Chapter 7 - MARGARET'S ENVELOPEThe diner smelled like coffee and bacon.
Margaret sat in the back booth.
She looked tired.
But her eyes were sharp.
"You want to know what Diane is capable of?"
I nodded.
"She doesn't want to win."
Margaret leaned closer.
"She wants the other person destroyed."
Then she told me stories.
The stolen money.
The false accusations.
The ruined friendships.
The destroyed careers.
And finally, the story of Ryan's father.
Thirty years earlier, Diane had accused Richard of beating her.
There had been bruises.
Police reports.
Tears.
But Margaret had never believed it.
"Diane did it to herself."
She slid a thick envelope across the table.
Inside were old police reports.
Statements.
Bank records.
Photographs.
A history of manipulation stretching back decades.
I stared at the evidence.
"This could save Ryan."
"It could do more than that."
Margaret looked into my eyes.
"It could finally expose her."
Then my phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
It was me.
Sitting with Margaret.
Someone had photographed us from across the street.
A second message appeared.
I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
Then another.
YOU'LL REGRET IT.
I looked around.
Nobody seemed suspicious.
May you like
But I knew.
Diane was watching.
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