Husband left on a business trip, and wife decided to repot flowers. What she found in the pot made her hair stand on end…

Helen was silent, looking at Paula with sadness and disappointment. She understood that convincing her daughter-in-law now was simply impossible. «I won’t judge you,» said the mother-in-law after a long silence.

«It’s your life. So you decide how to act. But you know my opinion.»

Helen got up. «I’ll go,» she said. «Thanks for listening,» said Paula.

Helen approached her and hugged her shoulders. «Take care, Paula. Maybe everything will work out.»

With these words, the mother-in-law left anyway. Paula watched her go, feeling her heart literally tearing. She understood that divorce from Anthony would cause pain not only to her, but also to her mother-in-law.

At that moment, the phone rang. Looking at the screen, she saw it was Vanessa. Paula answered.

«Vanessa, good morning.» «Paula, hi,» replied Vanessa. Her voice sounded excited.

«I have to tell you something. Anyway, I checked on the car plate from your dream.» «And what did you find out?» — asked Paula, holding her breath.

«Such a plate does exist. It’s a dark blue sedan. But unfortunately…» «Something wrong?» — interrupted Paula, feeling everything inside going cold.

«This car was in an accident. Five months ago,» replied Vanessa. «Fell off a bridge into the river.

The driver died.» Paula froze, unable to say a word. His name was Victor S. Malone, continued the fortune teller.

A young businessman. He was only thirty. Apparently drowned.

The body was never found. He had a large sum of money with him. He was going to buy goods for the company.

«Victor Malone,» whispered Paula, feeling her head spinning. «I don’t think I know him.» «Yes, I understand, you’re not feeling well now, but… I just wanted to tell what I found out,» said Vanessa.

«Thanks to you,» replied Paula, trying to speak as calmly as possible. «Wait, that’s not all. I managed to find out something about this Victor.

He worked in a company,» began Vanessa and hesitated, as if not daring to continue. «What company?» — clarified Paula. «In what company?» — she shouted into the phone, feeling that something important would follow.

«In what company did he work?» The fortune teller was silent for a few seconds, then quietly said. «He held a managerial position in Global Trade.» At that moment, Paula almost fainted.

«Global Trade?» — she whispered, not believing her ears. «But that’s where Anthony works!» «Yes, Paula, the deceased really worked with your husband.» There was silence on the line.

Paula couldn’t say a word. Her brain refused to process the information. Victor Malone.

Dark sedan. Fall from the bridge. Smell of apples and vanilla.

Company Global Trade. What does all this mean? And why didn’t her husband say that one of the company’s employees died? However, it’s silly to expect frankness from someone who traded you for a mistress. It seems it wasn’t an accident.

And it looks like everything was connected somehow. «Thanks for finding out everything, Vanessa,» replied Paula. «I’ll call later.»

«Okay, but don’t lose heart. I think everything will work out.» Paula hung up and sat on a chair, feeling her legs giving way.

Involuntarily, she recalled Vanessa’s recent suspicions. «Maybe someone wants to revive some old event to harm you?» There was no answer to this question. And was it worth looking for it now? How could it help Paula, standing on the threshold of divorce? Into the kitchen, sleepily rubbing his eyes, came Mike.

«Mom, I want an omelet,» he asked, yawning. «Okay, my good one,» replied Paula, trying to smile. «It’ll be ready soon.»

She started taking eggs, milk, and cheese from the fridge. The movements were automatic, thoughts far away. «Mom, what’s this?» — suddenly asked Mike, opening one of the kitchen cabinets.

Paula shuddered. She forgot that the camera was still there. «What, son, this?» — replied Mike, taking the miniature video camera from the cabinet.

Paula froze. Her son looked at her questioningly, his eyes full of curiosity and fear. «Where did you get this, mom?» Paula, looking at him, realized he knew something.

Mike got embarrassed, looked away, and started fiddling with the edge of his pajamas. «You know what this is, right?» — asked Paula. The son was silent, head down.

«Mike, answer me, you’ve seen this before, right?» The boy sniffled and, without raising his eyes, whispered. «This… this was given to me by an old man.» Paula’s heart skipped a beat anxiously.

«What old man?» The confession came hard for the child. Each word had to be pulled out with pliers. «It’s our janitor, Paul.

He started working in our yard recently. He lives in a utility room in the basement of the house. He has a workshop there.»

Paula felt uneasy. Why would an elderly janitor spy on her family? Especially giving a child a camera and asking to install it in a flower pot. «And what did he tell you?» — Paula would ask, feeling her palms getting sweaty.

«What did he say about this camera?» «Grandpa Paul said it’s a game,» replied Mike, raising his tearful eyes, — «that it’s a secret, and I shouldn’t tell anyone about it.» «A game? What game?» — asked Paula. «And what were you supposed to do with this camera?» «He said to put it in the flower pot on the window, and that’s it,» replied Mike, sniffling.

«He said he’d take the camera later and give me candies and wooden figures. He carves such cool ones.» Paula hugged her son and held him tight.

«My dear, don’t worry, everything’s fine,» she whispered, stroking his head. Then she looked at him with a determined gaze. «I need to tell you something.

This Paul might not be who he pretends to be. I’ll go to him, and you stay home for now, okay?» Mike nodded, wiping tears with his fist. «Okay, I’ll stay.»

Paula took out her phone. «Okay, get dressed quickly for breakfast, your omelet is ready.» She needed to call Vanessa urgently…