CHAPTER 1 — The Knock at the Door
CHAPTER 1 — The Knock at the Door
The knock came again.
Three slow, deliberate knocks that echoed through the silent house.
No one moved.
Richard's hand finally slipped away from my throat.
I staggered sideways, coughing as I struggled to breathe.
Brandon stared at the phone in my hand.
"The recording..."
His voice cracked.
Mom reached toward me.
"Emily... please... let's just talk."
"No."
I stepped away.
"You've had twenty-eight years to talk."
Another knock.
"Lakeside Police Department."
The words landed like thunder.
Dad's face turned pale.
"You called the police?"
"I called them before I came here."
Richard lunged toward my phone.
I stepped back.
"Touch me again," I said quietly, "and they'll have another felony to add."
The front door opened.
Two officers entered.
Behind them stood my attorney, Melissa Grant.
She wasn't smiling.
She simply looked at me.
"Emily?"
I nodded.
"I'm okay."
Officer Hernandez glanced around the room.
"Who is Richard Collins?"
Dad slowly raised his hand.
The officer noticed the red marks around my neck.
He looked back at me.
"Did he do that?"
I didn't answer.
I simply pressed Play.
The room filled with Richard's voice.
"Your brother needs that money more than you need your life."
Silence.
May you like
Then Brandon whispered,
"Oh my God..."
