Page 51 of Resolutions

“The box. Mr. Daggers brought the box. Tobias is looking for him. Is that who's behind everything, Mr. Daggers?”

I chuckle a laugh that comes out more nerves, “that's what I call him too, Mr. Daggers.” I pick up my coffee cup, but my hands are shaking so badly I set it back down. “No, he's not the boss, just the enforcer, definitely not the brains of the operation.”

“Operation? Goodness, this sounds, well, I don't know what it sounds like. Alright, then who sent the box?” She studies my face, leaning closer, lifting the corner of the folder. “Melanie, before we get into all of this, tell me who he is, the one who has you so frightened you can't even drink a cup of coffee.”

I look at her for a moment, willing myself to say his name, but nothing comes out. Evelyn reaches across and takes my hand once again, giving me the support she always has. “Michael.” His name comes out as barely a whisper. Tears flood my cheeks, but there's also relief - sweet, overwhelming relief at finally saying it aloud. Finally, telling someone. Of all the people I thought and imagined I'd be telling the truth to at first, Cameron's mother wasn't who I expected, but somehow, now, it feels right.

“Michael? Michael Thorne? Cameron's best friend?” Horror dawns in her eyes. “He made you leave the wedding? But how?”

I nod. “Should I explain as I show you?”

“Please. And Mel,” she grips my hand tight, “I want to know everything. All of it.”

“And you won't tell?” I ask again for reassurance before I dive, dragging her with me into the deep dark waters where the shark circles waiting for his prey.

“I won't tell.” She looks me square in the eye. “Based on your fear of what you're about to tell me, I might shoot him, but I won't tell.”

I smile my first genuine smile in a long time. Then I begin, starting with when the box came. I tell her about seeing Mom and my Auntie on the screen with his men sitting, drinking coffee at their table. About Michael calling my Auntie with me on the phone and them knowing who he is. How I felt so hopeless. I pull out the newspapers, spreading them across the table. She gasps at the fabricated charges against her sons, scoffs angrily at her own supposed embezzlement, then goes deathly still at the suicide pact story. As I detail Michael's phone call on my wedding day, the threats, the anger, the warehouse, and his reference to them wanting me, Mr. Daggers working for him and how he escorted me down the hidden staircase.

“I always knew Michael was...off,” she says finally. “Ever since he was young. The way he'd watch women when he thought no one was looking, it always seemed to be with a sneer or a glare. I guess I just brushed it off. But you know, he never had real relationships, just a date every once in a while. None of them ever went anywhere. I've never been introduced to a girlfriend.” Evelyn looks out the window. “I saw how he looked at you girls, you, Debbie, and Connie. Charlie and I have discussed it several times, but for some reason, the men in our family always want to offer up excuses when it comes to Michael. They tell us we're being paranoid. I swear if I hear Charlie use that word one more time.” She looks back at me. “Sorry, I just never would have guessed he would.” She shakes her head, unable to finish.

“I tried telling Cameron how Michael made my skin crawl. The constant touching, the accidental run-ins, the forced hugs. Every time Cameron would defend him saying, that's Michael, he's just overly friendly. Well, mister overly friendly has everyone in thefamily's phones bugged, and he says your house is wired with explosives. Although I think that's a lie.”

“MY HOUSE?” Evelyn grabs her phone.

“NO!” I take it from her. “You can't! Wait, did you call and tell anyone you were here?” I stand and frantically start putting my folder back together. “It's bugged so he can listen in. They all are.”

“Melanie, Melanie.” Evelyn grabs both my wrists. “I didn't tell anyone where I was going. No one knows I'm here and no one will.”

“Mew,” Moses, who had been asleep on the bed basking in the sunlight, pads up to Evelyn. “Mew.”

I stop my shoving of papers and glance at him. “He must have heard you.” I look up into her caring eyes. “I'm sorry, it's been torture not knowing if Michael would figure out where I was and show up.”

“Aww, hello Moses, come here big boy,” she pats her lap and Moses jumps up. “Did you miss me?” Evelyn runs her hand down his back, causing him to arch each time. “Yes, sweet boy, I missed you too.”

With Moses settled on her lap, Evelyn takes the folder and her phone from me. “Well, I guess if Michael hasn't blown us up yet, we're fine for tonight.”

I can't help but giggle a little. “True. Every morning, I check the online newspaper for word of deaths.”

“You do?” Evelyn pats my hand. “What a horrible way to live.”

“All because of Michael, and whoever they are.”

“He gets it from his father.” Evelyn's voice hardens. “Disgusting excuse for a man, so cruel and mean. Drank himself to death after Michael's mother left. I never understood why she didn't take him with her. Who would leave their child with someone like that? We hoped exposure to our family would helpMichael see not everyone was like his father. That's why we let him spend so much time with Cameron. I guess we were wrong.”

I spent the next two hours detailing everything - the threats, the near-miss at the motel, the grandmother and grandson who helped me escape. I explain how I thought the librarian and teacher were taken because of me. Evelyn's face is ashen.

“Oh, my goodness,” her voice shakes. “Of course he did it. And he looks like a caring friend by putting up a reward for information.”

“Sure,” I roll my eyes, “that way he would know if the Sheriff was closing in on him.”

Evelyn places a hand on her chest. “Do you think the Sheriff's phones are bugged too?”

“Wouldn't surprise me. That or hacked. Remember we're dealing with a computer genius, anything's possible. Which brings me to what I believe Michael is doing.” I take a deep breath and blow it out. “As far as I know, this is where he's made most of his wealth. I believe the business, the shiny office building, well, I think it's all a front. What he's really running is a dark website where women are sold. And I think the warehouse Michael owns is the pick-up site.”

“Melanie.” Evelyn looks physically ill. “Are you telling me Michael runs some kind of... trafficking operation?”

“Not just some kind, a private, exclusive one. I believe that's why he needed me and why he took the other two women. My guess is the ones who are bankrolling him wanted specific types of women. Look at the missing ladies and I. We're all about the same age, and we're professional women.” I sit back in my chair. “It has to be something like this, I'm certain of it. I just can't prove it. Have you ever heard the name Emperor Maikeru?” I searched her face. “No?” I sigh. “Me either, but it's the name I keep seeing in the worst of the worst chat rooms. They all reference him as being the darkest of the dark. Someeven referred to him as an emperor of hell. I believe, and it's just a hunch, but I think Michael's online name is Emperor Maikeru.” Sitting forward, I place my elbows on the table. “It's all speculation. I don't have the computer skills to find out for sure. So, as of now, the only thing I can prove is his threats against me.” My eyes drift from the sprawled paperwork to her face. “You do believe me, don't you?”

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