Chapter 2 DIGGING DEEPER

She sat on the bench, her eyes fixed on the phone in her hand as she reread the text from her husband, John. The words seemed innocent enough, but her mind was racing with possibilities. She glanced around the park, taking in the familiar sights and sounds, but feeling like a stranger in her own life. With a deep breath, she decided on a course of action. She typed out a response, trying to sound casual despite the turmoil inside her. "Hey, just running some errands. I'll be home soon."

As she hit send, she felt a sense of unease. Was she playing it cool enough, or was she just delaying the inevitable? She tucked the phone away and stood up, her eyes scanning the park once more. It was time to start digging deeper, to uncover the truth behind Alexander's new identity and her husband's mysterious message.

She headed to her sister's place, someone she trusted implicitly. As she arrived, her sister noticed the concern etched on her face. "What's wrong?" her sister asked, concern creeping into her voice.

She hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But her sister's empathetic eyes encouraged her to open up. She shared the mysterious woman's revelation about Alexander and her husband's text. Her sister listened intently, her expression growing more serious. "You need to be careful," she advised. "If he's in witness protection, there's a lot at stake." "I know," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I feel like I'm living in a dream, like nothing is real. But what if it's true? What if everything he told me was a lie?" Her sister's expression softened. "We'll figure this out together, okay? But for now, let's focus on keeping you safe. You can stay here tonight, and we can brainstorm what to do next in the morning." She nodded, feeling a mix of relief and trepidation. As they hugged, her phone buzzed again. Her husband's name flashed on the screen. "Where are you? I'm getting worried."

She hesitated, unsure how to respond. Her sister, noticing her distress, suggested, "Maybe don't answer yet. Let's think this through." She nodded and silenced her phone, feeling a sense of unease wash over her. Her sister led her to the guest room, where she collapsed onto the bed, her mind racing with questions. As she lay there, she couldn't shake the feeling that her life was spiraling out of control. Who was her husband, really? And what had he gotten himself into? Her sister's gentle voice interrupted her thoughts. "Get some rest. We'll face this together in the morning." With a deep breath, she closed her eyes, trying to quiet her racing thoughts. But sleep eluded her, and she lay awake, wondering what the next day would bring.

The night wore on, her thoughts swirling in a mix of fear and determination. She finally drifted off to sleep, exhausted, but her rest was fitful. The next morning, she woke to the aroma of coffee brewing in the kitchen. Her sister sat beside her, handing her a steaming cup. "We need to talk strategy," she said, her voice firm and resolute. They sat down at the kitchen table, and her sister began outlining potential next steps: investigating Alexander's past, contacting authorities, or even hiring a private investigator. As they discussed their plan, she felt a sense of purpose wash over her. She was ready to uncover the truth, no matter what it took. Just then, her phone buzzed again. Her husband's name flashed on the screen, this time with a voicemail notification. Her sister's eyes locked onto hers. "What do you want to do?" She took a deep breath and decided to listen to the voicemail. Her hands trembled slightly as she played the message. "Hey, where are you? I've been trying to reach you all night. I'm getting worried. Please call me back as soon as you can." The message sounded concerned, but she couldn't shake the feeling that it was laced with something else – perhaps guilt or calculation. Her sister's eyes searched hers. "What did he say?" She summarized the message, and her sister's expression turned thoughtful. "It's interesting that he's escalating his attempts to reach you. Maybe we should respond, but carefully. We could use this to our advantage." With her sister's guidance, she crafted a cautious response, trying to keep her tone neutral while fishing for more information. "What do you think he'll do next?" her sister asked, eyes locked on hers.

She hesitated, then typed out a different response: "I'll be home soon. Let's talk then." Her sister raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" She nodded, feeling a sense of determination. "I need to know what's going on. I'll confront him at home." Her sister's expression turned concerned, but she didn't argue. Instead, she handed her a small device. "Mia, just in case, take this. It's a recording device. If you feel threatened or need help, press the button." With the device in her pocket, she headed home, her heart pounding in her chest. As she approached her house, she had a change of plans.

"Hey, I'm sorry I didn't call," she said, trying to sound casual. "My sister wasn't feeling well, so I stayed with her last night. I didn't mean to worry you." Her husband's expression changed from worry to relief. "Oh, I'm glad she's okay. What's wrong with her?" She kept her tone light, trying not to arouse suspicion. "Just a bug, I think. She's feeling better now." He nodded, seeming to accept her explanation. But she knew this was just a temporary truce. She still had questions, and she was determined to get answers. As they stood there, the tension between them was palpable. She could feel the weight of her unanswered questions hanging in the air.

As the evening fell, they went through the motions of a normal routine, but the air was thick with unspoken questions. She watched him, trying to read between the lines, wondering what secrets lay hidden behind his eyes. As they prepared for bed, he reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "I love you," he whispered. She forced a smile, her heart heavy with doubt. "I love you too." But as she lay beside him that night, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was sleeping next to a stranger.