Chapter 13: The Person Linda Bought
The name on the document stared back at me.
A school employee.
Someone connected to Nia’s school.
My first thought wasn’t anger.
It was fear.
Because Linda had already proven she was willing to cross boundaries.
And now I wondered how far she had gone.
“Who is this?”” I asked.
My lawyer, Michael, looked at the document.
“Her name is Patricia Wells. She works in the school administration office.””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
“No.””
I looked at her.
“You know her?””
Vanessa shook her head slowly.
“I’ve met her.””
“When?””
“She was the one who helped arrange Nia’s schedule last year.””
My stomach tightened.
“What kind of schedule?””
Vanessa looked away.
I already knew the answer.
“Tell me.””
“She helped change Nia’s lunch period.””
The words hit me.
“Why?””
Vanessa’s eyes filled with tears.
“Because my mother said Nia needed more supervision.””
I felt anger rise.
“So Linda had someone inside the school.””
Michael nodded.
“That’s what we’re trying to determine.””
The next morning, we met with the school principal.
His office was filled with framed awards and photographs of students.
Normally, it would have felt comforting.
That day, it felt like another place where someone had been hiding things.
The principal, Mr. Anderson, looked exhausted.
“I need to apologize.””
I sat across from him.
“For what?””
“For not seeing what was happening sooner.””
I looked at him carefully.
“What did you know?””
He sighed.
“Not enough.””
He opened a file.
“We received concerns about Nia’s eating habits.””
“From who?””
He hesitated.
“Linda.””
Of course.
I leaned back.
“What did she say?””
“That Nia had unhealthy habits. That she needed stricter routines.””
I clenched my jaw.
“And you believed her?””
“No.””
His answer surprised me.
“We had concerns about Linda’s involvement.””
“Then why didn’t anyone tell me?””
The principal looked down.
“Because Vanessa was listed as the primary contact.””
That sentence hurt.
Not because it was wrong.
Because it explained how Linda operated.
She didn’t need to control everyone.
She only needed to control the person closest to the child.
Michael placed the financial records on the desk.
“We found payments from Linda to Patricia Wells.””
The principal’s face changed.
“How much?””
“Several thousand dollars.””
Silence.
“That’s impossible.””
“Why?””
“Because Patricia told us she was helping the family voluntarily.””
I looked at him.
“She lied.””
The principal nodded slowly.
“We need to investigate.””
After the meeting, I walked through the school hallway.
Nia’s artwork hung near the entrance.
A colorful drawing of a garden.
Her name was written underneath.
I stopped.
A year ago, I would have walked past it.
Too busy.
Too distracted.
Too convinced everything was fine.
Now I stared at it.
Wondering how many signs I missed.
That evening, I sat with Nia.
She was painting at the kitchen table.
“Dad?””
“Yeah?””
“Are you still mad?””
I put down my phone.
“No.””
She looked confused.
“But everyone keeps fighting because of me.””
I moved closer.
“Listen to me.””
She looked up.
“You are not the reason people are fighting.””
“Then why is everyone angry?””
“Because some people did wrong things.””
She thought about that.
“Can people who do wrong things become better?””
I looked toward the hallway.
Where Vanessa stood quietly listening.
“Yes.””
I answered honestly.
“But they have to choose to.””
Later that night, Vanessa and I talked.
Not as husband and wife.
Not yet.
As two parents trying to protect a child.
“I need to tell you something,” she said.
I waited.
“When Linda started paying for things, she didn’t just give money.””
“What else?””
“She kept records.””
I frowned.
“Records of what?””
“Everything.””
She opened a drawer and pulled out an old notebook.
“She tracked every mistake I made.””
I opened it.
Dates.
Arguments.
Private conversations.
Things only Vanessa should have known.
My stomach turned.
“She was collecting evidence.””
Vanessa nodded.
“For years.””
“Why?””
Her voice became quiet.
“Because she wanted me to believe I couldn’t survive without her.””
I closed the notebook.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message from Michael.
One sentence.
*“We found out who gave Linda information about your family.””*
I opened the attachment.
A photograph appeared.
A person standing beside Linda.
Someone I recognized immediately.
Someone who had been sitting in my house.
Someone I trusted.
I looked at Vanessa.
“Who is your mother talking to?””
May you like
Her face went white.
Because she knew the person in the picture.
