{"id":5072,"date":"2026-08-29T14:23:46","date_gmt":"2026-08-29T14:23:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/?p=5072"},"modified":"2026-08-29T14:23:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-29T14:23:46","slug":"part-3-i-hid-a-monitor-in-my-daughters-kitchen-another-womans-voice-exposed-her-husbands-secret","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/?p=5072","title":{"rendered":"PART 3 \u2013 I hid a monitor in my daughter\u2019s kitchen. Another woman\u2019s voice exposed her husband\u2019s secret."},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
PART 3 \u2014 THE FIRST CHECK<\/h5>\n

\u201cThe first check?\u201d I asked.
\nDale\u2019s laughter stopped.
\nPaula stood beside the table, staring at him as if she had never seen him before.
\nThe officer nearest her lowered the forged document.
\n\u201cWhat first check, Mr. Mercer?\u201d
\nDale leaned against the wall and folded his arms.
\n\u201cAsk my wife.\u201d
\n\u201cI am asking you.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd I am telling you that Paula knows more than she is pretending.\u201d
\nPaula\u2019s lips trembled.
\n\u201cMom, please let me explain.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

I looked at the signature beneath mine.
\nHer handwriting.
\nHer name.
\nThere are moments when a mother still sees the child inside the adult standing before her.
\nI saw Paula at seven years old, hiding a broken lamp behind the sofa.
\nI saw her at sixteen, crying because she had scratched my car.
\nI saw her on her wedding day, squeezing my hand before she walked down the aisle toward Dale.
\nEach time, she had eventually told me the truth.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

But this was not a lamp.
\nThis was not a scratch.
\nThis was my home, my name and more than two hundred thousand dollars.
\n\u201cStart talking,\u201d I said.
\nPaula looked at the officers.
\nOne of them nodded.
\n\u201cThe first check came eighteen months ago,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was for thirty-eight thousand dollars.\u201d
\nMy knees weakened.
\nI gripped the back of a chair.
\n\u201cWhat check?\u201d
\n\u201cIt came from the Ridgeway settlement.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Colleen slowly sat down.
\nDale remained against the wall.
\nHe was watching Paula carefully now.
\nNot angrily.
\nCarefully.
\nThat frightened me more.
\nPaula wiped her face.
\n\u201cI found the envelope in the mailbox. It was addressed to you.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd you opened it?\u201d
\n\u201cNo. Dale did.\u201d
\n\u201cOf course he did.\u201d
\n\u201cHe told me you already knew about it.\u201d
\n\u201cI did not.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI know that now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did he say?\u201d<\/p>\n

Paula glanced at him.<\/p>\n

Dale smiled.<\/p>\n

It was small, but I saw it.<\/p>\n

A warning.<\/p>\n

Paula saw it too.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said the money was part of a final adjustment from the sale of your house. He told me you wanted us to use it for repairs and property taxes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI never said that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe showed me a note.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat note?\u201d<\/p>\n

She covered her mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cA note with your signature.\u201d<\/p>\n

The room blurred for a moment.<\/p>\n

I remembered all the times Dale had brought papers into my room.<\/p>\n

Insurance forms.<\/p>\n

Prescription receipts.<\/p>\n

Delivery confirmations.<\/p>\n

He always stood over me while I signed.<\/p>\n

He always took the pen back quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow much of that check did you spend?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale laughed again.<\/p>\n

The officer turned toward him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI suggest you remain quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale lifted both hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am only enjoying the performance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paula stepped toward him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou told me the mortgage was three months behind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou told me we were going to lose the house.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe might have.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou said Mom had offered to help us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe had helped us before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the down payment,\u201d Paula said. \u201cNot with everything for the rest of our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale\u2019s face tightened.<\/p>\n

Paula turned back to me.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe deposited the check into our joint account. Two days later, it was gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere did it go?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI did not know then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you knew it was my money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you had given it to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you ask me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Her silence answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did you not ask me, Paula?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I was ashamed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf needing it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those four words came out so softly that I almost missed them.<\/p>\n

Paula pulled out a chair and sat.<\/p>\n

Her shoulders collapsed.<\/p>\n

\u201cDale told me his hours had been cut. He said the mortgage was behind, the credit cards were full and the bank was preparing to foreclose.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was still paying for groceries,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd electricity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd half the property tax.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tears rolled down her cheeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou let me live in the den while telling yourself you were saving me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought we were all in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. You thought you and Dale were in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

She lowered her head.<\/p>\n

I wanted to hold her.<\/p>\n

I wanted to slap the table.<\/p>\n

I wanted to return to Thursday morning, before the monitor, before the woman\u2019s voice and before I knew how easily the people closest to me could build an entire life out of my ignorance.<\/p>\n

The older officer placed the forged paperwork into a clear evidence bag.<\/p>\n

\u201cMrs. Mercer, did you sign this acknowledgment when the first check arrived?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale\u2019s smile widened.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I did not see the whole document,\u201d Paula added.<\/p>\n

He rolled his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere we go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paula pointed to the page.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe folded it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe folded the top half backward and placed it on a clipboard. The only part I could see was the signature line.\u201d<\/p>\n

The officer examined the paper.<\/p>\n

There was a crease across the middle.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did Mr. Mercer tell you that you were signing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat I had personally delivered the check to Mom and heard her authorize the deposit.\u201d<\/p>\n

My stomach turned.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you never gave me the check.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you never heard me authorize anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYet you signed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paula pressed both palms against her face.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

The word was almost a whisper.<\/p>\n

Dale pushed away from the wall.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo now we are arresting people for trusting their husbands?\u201d<\/p>\n

The younger officer stepped in front of him.<\/p>\n

\u201cStay where you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am in my own kitchen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale\u2019s eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n

Colleen slid the bank statement closer to herself.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened to the thirty-eight thousand?\u201d<\/p>\n

Paula looked at the floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cI checked our joint account the next morning. Dale had transferred all of it to Northstar Residential Holdings.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe same company that owns Vanessa\u2019s condominium,\u201d Colleen said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

I stared at my daughter.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou knew about Northstar.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew the name. I did not know what it was.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you ask Dale?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said it was a property investment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith my money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said you were part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is lying.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paula stood so quickly that the chair scraped backward.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou told me Mom wanted rental income.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI never said that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou said the condominium would provide income for her retirement.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cProve it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her face changed.<\/p>\n

Dale had said the wrong thing.<\/p>\n

Or perhaps he had said exactly what he intended.<\/p>\n

Paula reached into the pocket of her work sweater.<\/p>\n

She took out her phone.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale stopped smiling.<\/p>\n

The younger officer took the phone from her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is on this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMessages.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBetween you and your husband?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat kind of messages?\u201d<\/p>\n

Paula looked directly at Dale.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe kind he told me to delete.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale lunged.<\/p>\n

He did not get far.<\/p>\n

The older officer caught his arm and twisted it behind his back.<\/p>\n

Dale shouted as the second officer grabbed his other wrist.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet off me!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStop resisting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am not resisting!\u201d<\/p>\n

The handcuffs closed with two sharp clicks.<\/p>\n

For the first time since he had entered my daughter\u2019s life, Dale looked small.<\/p>\n

Not harmless.<\/p>\n

Just small.<\/p>\n

The younger officer scrolled through Paula\u2019s phone.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen were these messages sent?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter the first check was deposited.\u201d<\/p>\n

The officer read one aloud.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo not discuss the Ridgeway money with your mother. She becomes confused and may think the check was stolen.\u201d<\/p>\n

I closed my eyes.<\/p>\n

The officer continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother message says, \u2018Once Northstar closes, everyone will be protected.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Colleen looked at Dale.<\/p>\n

\u201cProtected from what?\u201d<\/p>\n

He said nothing.<\/p>\n

Paula stepped closer to me.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started suspecting him after the money disappeared.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEighteen months ago?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you said nothing to me for eighteen months?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf Dale?\u201d<\/p>\n

She looked at her husband.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf what he would do to all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale\u2019s laugh returned.<\/p>\n

This time there was no humor in it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are unbelievable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paula\u2019s voice rose.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou told me that if I questioned the account, you would divorce me and force the sale of the house.\u201d<\/p>\n

The officer looked at him.<\/p>\n

Dale shrugged as well as he could with his hands cuffed behind him.<\/p>\n

\u201cMarried people argue.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou told me Mom would be homeless.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe has settlement money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe did not even know it existed!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is not my fault.\u201d<\/p>\n

Every person in the room stared at him.<\/p>\n

Even Dale seemed to realize what he had said.<\/p>\n

Colleen leaned back.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen you admit you knew about the settlement.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI admit nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou just said she had settlement money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI learned that today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe police had not mentioned the amount before you said it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale\u2019s jaw tightened.<\/p>\n

The younger officer stopped scrolling.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are photographs on this phone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paula nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cI photographed everything I could find.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the last six months.\u201d<\/p>\n

The officer opened the first image.<\/p>\n

It showed a bank statement.<\/p>\n

The next showed a property deed.<\/p>\n

The third showed Dale\u2019s passport open on a desk.<\/p>\n

The officer enlarged it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did you photograph his passport?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause of the name.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat name?\u201d<\/p>\n

Paula looked at me.<\/p>\n

\u201cDale\u2019s middle name is supposed to be Michael.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is what it says on your marriage certificate,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis passport says Marcus.\u201d<\/p>\n

The officer turned toward Dale.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is your legal name?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDale Mercer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFull name.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale remained silent.<\/p>\n

The officer asked again.<\/p>\n

\u201cFull legal name.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDale Marcus Mercer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paula wrapped her arms around herself.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I asked him about it, he said Michael was a clerical mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n

Colleen looked at the papers.<\/p>\n

\u201cA clerical mistake on a marriage certificate?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said we could correct it later.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

The younger officer swiped to another photograph.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis appears to be a second driver\u2019s license.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale jerked against the handcuffs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is not mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

The officer held up the phone.<\/p>\n

The license displayed Dale\u2019s photograph.<\/p>\n

But the name was not Dale Mercer.<\/p>\n

It was Marcus Dean Cole.<\/p>\n

Colleen whispered, \u201cCole.\u201d<\/p>\n

The same surname as Vanessa.<\/p>\n

Paula stared at the image.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never saw that photograph.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou took it,\u201d the officer said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI photographed everything inside the folder. I did not look at every page.\u201d<\/p>\n

The officer enlarged the license.<\/p>\n

The address listed was Unit 8C at Lake Briar.<\/p>\n

Vanessa\u2019s condominium.<\/p>\n

The room went silent.<\/p>\n

Paula\u2019s eyes slowly moved toward Dale.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale looked away.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnswer her,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

He said nothing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho is Marcus Cole?\u201d<\/p>\n

Still nothing.<\/p>\n

The younger officer showed the phone to his partner.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to verify this.\u201d<\/p>\n

The older officer guided Dale toward the hallway.<\/p>\n

Dale planted his feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are making a mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen we will clear it up at the station.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou cannot arrest me because my wife photographed a fake license.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are detaining you while we investigate suspected forgery, financial exploitation and identity fraud.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my house.\u201d<\/p>\n

I stepped in front of him.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d I said. \u201cIt is the house my money bought.\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked down at me.<\/p>\n

The hatred in his eyes was clean now.<\/p>\n

No fake politeness.<\/p>\n

No concern.<\/p>\n

No smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should have stayed in your room, Marguerite.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paula inhaled sharply.<\/p>\n

I did not move.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should have kept your hands out of my mail.\u201d<\/p>\n

His face came close to mine.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not finished.\u201d<\/p>\n

The officer pulled him back.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor you, it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

They took Dale through the front door.<\/p>\n

A police car waited outside with its lights flashing silently against the windows.<\/p>\n

The neighbors had begun gathering on their porches.<\/p>\n

Dale ducked into the back seat without looking at any of them.<\/p>\n

The car pulled away.<\/p>\n

For several seconds, none of us spoke.<\/p>\n

The roast lay upside down on the floor.<\/p>\n

Gravy had spread beneath the broken platter.<\/p>\n

One chair was overturned.<\/p>\n

The tablecloth was stained.<\/p>\n

It looked less like a Sunday lunch than the scene of an accident.<\/p>\n

Maybe that was what it was.<\/p>\n

The place where three lives had collided.<\/p>\n

Paula sank into a chair.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

I looked at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry for which part?\u201d<\/p>\n

She flinched.<\/p>\n

\u201cI deserved that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou signed a lie.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou helped him deposit my check.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou knew he was hiding money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suspected it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you left me sleeping ten feet away from both of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her eyes filled again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did not know how to tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe truth usually begins with opening your mouth.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought I could fix it first.\u201d<\/p>\n

I laughed, but the sound broke in the middle.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is what people say when they are deciding whether someone else deserves to know they have been betrayed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paula reached for my hand.<\/p>\n

I pulled it away.<\/p>\n

She lowered hers to the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cI found the larger account three weeks ago,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

I froze.<\/p>\n

\u201cThree weeks?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe account with the two hundred eighteen thousand.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is when I hid the monitor.\u201d<\/p>\n

She nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe we both finally stopped pretending at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did you not tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was going to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

I looked toward the apron hanging over the chair.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter Sunday lunch?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith Dale sitting here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. After he went to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n

Colleen studied her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n

Paula hesitated.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause the money was going to move tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

She picked up the bank statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Northstar account is nearly empty.\u201d<\/p>\n

Colleen took the paper from her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis statement is three months old.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI checked the balance Friday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI found Dale\u2019s password.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paula opened a banking application on her phone.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could see the account, but I could not transfer anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

The balance displayed was $7,412.63.<\/p>\n

I sat down.<\/p>\n

More than two hundred thousand dollars had become seven thousand.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere did it go?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMost of it purchased the condominium. Some paid school fees, insurance and household expenses at the Lake Briar address.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the rest?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cForty-six thousand dollars is scheduled to transfer tomorrow morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo whom?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do not know. The destination account only shows four digits.\u201d<\/p>\n

Colleen leaned over the screen.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan the bank stop it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe police can contact them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The older officer had left us a card.<\/p>\n

Paula called the number immediately.<\/p>\n

While she spoke, I walked to the sink and stared through the window.<\/p>\n

My reflection looked older than it had that morning.<\/p>\n

Not seventy-six.<\/p>\n

Ancient.<\/p>\n

Behind me, Colleen began gathering the papers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI owe you an apology,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

I did not turn around.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor believing Dale?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor wanting to believe him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is worse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou thought I stole the Ridgeway house from you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

She remained quiet for a moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause Dad told me you had pressured him to change the will.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe told me you had already received your share in cash.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI never received anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I never pressured him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that now.\u201d<\/p>\n

I faced her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe lost four years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her eyes filled.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do not get them back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

That was the difference between an apology and a miracle.<\/p>\n

One can be offered.<\/p>\n

The other cannot.<\/p>\n

Paula ended the call.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe officer is contacting the bank.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan they stop the transfer?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe said they will try.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTry?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has already been authorized.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy whom?\u201d<\/p>\n

Paula looked at the forged signature on the application.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before I could answer, a car door slammed outside.<\/p>\n

Colleen moved toward the window.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother officer?\u201d<\/p>\n

Paula stood.<\/p>\n

A dark blue sedan had parked behind Colleen\u2019s car.<\/p>\n

A woman stepped out.<\/p>\n

She wore a long black coat despite the warm afternoon.<\/p>\n

A small boy climbed out of the back seat.<\/p>\n

He carried a red backpack shaped like a fire truck.<\/p>\n

The woman took his hand and walked toward the house.<\/p>\n

Paula\u2019s phone rang.<\/p>\n

The number was blocked.<\/p>\n

She answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello?\u201d<\/p>\n

Her face changed.<\/p>\n

She looked through the window at the approaching woman.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, this is Paula.\u201d<\/p>\n

A pause.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Dale is not here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another pause.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you know where we live?\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman stopped at the front door.<\/p>\n

The little boy stared up at her.<\/p>\n

Paula lowered the phone.<\/p>\n

The doorbell rang.<\/p>\n

Once.<\/p>\n

Twice.<\/p>\n

Nobody moved.<\/p>\n

Then the woman knocked.<\/p>\n

\u201cPaula,\u201d she called through the door. \u201cI know you are inside.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paula looked at me.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you know her?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

Colleen opened her notebook.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is Vanessa.\u201d<\/p>\n

The little boy pressed his face close to the narrow window beside the door.<\/p>\n

He had dark hair.<\/p>\n

A pointed chin.<\/p>\n

And Dale\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n

Paula saw it too.<\/p>\n

Her knees nearly gave way.<\/p>\n

I caught her arm.<\/p>\n

Vanessa knocked again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need to speak to Marcus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not Dale.<\/p>\n

Marcus.<\/p>\n

Paula\u2019s fingers dug into mine.<\/p>\n

Colleen moved toward the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo not open it,\u201d Paula whispered.<\/p>\n

Vanessa heard her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am not here to hurt anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen leave,\u201d Paula called.<\/p>\n

\u201cI cannot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

Vanessa looked down at the little boy.<\/p>\n

Then she raised her voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause the police called me about the Northstar account.\u201d<\/p>\n

Colleen opened the door but kept the security chain fastened.<\/p>\n

Vanessa\u2019s eyes moved past her.<\/p>\n

First to Paula.<\/p>\n

Then to me.<\/p>\n

Then to the papers scattered across the table.<\/p>\n

She looked exhausted.<\/p>\n

Not angry.<\/p>\n

Not surprised.<\/p>\n

Exhausted.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is Marcus?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe police took him,\u201d Colleen said.<\/p>\n

Vanessa closed her eyes.<\/p>\n

The boy tugged on her hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cMommy, is Daddy coming?\u201d<\/p>\n

Paula made a sound behind me.<\/p>\n

A wounded, breathless sound.<\/p>\n

Vanessa looked at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paula stepped forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow long?\u201d<\/p>\n

Vanessa did not answer.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow long have you been sleeping with my husband?\u201d<\/p>\n

Vanessa\u2019s expression changed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have never slept with your husband.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat boy just called him Daddy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou live in a condominium bought with my mother\u2019s money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI did not know where the money came from.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow long?\u201d Paula screamed.<\/p>\n

The little boy began to cry.<\/p>\n

Vanessa pulled him against her coat.<\/p>\n

Then she looked directly at Paula.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are asking the wrong question.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen tell me the right one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vanessa reached into her handbag.<\/p>\n

She removed a folded document.<\/p>\n

Even from across the room, I recognized the raised seal.<\/p>\n

It was a marriage certificate.<\/p>\n

Vanessa held it through the narrow opening in the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy name is Vanessa Cole,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd Marcus and I were married nine years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paula stopped breathing.<\/p>\n

Vanessa\u2019s hand trembled.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am not his mistress.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her eyes moved to the wedding photograph hanging in the hallway.<\/p>\n

The photograph of Paula and Dale standing beneath white roses five years earlier.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am his wife.\u201d\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 4\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

CLICK HERE CONTINUE TO READ\u00a0 PART 4 \u2013 I hid a monitor in my daughter\u2019s kitchen. Another woman\u2019s voice exposed her husband\u2019s secret.<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n