Chapter 2 - The Return
The house was dark.
Quiet.
Empty.
Daniel walked in.
Suitcase in hand.
He expected a greeting.
A warm house.
A wife.
A baby.
He found nothing.
Silence.
He checked the nursery.
The rug was stained.
He frowned.
He checked the phone.
The texts were gone.
The calls were logged.
His face turned pale.
He went to the kitchen.
Margaret sat there.
Drinking tea.
“Where are they?”
“The hospital,” she said.
“Why?”
“The Colonel happened.”
“What?”
“Emily’s father.”
“He took them.”
Daniel’s blood went cold.
“He took them?”
“He’s a soldier.”
“He’s a man of war.”
“He’s not a threat.”
Margaret laughed.
“He is now.”
“He found the bruises.”
Daniel’s jaw dropped.
“The bruises?”
“The ones you insisted on.”
“I didn't insist!”
“You let it happen.”
“I was away!”
“You were complicit.”
He paced the floor.
He was a coward.
A man of glass.
He reached for his keys.
“I’m going to the hospital.”
“Don't,” she warned.
“Why?”
“The police are there.”
He froze.
The air grew heavy.
“The police?”
“He called them.”
“He called the law.”
Daniel sat down.
His world was crashing.
He was a fraud.
A liar.
And he knew it.
The clock ticked loudly.
A countdown.
He looked at the door.
He looked at the gate.
There was no exit.
He was trapped.
In his own greed.
In his own silence.
May you like
And now, the Colonel was coming.
To collect the debt.
