Chapter 3 - The Voice Outside
Anna stared at the bedroom door.
Her sister, Melissa, lived twenty miles away.
She had no reason to be inside Anna’s house at two in the morning.
Dererick’s expression revealed that Melissa’s arrival was not unexpected.
Anna felt the betrayal before she understood it.
“Open the door,” Melissa whispered. “We’re running out of time.”
Anna looked at her husband.
“We?”
Dererick remained silent.
Melissa tried the handle again.
“Dererick?”
Anna pressed the record button on her second phone more firmly, making certain it was still running.
Then she stepped toward the door.
Dererick blocked her.
“You don’t want to involve Melissa.”
“She’s already involved.”
“You don’t know why she’s here.”
“Then explain.”
He lowered his voice.
“Your sister is trying to help you.”
Anna laughed softly.
“By waiting outside while you drug and film me?”
Melissa heard her.
The hallway went silent.
Then came one quick knock.
“Anna, open the door.”
“You first. Why are you here?”
Melissa hesitated.
That pause said more than an immediate lie would have.
“We were worried about you.”
“At two in the morning?”
“Dererick said you were getting worse.”
Anna looked at him.
“What did you tell her?”
“That you’d become dangerous.”
“To whom?”
“To yourself.”
The accusation was calculated.
If Anna became angry, it supported his story.
If she became frightened, he could call her unstable.
If she remained calm, he would provoke her until she broke.
Anna understood the trap.
She walked toward the nightstand and picked up the ceramic mug.
“Melissa, what was in the tea?”
No answer.
Anna continued.
“I poured it out.”
The door handle stopped moving.
Dererick’s shoulders dropped slightly.
Melissa whispered, “You weren’t supposed to do that.”
Anna’s throat tightened.
“What was supposed to happen?”
Dererick interrupted.
“Enough.”
He moved toward her.
Anna threw the mug against the wall.
It shattered loudly.
The sudden sound made both Dererick and Melissa react.
Anna used the moment to unlock the bedroom window.
She pushed it upward and shouted into the silent suburban street.
“Call the police!”
Dererick grabbed her from behind.
Anna drove her heel into his foot and pulled away.
Outside the door, Melissa began crying.
“Anna, stop! You’re ruining everything!”
Anna turned toward the door.
“What exactly am I ruining?”
May you like
Melissa answered through tears.
“Mom’s settlement.”
