Chapter 43 The Business Trip Cover
CAITLYN'S POV
Three days after I met with Detective Rourke I was sitting in my room when Collin came in without knocking. He was packing an unusual bag. He never went anywhere without his entire entourage.
"I have to go out of town for a few days," he said. "Business trip to New York. I will be back on Friday."
My heart started racing but I kept my face calm. "Okay. Do you want me to come with you?"
"No," Collin said. "You need to rest. The pregnancy is making you tired and traveling would be too stressful."
That was code for he did not trust me enough to take me with him or maybe he did not want me around while he did whatever illegal business he had planned.
"I will miss you," I lied.
Collin looked at me like he was trying to figure out if I meant it. Then he just shrugged. "Mrs Chen will be here and I am leaving two security guards to watch the house. Do not go anywhere without telling them first."
"I understand," I said quietly.
He finished packing and left without kissing me goodbye. I heard his car pull out of the driveway a few minutes later. Then I waited, I needed to be sure he was really gone and not coming back.
I went to the window and watched the driveway. The two security guards were standing by the gate talking. They did not look like they were planning to come inside anytime soon.
This was my chance. Forty-eight hours while Collin was gone. Forty-eight hours to search his study and find evidence. Forty-eight hours to do what Detective Rourke needed me to do.
I pulled out my secure phone and texted Rourke. "He left for a business trip, he’s gone until Friday. I have 48 hours."
The reply came back fast. "Be careful, check all documents and everything. Do not take anything, just photos."
I put the phone away and waited another hour just to be safe. Then I went downstairs. Mrs Chen was in the kitchen and looked surprised to see me.
"Mr Hayes said he left for New York," she said.
"Yes," I said. "I am going to spend some time organizing things while he is gone. Maybe clean out some closets."
Mrs Chen nodded. She did not seem suspicious. Why would she be? I was just a bored pregnant wife looking for something to do.
I went back upstairs and walked to Collin's study. The door was locked like always but I knew where he kept the spare key now. I had watched him one night when he thought I was asleep.
I got the key from the hidden spot in the hallway and unlocked the door. My hands were shaking so bad I almost dropped the key twice but finally I got it open and stepped inside.
The study looked the same as last time. The desk is covered in papers, and filing cabinets are against the wall. A computer on the desk that was probably password-protected.
I pulled out my phone and started taking pictures. I photographed everything on the desk, every paper. Every sticky note and every document I could find.
Then I moved to the filing cabinets. Most of them were locked but one was not. I opened it and found files organized by year. I started with the most recent year and began photographing every document inside.
Financial records, bank statements, and wire transfers to offshore accounts. All the evidence Detective Rourke needed to prove Collin was laundering money.
I was so focused on photographing that I almost did not hear the footsteps in the hallway. Someone was coming upstairs. I froze and listened.
"Mrs Hayes?" It was one of the security guards. "Are you up here?"
I quickly shoved the files back in the cabinet and closed it. Then I walked to the door and opened it just as the guard reached the top of the stairs.
"Yes?" I said and tried to sound casual. "Can I help you?"
The guard looked past me at the study. "What are you doing in Mr Hayes's office?"
"Looking for a book," I lied. "He said I could borrow anything from his shelves."
The guard did not look convinced but he did not push it. "Mr Hayes called. He wanted me to check and make sure you were okay."
"I am fine," I said. "Just a little bored without him here."
"He also said to remind you not to go anywhere without letting us know first," the guard added.
"I know," I said. "I am not planning to go anywhere. I am just going to rest and read and wait for him to come home."
The guard nodded and went back downstairs. I closed the study door and locked it. Then I went to my room and collapsed on the bed.
That was too close. If he had come up thirty seconds earlier he would have caught me going through Collin's files. I needed to be more careful.
I pulled out my phone and looked at the photos I had taken. There were at least fifty of them, all evidence of Collin's illegal activities. This was exactly what Detective Rourke needed but I was not done yet.
I still had forty-eight hours, and I needed to use every minute of it. Because this might be my only chance to gather enough evidence to take Collin down.
I spent the rest of the day being the perfect bored housewife. I watched TV, and I read a book. I ate dinner with Mrs Chen. I acted completely normal so no one would suspect what I was really doing.
Then at midnight when everyone was asleep I snuck back into the study. This time I brought a small flashlight so I would not have to turn on the overhead lights. I locked the door behind me and got to work.
I found the drawer that had been locked last time.
I used a paperclip to pick the lock just like my dad taught me when I was a kid. It took a few tries but finally it opened.
Inside were more files but these were different. These were about people, judges, politicians, and police officers. All the people Collin had on his payroll.
I photographed everything. Every name, every bribe amount, every detail about how Collin controlled the city.
This was it. This was the evidence that would destroy him, not just put him in jail but take down his entire operation.
I was so focused on photographing that I did not notice the time passing. When I finally looked at my phone it was almost three in the morning. I had been in the study for three hours.
I needed to get out of here before someone woke up and noticed I was gone. I put everything back exactly how I found it and locked the drawer. Turned off the flashlight and carefully opened the door.
The hallway was dark and quiet. I slipped out and locked the study door behind me. Then I went back to my room and hid the phone in my usual spot.
I lay in bed staring at the ceiling. I had done it, I had gathered evidence against Collin.
Real evidence that could take him down but I was not satisfied. Because taking him down legally meant waiting for trials and lawyers and all the things that could go wrong. What if he bought off the judge? What if he intimidated witnesses? What if he walked free despite all the evidence?
I could not let that happen. I co
uld not let him get away with killing my parents and hurting me and destroying so many lives.