Chapter 3 - THE FILE DEREK DIDN'T KNOW EXISTED
The police arrived twenty minutes later.
A female officer named Rebecca Collins spoke with me privately.
She asked about my wrist.
The bruises.
The threats.
The controlling behavior.
I answered slowly.
At first, my voice barely worked.
Then the words began coming.
Three years of fear.
Three years of excuses.
Three years of believing that if I could just become a better wife, Derek would stop hurting me.
Officer Collins listened without interrupting.
When I finished, she asked:
"Do you have somewhere safe to stay tonight?"
I stared at her.
I hadn't thought that far ahead.
My parents were dead.
My sister lived in Milwaukee.
Derek knew every friend I had.
And our apartment belonged to his family.
"I don't know."
Alexander spoke from the doorway.
"I can arrange a hotel."
I immediately shook my head.
"I don't want to owe you anything."
He nodded.
"Then we'll find another option."
Officer Collins offered information about domestic violence services and emergency housing.
I accepted.
For the first time, someone was giving me choices instead of instructions.
After the officer left to complete her report, Alexander asked if he could speak with me.
I nodded.
He sat opposite me.
"Emily, Derek Carter isn't a stranger to my organization."
My stomach tightened.
"What?"
Alexander's expression darkened.
"His company handles financial consulting for several businesses connected to mine."
I stared.
"Derek never mentioned you."
"He wouldn't."
Alexander paused.
"We've been reviewing irregularities in some accounts."
I felt cold.
"What kind of irregularities?"
"Money disappearing. False invoices. Transfers that don't match legitimate business activity."
My heart began pounding.
Derek was a financial adviser.
He controlled our accounts.
He always said money was complicated.
That I wouldn't understand.
Alexander leaned forward.
"Has Derek ever asked you to sign documents you weren't allowed to read?"
I swallowed.
"Yes."
His expression changed.
"How many?"
"I don't know."
"Do you remember what they were?"
I looked down.
"Tax forms. Business forms. He said they were routine."
Alexander was silent.
Then asked:
"Did he ever use your maiden name?"
My stomach dropped.
"Emily Whitmore."
Alexander went still.
He looked toward Daniel.
Daniel's expression changed too.
I stared between them.
"What?"
Alexander spoke slowly.
"Emily, there's a company registered under that name."
I felt sick.
"What company?"
He answered:
"Whitmore Holdings."
I shook my head.
"I've never heard of it."
Alexander's voice softened.
"According to the records we've reviewed, it's received more than twelve million dollars."
The room tilted.
Twelve million.
May you like
In my name.
And I didn't know a thing about it.
