Chapter 6: The Person Behind Bianca’s Plan
I stared at the phone.
The room felt like it tilted slightly.
“Meeting someone?””
Maya nodded.
“I didn’t know who at first.””
I picked up the phone.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I wasn’t sure.””
She looked nervous.
“I thought maybe I was wrong.””
I played the recording.
For several seconds, there was only movement.
A door opening.
A chair scraping.
Then Bianca’s voice.
“Everything is going exactly how we planned.””
I froze.
Maya watched my face.
The recording continued.
A man’s voice answered.
“Are you sure Marcus suspects nothing?””
My hand tightened around the phone.
A man.
Not a woman.
Not a friend.
A man.
Bianca laughed softly.
“He trusts me completely.””
My stomach turned.
The recording ended.
I looked at Maya.
“Who is that?””
She shook her head.
“I don’t know.””
I stood up.
My first instinct was anger.
My second was confusion.
My third was fear.
Because if Bianca had someone helping her…
How long had this been happening?
I walked through the dining room.
The same room where she had stood pretending to be innocent.
The same room where she had smiled while my daughter cried.
My phone rang.
I looked down.
Unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
Then I answered.
“Hello?””
Silence.
Then a man spoke.
“Marcus.””
My entire body went still.
“Who is this?””
“You don’t know me.””
“Then why are you calling?””
A pause.
“Because you’re about to make a decision that will change your life.””
I looked at Maya.
She was watching me.
“Who are you?””
The man sighed.
“Someone who knows your wife better than you do.””
My jaw tightened.
“Where did you get this number?””
“That doesn’t matter.””
“Yes, it does.””
The man lowered his voice.
“You need to stop listening to those recordings.””
My eyes narrowed.
“Why?””
“Because Bianca wasn’t the only one hiding something.””
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Maya immediately stood.
“What happened?””
I didn’t answer.
Because I didn’t know how.
The front door suddenly opened.
Both of us turned.
I moved instantly, stepping in front of Maya.
“Stay behind me.””
A shadow appeared in the hallway.
Then a man stepped into the dining room.
He looked around forty.
Calm.
Confident.
Too comfortable.
Like he belonged there.
Maya whispered:
“Dad…”
I looked at her.
Her face had gone pale.
“You know him?””
She nodded slowly.
“I’ve seen him before.””
The man looked at the dog bowl still sitting on the floor.
Then at me.
Then he smiled.
“Marcus.””
I stared at him.
“Who are you?””
He took one step forward.
May you like
And said the words that changed everything.
“I’m the reason Bianca started recording you first.””
