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

«Vanessa,» said Paula when the fortune teller answered, «please come to me as soon as possible, there’s something important.» Leaving Mike at home, they headed to the yard with her friend. Paula remembered that Mike talked about a small utility room in the basement.

The door was locked. Paula knocked loudly. «Paul, open up, we need to talk.»

It was quiet inside. «Maybe he’s not there,» suggested Vanessa. «Probably sweeping leaves somewhere on the grounds, not a care.»

«No, he should be here,» replied Paula. «And the door seems locked from inside.» She knocked again, this time louder.

«Paul, open up, it’s the police,» she shouted, obviously bluffing. There was a rustle inside. Then the door slowly opened, and a man appeared on the threshold.

The janitor looked hunched, pitiful. His face was pale, eyes full of fear. «What do you want? What’s the police got to do with it?» — he croaked, avoiding eye contact.

«I didn’t do anything wrong.» «We know you gave Mike the hidden video camera,» said Paula, looking straight at him. «Why did you do it?» Paul backed away, as if trying to hide in the darkness of the utility room.

«I don’t know anything about that.» «You must be mistaken, I don’t know any Mike.» Vanessa stepped forward.

«Don’t lie, please,» she said, looking at him with a piercing gaze. «I sense you’re hiding something, and you’re not who you pretend to be.» Paula looked at her friend in surprise.

«What does she mean?» The janitor shuddered and lowered his head. «It’s true, I’m not Paul,» — and with these words, he removed his wig. Then wiped off the makeup from his face, removed the fake hump.

And soon a completely different person stood before the astonished women. Young, handsome, with burning eyes. «My name is Victor Malone,» he said, looking at Paula and Vanessa.

«I know who organized the attempt on me.» They were in shock, couldn’t believe their eyes. «Victor?» — whispered Paula.

«But how is this possible? They said you died in the accident.» «It wasn’t an accident,» replied the man. «I was set up, they wanted to kill me.»

«Who wanted?» — Vanessa couldn’t hold back. Victor looked at Paula with a long, attentive gaze. «Your husband, Anthony.

He organized the attack on me on the highway, then pushed me off the bridge into the river along with the car.» Paula shook her head, not believing her ears. «No, it can’t be.

Anthony isn’t capable of that.» «He always envied me,» continued the businessman. «My success, money.

He wanted to get it all and came up with this plan.» «What plan?» — asked Vanessa. «I worked in a managerial position,» began Victor.

«Anthony worked there too, but in a worse position. And a few days before the accident, at the owner’s request, I withdrew a large sum of money from the account. Needed to buy a batch of goods.

Anthony followed me and set up the accident. Wanted to take everything and pass it off as an accident, but I was lucky. The current carried me several miles from the accident site.

And there an elderly fisherman picked me up. Nursed me, gave clothes, money for starters. In the past, the old man played in the local drama theater.

He had some props left. Wig, makeup, fake hump — all from his stock. And the rest you know.»

«But why didn’t you go to the police?» — asked Paula. «I couldn’t prove Anthony’s guilt,» replied Victor. «No one would believe me.

Everyone thought I died. So I decided to hide and quietly find evidence. Pretended to be a janitor to be close and watch.

Found out you’re his wife and decided to use your son. I hoped to find some clues to help prove Anthony’s guilt. But I didn’t want to harm you.

I just wanted justice. And for Anthony to be punished for what he did.» Paula looked at Victor and saw despair, pain, and thirst for revenge in his eyes.

At the same time, understanding that he did wrong by involving her and her son. «And what are you going to do next?» — asked Paula. The businessman shrugged.

«I don’t know, but he needs to be stopped before it’s too late.» «I’ll help you,» said Paula. «But we need to act carefully.

Can’t let him know about our plan and especially that you’re alive.» Victor smiled. «I couldn’t even dream of that.

But I think together we’ll succeed.» Soon Paula, Vanessa, and Victor, full of determination, headed to Paula’s apartment. Needed to act quickly and carefully while Anthony hadn’t returned.

«Need to find some evidence of his guilt,» said Paula firmly, — «as they walked down the street. Otherwise, he’ll wriggle out for sure.» «I think Anthony has a hiding place,» said Victor.

«So it’s worth searching everything thoroughly.» Mike, delighted by their return, rushed towards them. «Mom! Aunt Vanessa!» «Yes, my good one,» replied Paula, kissing her son on the cheek.

«We have a new game for you.» «What?» — asked the son curiously. «We’ll search for treasures,» replied Vanessa, winking at him…