Chapter 4 - The Web Ensnaring Ryan
The next morning, Ryan’s defense attorney arrived at the Columbus municipal jail, confident he could secure a quick bail release.
He didn't know that while Ryan was sitting in his cell, Chloe and I were sitting in the District Attorney's office with the blue lockbox.
The prosecutor looked through Melissa’s handwritten journals, which detailed a pattern of systematic abuse that matched my experience perfectly.
“This isn't just an assault case anymore, Ms. Vance,” the prosecutor said, looking up at me with a grim expression.
“We have enough evidence here to reopen the 2020 missing persons file as a grand larceny and suspected homicide investigation.”
Ryan was brought into the interrogation room an hour later, his tailored suit wrinkled, his arrogant composure still intact.
“Emma, stop this madness,” Ryan said, looking at me through the glass partition.
“I lost my temper because I was stressed about the business; we can go to counseling and move past this.”
“The business is already gone, Ryan,” I said, pressing the audio play button on my phone.
Melissa’s voice filled the small room from an old digital memo she had recorded days before her death.
May you like
“If anything happens to me on the highway tonight, it wasn't an accident... Ryan has the secondary brakes account key.”
Ryan’s face turned an ugly, hollow shade of yellow as the detective walked in with a new set of federal warrants.
