A cleaning lady approached a millionaire and told him not to travel with his wife. The next morning, there was a luxury car next to her humble house…

The office was small, cramped with files stacked on every available surface. But Martinez gestured to a chair across from his desk, and she sat down, her hands clenching the strap of her purse in her lap. Thank you for coming in, he said, settling behind the desk and pulling out a folder.

He flipped through a few pages before finally looking up at her. I’m going to get right to it. Mr. Wilson cancelled a trip recently.

From what I understand, you advised him to do so. Emily swallowed hard. She knew this was coming, but hearing it out loud made her stomach twist.

Yes, she admitted, I overheard something, and I thought it was dangerous for him to go. Martinez’s eyes narrowed slightly, his attention focused entirely on her. Can you explain exactly what you overheard? Taking a deep breath, Emily recounted the conversation she had overheard between Amanda and Ryan in the hotel room.

She left nothing out, describing their voices, the way Amanda had spoken about making sure the trip would be James’s last. As she spoke, she could feel her heart pounding harder, the tension growing with each word. Martinez listened without interrupting, his face unreadable as he scribbled notes on a pad in front of him.

When she finished, he sat back, considering her carefully. Mr. Wilson cancelled the trip, which seems to have saved his life, Martinez said slowly. But there’s more to the story.

We believe Mr. Wilson has been investigating his wife for some time now, and what you overheard may just be the tip of the iceberg. Emily blinked, her mind racing. Investigating her? For what? Martinez’s expression hardened slightly.

Financial fraud, infidelity, and now, it seems, attempted murder. Mr. Wilson’s been gathering evidence, but it wasn’t until he received your warning that he realized just how serious the situation was. He’s been working closely with us ever since.

The weight of Martinez’s words settled over her like a blanket. James had known. He had known something was wrong all along.

And now, with her warning, it had all come to light. Emily felt a strange mix of relief and dread. On one hand, she had done the right thing.

On the other, she was now more entangled in this dangerous situation than she had ever wanted to be. Is James, is he safe? Emily asked, her voice quieter now. Martinez hesitated before answering.

For now, yes, we’ve placed him under protective custody while we gather more evidence. But we need to tread carefully. Amanda Wilson is not the kind of woman who will go down without a fight.

And her lover, Ryan, is just as dangerous. Emily nodded, her hands still clutching her purse. She had always known that the world of the wealthy was different from hers.

But this, murder, fraud, betrayal, this was something else entirely. And yet, somehow, she had become a part of it. I understand, she said, though her mind was still spinning with everything she had just learned.

Martinez studied her for a moment longer, then leaned forward, his tone softening slightly. I know this is a lot to take in, and I’m sure you’re scared. But you did the right thing by coming forward.

Mr. Wilson owes you his life. His words should have made her feel better. But they didn’t.

If anything, they only reminded her of how fragile everything had become. If Amanda and Ryan were willing to kill James, what would they do to her if they found out she had been the one to warn him? Before she could say anything more, Martinez stood up, signaling the end of their conversation. We’re going to keep an eye on things, he assured her.

But I’ll ask you to stay in touch. If you notice anything suspicious, if anyone contacts you, anything at all, you call me immediately. We can’t afford to take any chances.

Emily nodded, rising to her feet. Her legs felt unsteady, like she was walking on air. She left the station in a daze, her mind buzzing with everything Martinez had told her.

Protective custody. Financial fraud. Betrayal.

It all felt too big. Too dangerous. The walk back to her apartment felt like a blur.

By the time she stepped inside, her body felt like it was running on autopilot. She locked the door behind her and leaned against it, trying to calm the racing thoughts in her head. She had done the right thing, Martinez had said.

But at what cost? Her phone buzzed again, snapping her out of her thoughts. She pulled it from her pocket, her breath catching when she saw the number. It wasn’t one she recognized, but something about it sent a chill down her spine.

With shaking hands, she answered. Hello? A long pause, followed by the sound of soft breathing on the other end. And then, finally, a voice she recognized all too well.

Emily? Amanda’s voice purred through the line, sending a shiver down Emily’s spine. We need to talk. Emily’s stomach twisted, her hand gripping the phone so tightly her knuckles turned white.

How had Amanda gotten her number? What did she want? You think you’re clever, don’t you? Amanda continued, her voice icy now. But you’ve made a big mistake. People like you don’t mess with people like me and get away with it.

I’ll make sure of that. The line went dead before Emily could respond. But the threat hung in the air like a dark cloud.

Emily dropped the phone onto the counter, her heart pounding in her chest. She had known this was coming. But the reality of it was much worse than she had anticipated.

Amanda knew. And she wasn’t going to let Emily get away with it. Emily’s hand shook as she stared down at her phone, the dial tone still humming in her ears long after Amanda had hung up.

Her mind raced, heart pounding so loudly she could feel it in her throat. The threat Amanda had made wasn’t just empty words. It felt like a promise, cold and terrifying.

What was she going to do? Emily paced her apartment, the feeling of being trapped slowly sinking in. The bright luxurious space that had seemed like an impossible dream just days before now felt suffocating. Every shadow seemed darker.

Every noise from the hallway made her jump. She couldn’t escape the feeling that Amanda or Ryan could be out there waiting, watching. She wanted to call Detective Martinez, tell him about Amanda’s phone call.

But what could they really do? The police couldn’t guard her every second of the day. And she wasn’t about to run and hide. Not yet.

Not until she figured out what this all meant and what her role in this twisted mess had become. In the midst of her spiraling thoughts, a sharp knock on the door jolted her back to reality. Emily’s breath caught in her throat.

She wasn’t expecting anyone. Was it Amanda? Had she come for her already? She hesitated, her hand hovering near the doorknob. After a long, tense moment, she finally peeked through the peephole.

To her surprise, it wasn’t Amanda or Ryan. It was James. Her heart leapt into her throat…