Chapter 3 - The Woman in My House
Victoria stayed in Elena’s house for exactly thirty-six hours.
Then Elena returned.
Not alone.
Her attorney, Naomi Brooks, accompanied her with two police officers while Julian stood in the foyer looking furious.
“You brought cops into our home?”
Elena walked past him.
“You changed the locks.”
“You left.”
“I fled after you assaulted me.”
Julian lowered his voice.
“Stop saying that.”
“Why? Does it sound bad?”
Victoria appeared upstairs wearing Elena’s robe again.
That did it.
Elena walked upstairs.
Victoria smiled.
“Come to collect your things?”
Elena stopped inches from her.
“Take off my robe.”
Victoria laughed.
“Elena—”
“Now.”
Victoria pulled it tighter.
“You don’t intimidate me.”
She shoved Elena lightly.
Elena caught her wrist.
Victoria jerked away and pushed harder.
Elena staggered against the wall.
Naomi shouted from below.
Then Victoria grabbed Elena’s arm.
Elena reacted instinctively.
She shoved Victoria backward onto the bed.
Victoria sprang up and slapped Elena.
Elena caught her next swing, twisted away, and drove her shoulder forward, forcing Victoria backward.
“Enough!” one officer shouted.
Julian rushed upstairs and tried to pull Elena away.
The second officer stepped between them.
“Touch her again and you’re leaving in cuffs.”
Silence.
Elena looked at Victoria.
“You can keep him.”
Then she pointed at the robe.
“But you don’t get to wear my life while you do it.”
Victoria finally removed it.
Twenty minutes later, Elena walked out with her clothes, jewelry, documents, photographs, and her father’s antique watch.
She left the wedding portrait.
Julian noticed.
“You forgot something.”
“No.”
She looked at the photograph.
“I didn’t.”
That evening, Naomi helped Elena file for divorce.
But another surprise arrived first.
Margaret called.
“We identified Northstar’s owner.”
“Who?”
Margaret hesitated.
“Your husband.”
Elena closed her eyes.
“How much?”
“Over the past eighteen months?”
Margaret exhaled.
“Approximately 2.7 million dollars.”
Elena thought she had already reached the bottom.
She was wrong.
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Because the next morning, federal investigators arrived at Meditron Systems.
And they wanted to speak with her.
