They Tortured A 9-Year-Old To Hide A Murder. They Didn't Know The Evidence Was Already In My Pocket. 109

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Three days later, Michael showed up.

I don't know how he found us. I don't know who told him. But he was there. Standing outside the safe house. Alone.

"Charlotte. Please. Just let me talk to you."

I was standing by the window. Watching him through the blinds.

"Don't open the door," Hannah said.

"I won't."

"He could be working with them."

"I know."

But I wanted to talk to him. Needed to. Needed to know if the man I'd loved for twelve years was a monster or a victim.

"He looks terrible," I said.

"He looks like a man who's about to lose everything."

"Good."

"Charlotte—"

"I need to talk to him. I need to know."

"Then talk to him. Through the door. Don't let him in."

I walked to the door. Opened it a crack.

"Michael."

"Charlotte. Thank God." He looked exhausted. Eyes red. Unshaven. "Where's Lily?"

"She's safe."

"Can I see her?"

"No."

"Please—"

"Tell me what you know, Michael. Tell me everything."

He was quiet for a moment. Then: "I knew about the money. I knew about the laundering. But I didn't know about Emily. I swear to God, I didn't know about Emily."

"But you knew something was wrong."

"I knew my family wasn't... clean. But I didn't ask questions. I didn't want to know."

"And now?"

"Now I know everything. And I can't un-know it." He looked at me. Desperate. "Charlotte, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I should have protected you. I should have protected Lily."

"Yes. You should have."

"I know. And I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you. But first, you have to let me help."

"Help how?"

"My mother. She's not going to stop. She's going to find you. And when she does..."

"She'll kill us."

"I won't let that happen."

"How? You're one man against an empire."

"I'm not one man." He reached into his pocket. Pulled out a phone. "I've been recording her. For weeks. Everything she's said. Everything she's done. I have evidence too."

I stared at him. "You recorded your own mother?"

"I recorded a murderer." He looked at me. "I know you don't trust me. I know you have no reason to. But I love you, Charlotte. I love Lily. And I'll do whatever it takes to protect you."

I wanted to believe him. Needed to believe him.

But I didn't know if I could.

"Give me the phone."

He handed it through the crack. I took it.

"Stay here. Don't move."

I closed the door. Walked back to Hannah.

"He says he has evidence."

"Let me see."

She took the phone. Scrolled through. Listened. Her face changed.

"This is... this is good. This is really good."

"What is it?"

"Your husband recorded Eleanor confessing. To everything. The murder. The cover-up. The money. All of it."