CHAPTER 9 The Threat Against My Daughter Changed Everything
CHAPTER 9 The Threat Against My Daughter Changed Everything
The room was completely silent.
Nobody reached for the next page.
Nobody even moved.
My eyes remained fixed on the message.
If she becomes a problem, we'll handle the wife ourselves.
I had spent days believing the greatest danger was losing my marriage.
Now I understood something much worse.
Someone had discussed my life as if I were nothing more than an obstacle.
I instinctively reached for Maya.
She was asleep in her stroller beside me, completely unaware that strangers had been talking about her mother like a problem to be solved.
I gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
At that moment, every decision became simple.
Whatever happened between Justin and me no longer mattered.
My only responsibility was protecting my daughter.
Detective Harris closed the folder.
"I've already requested temporary protective measures."
Luke looked up.
"For Clara?"
"And Maya."
"What kind of protection?"
"We'll have patrols near the house."
Luke shook his head.
"They're not going back there."
"I figured."
"I've already arranged another location."
The detective nodded.
"Good."
He looked directly at me.
"From this point forward, don't go anywhere alone."
"I understand."
"And if anyone contacts you..."
"I'll call immediately."
He gave a small nod.
"Good."
As we left the police department, my phone vibrated.
Justin.
I stared at his name.
Luke noticed.
"You don't have to answer."
I hesitated.
Then I pressed Accept.
"Hello."
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Finally, Justin exhaled.
"Thank you."
I frowned.
"For what?"
"For answering."
His voice sounded exhausted.
Nothing like the confident executive I had known.
"What do you want?"
"I need to see Maya."
I closed my eyes briefly.
"This isn't about Maya."
"It is."
"No."
My voice remained calm.
"You've had days to ask about her."
Silence.
Then he quietly said,
"I know."
Another long pause.
Finally, he spoke again.
"Clara..."
"What?"
"You need to leave Scottsdale."
I stopped walking.
Luke immediately looked at me.
"What did he say?" he whispered.
I held up one finger, asking him to wait.
"What are you talking about?"
Justin lowered his voice.
"I can't explain over the phone."
"Try."
"I don't have time."
I felt my patience disappearing.
"You had time for Vanessa."
He didn't argue.
He didn't defend himself.
Instead, he said something unexpected.
"I deserve that."
His answer caught me off guard.
Then he continued.
"But this isn't about us anymore."
"What is it about?"
"You."
"And Maya."
My heartbeat quickened.
"You know who R is."
Another silence.
Too long.
When he finally answered, his voice was barely audible.
"Yes."
I stopped breathing for a moment.
"Who?"
"I can't tell you."
"Justin."
"If I say the name..."
He paused.
"...people could die."
The line went quiet.
Then he whispered one final sentence.
"I'm trying to fix the biggest mistake of my life."
The call disconnected.
Luke had heard enough to understand.
"He knows."
I nodded.
"He admitted it."
Nathan looked troubled.
"Do you believe him?"
I honestly didn't know.
Part of me wanted to believe every word was another manipulation.
But another part remembered the message from the burner phone.
I won't involve Clara. Leave her and Maya out of this.
Those words suddenly carried a different meaning.
Not innocence.
Not redemption.
But fear.
Real fear.
That afternoon, Detective Harris arranged for us to stay at a secure residence owned by the county.
The location wasn't public.
Only a handful of people knew the address.
As we settled in, Maya laughed while crawling across the living room floor.
Watching her smile reminded me why I couldn't afford to make emotional decisions.
Every choice had to be careful.
Every step had to protect her future.
Around six o'clock that evening, Luke received another call.
His expression changed immediately.
"What happened?"
He listened without interrupting.
Then he slowly lowered the phone.
"Justin's attorney just contacted me."
I frowned.
"Why?"
"They're requesting an emergency meeting."
Nathan looked surprised.
"Already?"
Luke nodded.
"They say Justin wants to cooperate."
I stared at him.
"With who?"
"Everyone."
"Police."
"His company."
"And you."
That didn't make sense.
Only yesterday Justin had been threatening custody.
Now he wanted to cooperate?
Mark folded his arms.
"Something happened."
Luke agreed.
"I think so."
The meeting was scheduled for the following morning.
It took place in a private conference room at Luke's law firm.
Two uniformed officers stood outside the door.
Justin arrived exactly on time.
I almost didn't recognize him.
His beard had grown in.
His eyes were bloodshot.
His expensive suit was wrinkled.
He looked like a man who hadn't slept in days.
He walked into the room slowly.
Then his eyes found Maya.
For several seconds, he simply looked at her.
No words.
No excuses.
Just silence.
Finally, he spoke.
"She got so big."
I didn't answer.
Justin looked back at me.
"I know you hate me."
I folded my arms.
"Hate isn't the word."
He nodded.
"I figured."
Luke remained standing.
"You requested this meeting."
Justin looked at him.
"I did."
"Then start talking."
Justin reached into his briefcase.
Instead of removing documents...
He removed a small flash drive.
He placed it carefully on the conference table.
"Everything I have is on this."
Luke didn't touch it.
"What is it?"
"Emails."
"Financial records."
"Audio recordings."
Rebecca, who had joined us for the meeting, looked surprised.
"You recorded them?"
Justin slowly nodded.
"For almost a year."
The room became very still.
Luke finally asked the question everyone was thinking.
"Why now?"
Justin looked directly at me.
"Because they know Clara has the evidence."
He glanced toward Maya.
"And once they realize she won't give it back..."
His voice cracked for the first time.
"...they'll stop trying to negotiate."
I felt a chill run through my body.
Luke narrowed his eyes.
"What happens then?"
Justin didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked down at his hands.
When he finally spoke, every word came slowly.
"They eliminate loose ends."
No one spoke.
The silence felt heavier than anything we had experienced so far.
Then Justin said something that changed the direction of the conversation completely.
"The person you're looking for..."
He swallowed hard.
"...isn't named Richard."
Luke frowned.
"What?"
"'R' doesn't stand for a person's first name."
Rebecca leaned forward.
"Then what does it stand for?"
Justin looked around the room, as if making sure no one else could hear.
Then he whispered a single word.
"Regency."
Luke's expression froze.
Rebecca's face turned pale.
Nathan looked confused.
I had never heard the name before.
But judging by everyone else's reaction...
May you like
Whatever Regency was...
It was far more dangerous than a single person.
