Chapter 7 - The Shadow in the Trees
The man watching the house was named Cole.
He had done three years for aggravated assault.
Two years for breaking and entering.
He was the kind of man who would break a child’s arm if the price was right.
And Michael had paid him fifty thousand dollars to make me drop the charges.
I didn’t know any of this then.
I was too happy.
Emily had called me that night.
She had talked to Tyler on the phone.
He thought having a big sister was the coolest thing that had ever happened.
They were already making plans for her to come visit the next weekend.
Dad was in the kitchen making meatloaf.
Tyler was doing his homework at the kitchen table.
Everything felt normal.
Peaceful.
Like maybe the worst was behind us.
I went outside to get the mail.
The sun was setting.
The trees across the street were dark shadows.
I had the strange feeling someone was watching me.
I stopped and looked.
Nothing.
Just trees.
Just the wind.
I told myself I was being paranoid.
That living with Michael had made me see danger everywhere.
I grabbed the mail and went back inside.
But the feeling didn’t go away.
For the next week, it was always there.
When I loaded Tyler into the car for school.
When I jogged around the block in the mornings.
When I let the dog out last thing at night.
Eyes on me.
Watching.
Waiting.
I mentioned it to Lena.
"Probably just stress," she said.
"Your brain is still in survival mode.
It’s normal to feel hyper-vigilant after what you’ve been through.
But if it makes you feel better, I’ll have the PI run a check.
Make sure Michael hasn’t tried to hire anyone." She called me back two days later.
Her voice was different.
Serious.
"Sarah, I need you to listen to me very carefully.
Do exactly what I say.
Don’t panic.
But don’t ignore this either." My blood turned to ice.
"What is it?" "The PI found something.
Michael made three phone calls from jail last week to a known associate.
A man named Cole Rivers.
Cole has a record a mile long.
Violent record.
And the PI checked his bank account.
Two days after those phone calls, a fifty-thousand-dollar deposit showed up.
May you like
Cash.
No traceable source."
