Chapter 3 - The Suitcase in the Garage
Emily barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, the one-way ticket returned to her mind.
Daniel intended to leave.
Whether forever or temporarily, she couldn't tell.
Morning arrived too quickly.
Daniel behaved exactly as always.
He complained about the coffee.
Checked his emails.
Kissed her lightly on the forehead before leaving for work.
"I'll be home late."
The same sentence.
The same smile.
As if nothing had happened.
Emily watched his car disappear around the corner.
Then she locked every door.
She wasn't searching for evidence.
She told herself she only wanted reassurance.
Proof that she'd misunderstood.
She started with his office.
Nothing unusual.
Receipts.
Work documents.
Tax records.
Everything perfectly organized.
Too perfectly.
Inside his desk drawer she found an empty envelope from a passport office dated two weeks earlier.
Strange.
Their passports were already valid.
Why request another appointment?
She continued searching.
Closet.
Nightstand.
Bookshelves.
Nothing.
Until she remembered something.
Three weeks ago Daniel had forbidden her from moving an old suitcase stored in the garage.
"It's full of fragile electronics," he'd said.
Emily walked slowly toward the garage.
Dust floated through the morning sunlight.
The old gray suitcase rested exactly where she'd seen it before.
It felt heavier than electronics should.
The zipper was locked.
But not with a padlock.
Only a small luggage code.
She tried Daniel's birthday.
No.
Their anniversary.
No.
His favorite football number.
Still nothing.
Frustrated, she lifted the suitcase.
Something slid inside.
Not electronics.
Paper.
Lots of paper.
Then she noticed a tiny luggage tag hanging beneath the handle.
The last four digits weren't random.
321.
March 21.
The day they first met.
The lock clicked open.
Emily slowly lifted the lid.
Inside weren't clothes.
There wasn't money.
Instead...
There were dozens of sealed folders.
Every folder carried someone's photograph.
Each photo had a different name.
Different address.
Different passport.
And resting on top of them all...
Was one folder labeled with her own name.
May you like
Emily Carter.
Confidential.
