Chapter 3 - FOUR MONTHS OF PLANNING
“Before I got there?”
Chief Briggs nodded.
“We found digital evidence suggesting your father, mother and sister had been discussing you and Wyatt for months.”
Wyatt’s jaw tightened.
“What kind of evidence?”
“Messages. Notes. Location records.”
My stomach turned.
“They discussed how to separate you.”
Chief Briggs continued carefully.
“How to damage your relationship. How to convince Mr. Campbell that Melanie was a better partner.”
Wyatt looked disgusted.
“They followed me.”
“We believe so.”
Four months.
Not one furious afternoon.
Four months of planning.
I remembered Melanie appearing at Wyatt’s gym wearing makeup she never wore to exercise.
Running into him near his office.
Showing up at the same restaurant while we were having dinner.
Each time she laughed.
“Small world.”
It wasn’t.
Chief Briggs continued.
“There are also references to humiliating you.”
My throat tightened.
“How?”
He hesitated.
“Making you less desirable.”
I looked away.
The room became quiet.
They hadn’t necessarily intended to kill me.
They wanted something more personal.
They wanted Wyatt to look at me afterward and no longer want me.
A knock interrupted us.
Before anyone answered, my parents entered.
Melanie followed.
Mom carried flowers.
Dad looked furious.
Melanie looked bored.
“We’re here to explain what really happened,” Mom announced.
Chief Briggs stood.
“You need to leave.”
Dad scoffed.
“She caused the entire thing.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
“She came to our house making accusations.”
Wyatt stepped forward.
“She was announcing our wedding date.”
Dad ignored him.
“Sadie has always been dramatic.”
Chief Briggs stared at my father.
“We have six witnesses.”
Dad’s face changed.
“And surveillance footage.”
Silence.
Then Dad made the mistake I will remember for the rest of my life.
“Delete it.”
Nobody moved.
Chief Briggs slowly tilted his head.
“Excuse me?”
Dad realized too late what he had said.
“I mean, you’re making too much of—”
“You just asked a police officer to destroy evidence.”
Two officers entered from the hallway.
Mom began shouting.
Melanie started crying instantly.
Dad resisted when they took his arm.
But for once, nobody in the room was afraid of Gregory Davis.
The cuffs closed around his wrists.
As they led him away, he looked at me.
“You’re destroying this family!”
I stared back through one uncovered eye.
“No, Dad.”
My voice shook.
“You did that yourself.”
Two days later, the elderly man from the living-room window came to see me.
He carried a worn leather briefcase.
“My name is Harvey Berry.”
I knew the name.
“My grandfather’s best friend?”
His eyes filled.
“Yes.”
May you like
Then he opened the case.
And placed a piece of broken wood in my hand.
