CHAPTER 3 — THE WOMAN WHO RECORDED EVERYTHING
An hour later...
Daniel sat alone in his office.
The flash drive played across his computer monitor.
Video after video.
Date after date.
Margaret removing Ava's phone.
Margaret hiding letters Daniel had mailed from overseas.
Margaret replacing Ava's medication.
Margaret forcing doctors to leave without allowing Ava to speak alone.
Then came the worst recording.
Margaret standing over Ava's wheelchair.
"You don't deserve my son."
"You'll sign eventually."
"If not willingly... then after everyone believes you're insane."
Daniel covered his mouth.
He couldn't breathe.
Eight months.
His wife had been imprisoned inside his own home.
While he believed she was receiving rehabilitation.
Every lie Margaret had told suddenly collapsed.
"She's refusing therapy."
Lie.
"She's becoming aggressive."
Lie.
"She doesn't want you distracted during deployment."
Another lie.
Daniel slammed his fist onto the desk.
The framed family photograph shattered.
Security immediately entered.
"Sir?"
Daniel's voice was calm.
"Freeze every account connected to Margaret Whitmore."
The guards exchanged surprised looks.
"Immediately."
"And notify the family attorneys."
"No one is to destroy any documents."
Meanwhile downstairs...
Margaret calmly packed jewelry into a leather suitcase.
She smiled at herself in the mirror.
Daniel had always forgiven her.
He always would.
Then the security system beeped.
ACCESS DENIED.
Every account.
Every credit card.
Every security code.
Locked.
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For the first time in thirty years...
Margaret realized she no longer controlled the Whitmore family.
