Chapter 2 - The Other Side of the Door
“Evelyn.”
Julian's voice came through the wood, patient now.
That frightened me more than the shouting.
“Send Penny upstairs.”
I covered the receiver.
“Unlock the door.”
“When you agree to stop behaving like this.”
Penny pushed her face into my shoulder.
I could feel her teeth chattering.
On the phone, Marcus spoke quietly.
“Emergency services have your address. Stay on the line.”
The protocol wasn't an army or a magic switch.
I had written it after my father died: verified contact, independent counsel, emergency help, preservation of company records.
A plan for the day someone tried to make my silence useful.
I had never imagined using it against my husband.
“She's cold,” I called.
“Open the door.”
“Then stop keeping her down there.”
I stared at the handle.
Even now, he was making me responsible for his lock.
“Daddy?” Penny whispered.
I didn't stop her.
“Please let us out.”
A pause.
Then Vanessa, farther away.
“Julian, don't reward this.”
His footsteps retreated.
I almost begged.
The words rose automatically, an old habit reaching for the only tool it knew.
Instead, I told Marcus what I had heard.
“Tell the responders my child is locked inside with me.”
“They know.”
Leo came back on.
“I'm at the gate.”
Nine years vanished when I heard him breathing hard.
For a moment, he was seventeen again, running home with a split lip and pretending nothing hurt.
“Don't fight him,” I said.
“I'm here with the officers, Evie.”
I pressed my forehead against the cold cabinet.
“Thank you.”
Upstairs, the doorbell rang.
Julian's voice carried through the floor, warm and polished.
His charity-dinner voice.
“My wife has been drinking. She's upset about a family matter.”
I started toward the stairs, but pain folded me in half.
Penny caught my hand with both of hers.
“I'll shout, Mommy.”
“You don't have to.”
She did anyway.
“WE'RE DOWN HERE!”
Silence above us.
Then quick footsteps.
Alan spoke close to the door.
“Sir, I should open it.”
“Walk away,” Julian snapped.
A different voice answered.
“Step aside, Mr. Blackwood.”
The key scraped into the lock.
Light cut across the stairs.
I pulled Penny behind me before I could stop myself.
Leo stood beside a uniformed officer.
He saw my face.
His hand tightened on the railing, but he didn't move until I nodded.
Then Julian appeared behind him.
May you like
“Penny,” he said, holding out his arms.
“Tell them Mommy scared you.”
