy everything.”
Reed understood.
“You think there are other copies.”
Caroline nodded.
“There are.”
Emily stared at her.
“You made copies?”
Caroline looked at her sister.
“After the second pregnancy.”
Emily's eyes filled with tears.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I was afraid.”
She looked down at her bandaged hands.
“I didn't know how to survive him.”
Then Caroline lifted her eyes.
“But I knew I might someday need to prove what he did.”
Detective Reed made a call.
Within minutes, officers were sent to the house.
Caroline waited.
Ten minutes.
Twenty.
Then Detective Reed's phone rang.
He listened.
His expression changed.
“What happened?” Caroline asked.
Reed slowly lowered the phone.
“They found Luke.”
Emily stood.
“Where?”
Reed looked at Caroline.
“At your house.”
Caroline's stomach dropped.
“Was he alone?”
“No.”
“Who was with him?”
Reed hesitated.
“Your mother-in-law.”
Caroline closed her eyes.
Then Reed added:
“And they found something else.”
May you like
“What?”
“A hidden room.”
