Chapter 3 - THE TEACHER WHO DISAPPEARED
Michael called the police.
Vanessa screamed at him.
She told him he was making a mistake.
She told him he was ruining everything.
He stopped listening.
Within twenty minutes, two officers stood inside the Carter home.
One spoke with Michael.
The other stayed near Vanessa.
Lily and Ethan sat together on the couch.
Michael showed the bruises.
The hanger.
The basement room.
The scratches.
Then he mentioned Mrs. Peterson.
The older officer frowned.
“Your daughter’s teacher?”
“Yes.”
“Made her go away how?”
“I don’t know.”
Michael looked at Lily.
“She said she told the teacher.”
The officer crouched down.
“Lily, can you tell me what happened?”
Vanessa immediately spoke.
“I want an attorney present.”
The officer looked at her.
“We’re speaking to the child.”
Vanessa’s jaw tightened.
Lily held Michael’s hand.
“Mrs. Peterson saw my arm.”
“When?”
“Before Christmas.”
Michael felt sick.
That had been eight months ago.
“What did she say?”
“She asked if somebody hurt me.”
Lily looked down.
“I told her Mommy got mad.”
Michael closed his eyes.
The officer remained calm.
“What happened next?”
“Mommy came to school.”
Vanessa cut in.
“That is enough.”
The officer looked at her.
“Ma’am.”
“I said that’s enough.”
Michael stood.
“Let her speak.”
Vanessa’s face twisted.
“You have no idea what you’re doing.”
Lily started trembling.
Michael crouched beside her.
“You’re safe.”
Lily whispered.
“Mommy talked to the principal.”
“And Mrs. Peterson stopped coming.”
Michael looked toward Vanessa.
“Why?”
Vanessa said nothing.
The officer asked for the school name.
Michael gave it.
Then his phone rang.
Daniel.
Michael stepped into the kitchen.
“Tell me.”
Daniel spoke quickly.
“I pulled the school directory.”
“And?”
“Rachel Peterson left in January.”
“Why?”
“No public reason.”
Michael’s pulse quickened.
“Can you find her?”
“I’m trying.”
Michael lowered his voice.
“Daniel.”
“Yeah?”
“What if Vanessa threatened her?”
Daniel paused.
“Then we need proof.”
Michael looked through the doorway.
Vanessa stood rigid near the officers.
Not crying.
Not confused.
Watching.
Calculating.
Michael suddenly remembered something.
Two months earlier, Vanessa had asked him to sign a large check.
Twenty thousand dollars.
She said it was for a home renovation deposit.
The renovation never happened.
He opened his banking app.
The transaction was still there.
$20,000.
Payee hidden behind a transfer reference.
Daniel heard him breathing.
“What?”
“There was a payment.”
“How much?”
“Twenty thousand.”
“When?”
“January.”
Daniel went quiet.
Michael looked back at Vanessa.
The timing matched exactly.
He whispered.
“I think she paid someone.”
Daniel responded immediately.
“Send me everything.”
Michael took screenshots.
He turned to return to the living room.
Then Vanessa’s phone buzzed on the kitchen counter.
The screen lit up.
A message appeared.
Michael saw only one line.
You promised he would never find out about Peterson.
The sender name was simply:
R.C.
Michael stared at it.
Then Vanessa appeared in the doorway.
She saw his face.
May you like
She saw her phone.
And she lunged for it.
