Yet he leans forward, getting way too close to me. I try to back up, but the bed is tiny and I don’t have much space left to go. He grabs my jaw, forcing me to look at him. “If you want to stay alive, you follow the rules, snap je?”
What a disgusting monster! I don’t want to play by their rules, but if I want to stand a chance and live yet another day, I will have to comply. If Winter keeps giving me food every day, maybe I can gain his sympathy in time and he can help me to get me out of here.
“Now, read this out loud and we are going to record it. Don’t try to deviate from the script, because we won’t send anything but a perfect voice message that rings true.” I swallow the lump in my throat, despising him and this moment more than anything in life. “You ready?”
I read the first lines in my mind again and nod at him. Once he gestures me to get started, I put on my best voice and read the note. “Petra, it’s me… Your mom… I, um, I suppose by now you must be married and partying with your friends and new family…” I take a deep breath, taming the anger I have inside me before I can proceed and read the rest. “I’m gonna take a break, um, I’m leaving the country for a few days, maybe weeks, who knows…” I pause once more so not to break down at this whole charade. “I need some peace and quiet to think about my life, about me… Anyway, I wish you all the best and, um, I love you.”
The agent taps the phone before pressing play to hear the whole voice message. As we listen to it, I sound tired and sad. Not sure if that’s what they want.
“It’s perfect,” he says, a smile on his lips. “If you keep cooperating, you’ll stay alive.”
He then stands up, and right before he can start walking away, I ask, “When do I get out?”
“Get out?” he repeats in astonishment before erupting in laughter. “You are imprisoned now. For as long as you shall live.”
Chapter 3
Manhattan, February 9, 2021
Alexander Van Dieren
I stand in front of the window, taking in the breathtaking sunset view with the Hudson River right in front of me. I have been to countless private residences in Manhattan, but this one offers hands down the best view. After spending the night in a disgusting cell, what a contrast this place is. And I’m glad I’ll spend the next few days here. As I come to think of it, I had never in my entire life spent a night behind bars before yesterday. And I hope to never, ever repeat that experience again.
“Still thinking about yesterday, huh?” I hear Ryan asking as he remains sitting on the couch of the living area.
I turn, my face softening with a smile as I see the worry in his gaze. Poor Ryan, this new case has given him some serious headaches. After winning all the cases against Eric last year, he’s definitely less confident about this new one. Besides, I can’t blame him––the headlines aren’t pretty. After pressing charges against me for kidnapping, then sexual assault, of course murder was the next in line. The problem this time is that I had plenty of motives to kill. After all, Tess was the one who tried to destroy my reputation, was firmly against my relationship with her daughter, and if Eric knows anything about Janette’s death, then he can also use it as an extra motive.
“She didn’t even look at me,” I tell him, ruminating on yesterday’s events—the way Petra ignored my calls all day long only to tell me at the end of the day that she’s at the condo so that I could get arrested. Needless to say, her attitude left quite a sour taste in my mouth. And I feel… well, I feel fucking betrayed to be honest.
“Don’t worry, I’m working on your defense and in a few days we’ll know what evidence Eric holds against you.”
The ringing of the doorbell starts echoing across the apartment, and a few moments later, my eyes alight on Roy as the butler opens the door for him. A quick smile settles on my lips catching him taking in his surroundings.
“Beautiful design,” he points out as he gets into the living area which is adjacent to the entryway and dining room. Ryan stands up and goes to shake his hand, then Roy walks in my direction, stands beside me, and checks the view more closely. “And one hell of a view.”
“It is,” I mumble, my eyes taking in the last rays of sunshine as the sun goes down on the horizon.
Roy leans in and discreetly asks, “Can I have a word with you?”
“Ryan knows everything so you don’t have to worry.” Then I take a few steps in Ryan’s direction because I want him to be involved in whatever conversation Roy is about to start.
“Alright.” Roy then looks at both of us and says, “Eric knows about Janette’s death––Tess gave him the police report.”
While Ryan curses in shock, I can’t help but have only one single question in mind. “Was it Petra who told you that?”
“Yes,” he says. “And, um, it seems like the lab found some nano-particles in Tess’s bloodstream that might have attacked her heart and killed her.”
Now that’s something I wasn’t aware of. But as I come to think of it, I’m not surprised that Mom or Julia took such a preventive measure.
Ryan keeps taking notes and then asks, “Do you know what Eric intends to do with the report?”
“I have no idea. Petra didn’t tell me much. I managed to get that info over lunch, but she’s been very secretive.”
While Ryan seems surprised at Roy’s news, I just shrug in return, agreeing with him. “She’s been very secretive, yeah.”
Then Roy looks at me, curiosity laced all over his face. “By the way, what happened yesterday?” Roy inquires. “Petra told me you haven’t spoken to her since you got arrested.”
I pace around, pondering how to tell him what’s going on between his daughter and I in the most tactful way possible. “Well, Petra said she was waiting for me at the condo, when in fact it was a set up. Two cops, along with Eric, were there waiting for me.”
His eyes widen in shock as he processes my words. “And did you speak to her about it?”
“Not yet,” I admit, and despite knowing it’s gonna sound stupid, I tell him the rest. “Something tells me I should be careful with her.”
Roy squeezes his eyes in total confusion. “What do you mean?”
“Eric and I have a meeting on Friday,” I disclose. “Until I know exactly what evidence they have against me, I want to keep minimal contact with her. Ryan already told her I will spend a few days here.”
“But why? That doesn’t make any sense. She’s your wife, you owe her the truth.” His emotional reaction wasn’t really what I expected from a man who got betrayed by his own wife.
“She spent the whole afternoon at Eric’s office before heading to our condo with him and the cops. I’m not sure what they did in there, but I’ll soon find out,” I reply calmly. “Until then, I’m gonna keep my distance and be careful.”
“You’re being psychotic here,” Roy responds just as fast, flailing his arms in conjunction with his words. “My daughter loves you a lot. Her allegiance is to you, not to her mom or to the Bradfords.”