Husband dumped his disabled wife in the forest unaware a mysterious man watched everything

He’s got deep pockets and a PR team that thinks this is a branding problem, not a felony. Leah gave a dry smile. Then let them try to brand around attempted murder. Rebecca arched an eyebrow. That phrase, it’s accurate, but it hasn’t been charged yet.

That depends on what else we find. What else is there to find? Cal asked, Thomas answered, looking up from his laptop. Digital forensics. If we can prove Daniel and Vanessa communicated about removing Leah, even in coded language, the DA will charge conspiracy to commit.

And then, as if summoned by the word, Leah’s phone lit up with a new alert. An email forwarded by Thomas from a recovered archive, bounced through an encrypted tunnel, and landed in her inbox. The subject line was innocuous. Need to finalize Q4 projection. But the body, assuming phase 2 goes as expected, we’ll need to reframe the narrative quickly.

She’s no longer sustainable as a partner on either front. I’ll handle the transition. You just be ready to step in. DM below it. A oneline reply from Vanessa.

Understood. Hope it’s quick. The longer she’s around, the messier it gets. Silence filled the room. Rebecca spoke first.

That’s it. That’s your smoking gun. Cal turned to Leah. You okay? She nodded slowly.

I thought seeing it written like that would hurt more, but it doesn’t. It just confirms everything I already knew in my gut. Thomas sat back in his chair. I’ve sent this to the DA. He’ll be arrested by morning.

Leah looked out the window. Snow had begun to fall again. Slow, steady. The same woods that had nearly swallowed her now seemed to exhale like the storm had passed through and left something cleansed in its place. «What happens next?» she asked.

Rebecca’s tone was even but firm. Daniel will likely be charged with conspiracy to commit a felony, wire fraud, and attempted abandonment of a vulnerable adult. Vanessa may be charged as an accessory. Then comes trial and possibly a plea. and the business.

It’s yours again, Thomas said. Filed the injunction this morning. He can’t touch it. Leah let the word sink in. Then she stood without help, without apology.

Okay, she said. Then let’s take it all the way. Later that night, the knock came just after midnight. Leah’s heart jumped. But Cal was already at the door, gunholstered but hand steady.

He looked through the peepphole, then relaxed. He opened the door. «Detective Elena Park stood there, a nononsense woman in her 40s with a steel cord voice and a badge that meant business. «Miss Morgan,» she said, stepping inside. «I wanted to tell you in person.» Leah sat up straighter.

Yes, Daniel Morgan is in custody. The room exhaled. He was arrested at his office, Park continued. Tried to claim the files were forged, then tried to claim they were therapy notes, then stopped talking. Will he be held?

Cal asked. He’s being arraigned in the morning. Given the nature of the charges and the weight of the evidence, we’ll be requesting no bail. The judge is already reviewing the request. What about Vanessa?

Leah asked. Taken in an hour later. She’s cooperating. Claimed she didn’t know how far it had gone, but her name’s all over the money trail. It’s going to be hard to spin.

Leah nodded. Ms. Morgan. The detective said softer now. I’ve worked a lot of cases like this.

Most women don’t make it to this point. Not because they’re weak, because the system is loud and their voices get drowned out. She met Leah’s eyes. Yours didn’t. Leah felt something shift inside her…