Chapter 4: The Woman Next Door
We stood in the darkness.
Neither of us moved.
The knocking came again.
Three times.
Slow.
Patient.
Like whoever stood outside knew we were listening.
My phone flashlight illuminated Maya’s face.
She looked terrified.
Not nervous.
Not confused.
Terrified.
“Who is it?””
I whispered.
She shook her head.
“I don’t know.””
But I knew she was lying.
Not because she was hiding something.
Because she was protecting me.
I walked toward the stairs.
Maya grabbed my arm.
“Mom, please.””
I looked at her.
“Someone is at our door.””
“Don’t.””
I reached the hallway.
The front window had a small gap between the curtains.
I looked outside.
And saw her.
Mrs. Patterson.
Standing on our porch.
My neighbor of thirteen years.
The woman who brought Maya birthday cookies.
The woman who watched our house when we went on vacation.
The woman who had warned me.
I opened the door slightly.
“Carol?””
Her expression changed when she saw me.
“You’re home.””
I stepped outside.
“What are you doing here?””
She looked past me.
“Where is Maya?””
My instincts screamed.
“Why?””
Her face hardened.
“Because she’s in danger.””
I almost laughed.
“Funny. Everyone keeps saying that.””
Carol went quiet.
“What did she tell you?””
“Enough.””
She looked toward the street.
Then back at me.
“Renee, I need you to trust me.””
“Trust you?””
My voice rose.
“You lied to me.””
“I didn’t lie.””
“You told me you saw Maya coming home from school.””
“I did.””
“Why?””
She looked away.
Because she didn’t want to answer.
That was all I needed.
“Carol.””
Her eyes filled with sadness.
“I was trying to protect her.””
“From who?””
She looked at the house.
“From your husband.””
I froze.
“Daniel?””
She nodded.
“I knew Daniel before you did.””
My chest tightened.
“What does that mean?””
She took a shaky breath.
“Daniel wasn’t the victim in this story.””
I felt the anger rise.
“Then tell me the truth.””
Carol looked older suddenly.
Tired.
“I was his accountant.””
The world seemed to stop.
“You worked with him?””
“Yes.””
“And you knew about the money?””
She closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
I stepped back.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because Daniel threatened me.””
My anger shifted into confusion.
“He threatened you?””
“He told me if I spoke, I’d lose everything.””
I stared at her.
“And you just watched?””
“No.””
Her voice broke.
“I spent two years trying to find proof.””
I looked at the folder in my hand.
“The proof Maya found.””
Carol nodded.
“She found the thing I was looking for.””
A car engine sounded from the street.
Carol’s face changed.
“They’re here.””
“Who?””
She grabbed my arm.
“Renee, listen to me. You and Maya need to leave.””
The headlights turned onto our driveway.
My heart raced.
A black SUV stopped outside.
The passenger door opened.
A man stepped out.
The same black boots.
The same boots I had seen under Maya’s bed.
Maya appeared behind me.
And when the man saw her, he smiled.
Not kindly.
Like someone who had finally found what he was looking for.
“Renee,” Carol whispered.
“You need to know something.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
She stared at the man approaching our house.
“That man isn’t here because of Daniel’s money.””
The front gate opened.
The man walked closer.
May you like
Carol whispered:
“He’s here because of what Daniel did to your daughter.””
