Then I dialed a number I’d prayed I would never have to use.
“Detective Ortega,” I whispered when he answered. “I have the evidence you asked me to preserve.”
His tone immediately grew serious.
“Harper, what happened?”
“My husband and his mother just made a very serious mistake.”
And before the sun rose, they would learn just how devastating that mistake was.
THE TRAP THEY NEVER SAW COMING
Detective Raymond Ortega pulled up at 1:43 a.m. with a second officer.
I met them in the upstairs hallway, still in my pajamas.
“Don’t touch the suitcase,” Ortega said.
“I haven’t.”
He gave me a long look. “Good. Let me see the recording.”
I passed him my tablet, and for three minutes neither officer said a word. On the screen, Lorraine unzipped my bag, tucked a handgun into the lining, and made her call.
When it ended, Ortega let out a slow breath.
