Chapter 41 The Dutiful Wife
CAITLYN'S POV
I woke up the next morning with a plan. If I were going to spy on Collin and survive, then I needed to become someone he would not suspect. Someone he thought he had completely under control, someone who was too weak and scared to ever go against him.
I needed to become the perfect dutiful wife.
I got dressed in one of the plain dresses Collin liked. Nothing too flashy or attention-seeking. Just a simple dress that made me look like someone's mother. Someone harmless.
I put on minimal makeup to cover the dark circles under my eyes but not so much that it looked like I was trying. I pulled my hair back in a low ponytail. I looked tired, worn down, and defeated.
Perfect.
When I went downstairs Collin was already in the kitchen drinking coffee and reading his phone. He barely looked up when I walked in.
"Morning," I said quietly.
"Morning," he replied without really paying attention.
Mrs Chen was making breakfast and I could feel her watching me. She always watched me with those sad eyes, like she knew something terrible was happening, but could not do anything about it.
"What would you like for breakfast Mrs Hayes?" she asked.
"Just toast," I said. "I am not very hungry."
That was true. My stomach had been upset ever since I agreed to help Detective Rourke. The stress was making it hard to eat, sleep, or think about anything else.
I sat down at the table across from Collin. He was scrolling through emails and occasionally typing responses. I just sat there quietly as a good wife should. Not bothering him. Not asking questions. Just existing in his space without being a problem.
"I have meetings all day," Collin said without looking up. "I will not be home until late tonight."
"Okay," I said.
"Do you have any plans today?" he asked.
This was my chance. I needed to make my meeting with Detective Rourke seem innocent and normal. "I was thinking about going shopping for some maternity clothes. Nothing fits anymore."
Collin finally looked up at me. "Take one of my men with you."
"I do not need a bodyguard to go shopping," I said.
"I was not asking," Collin said and his voice got cold. "After what happened with those gang members threatening you I am not taking any chances. You go nowhere alone. Understand?"
I nodded and looked down at my plate. This was the role I needed to play. I needed to be submissive, obedient, and someone who would never dream of going against him.
"Yes," I said quietly. "I understand."
"Good," Collin said and went back to his phone.
Mrs Chen brought over toast and I forced myself to eat a few bites. Collin finished his coffee and stood up.
"I have to go," he said. "Remember what I said. Nowhere alone."
"I remember," I said.
He left without kissing me goodbye or saying anything else. That was normal now. He only pretended to care about me when other people were watching. When we were alone he could not be bothered.
After he was gone I sat there for a few more minutes finishing my toast. I needed to be more careful. I needed to play my role perfectly so Collin never suspected what I was really doing.
I spent the rest of the morning acting like a dutiful wife. I tidied up my room even though the staff would do it later. I read a book about pregnancy and baby care. I did everything a normal pregnant woman would do.
At one thirty I told Mrs Chen I was going out to shop for maternity clothes. She nodded and did not ask questions. Collin's security guy was waiting by the car to drive me.
"Where to Mrs Hayes?" he asked.
"The mall on Fifth Street," I said.
That was near where I was supposed to meet Detective Rourke but not too close. I would have to figure out how to ditch the security guy once we got there.
We drove in silence. I watched out the window and tried to plan my next move. The mall had multiple entrances. If I went in one door and came out another maybe I could lose him long enough to get to the coffee shop.
When we arrived I told the driver I would be there for at least an hour. He nodded and said he would wait in the parking lot. I went inside and immediately started looking for the closest exit.
I walked through the mall like I was shopping. Stopped at a few stores and looked at clothes, acted completely normal. Then, when I was sure no one was watching, I slipped out a side entrance.
The coffee shop was two blocks away. I walked fast but tried not to look like I was running. My heart was pounding and I kept looking over my shoulder to make sure no one was following me.
When I got to the coffee shop, Detective Rourke was already there, sitting in a back corner booth. He saw me and gave a small nod. I ordered water at the counter and then walked over to sit across from him.
"You made it," he said quietly.
I took a deep breath.
"Barely," I said. "Collin has someone following me everywhere now. I had to sneak away."
"How long do you have?" Rourke asked.
"Maybe thirty minutes," I said. "Then I need to get back before anyone realizes I am gone."
Rourke pulled out a small package and slid it across the table. "This is the SIM card. Put it in your old phone and only use it to contact me. The number is already programmed in. Just hit the dial and it will call me directly."
I took the package and put it in my purse. "What if someone finds the phone?"
"Tell them it is a backup," Rourke said. "Or that you forgot you had it, make up any story. Just do not tell them you are using it to talk to me."
"Okay," I said.
"Now listen carefully," Rourke continued. "I need you to pay attention to Collin's patterns. When does he have meetings at the house? Who comes to visit? Does he take calls in private? Any detail could be important."
"He has business dinners a lot," I said. "And he locks himself in his study for hours. Sometimes I hear him yelling on the phone but I cannot make out what he is saying."
"Good," Rourke said. "If you can ever get into that study when he is not there, I need you to look for documents, bank statements, and contracts. Anything with the Volkov name on it."
I thought about the files I had already found. The ones about my father. "I already went through his desk once. There were files about my family."
Rourke leaned forward. "What kind of files?"
"Evidence that my father worked for the organization," I said. "And proof that Collin had my parents killed."
Rourke's expression darkened. "Did you take photos?"
"No," I admitted. "I was too scared. I just looked at them and then put everything back."
"Next time take photos," Rourke said. "Use your old phone. Take pictures of every document you can find. That is the kind of evidence we need."
This was getting more complicated by the minute. But I nodded. "Okay. I will try."
"Do not just try," Rourke said firmly. "You need to do this. Those files could be the key to taking Collin down."