All Chapters of The woman they tried to bury: Chapter 11 - Chapter 16

The day hadn’t started cold, and for that reason, I left the house without my coat. I figured I’d be fine in just my brown shirt and a pair of black pants—minimal but decent. Besides, the sun was out when I stepped out of my apartment. But by noon, the cold had crept in—slow at first, then sharp and biting. A not-so-subtle reminder that winter was knocking, uninvited and early.“You’re shivering,” John said, breaking the silence between us. He was seated across from me in my office, papers spread across the desk between us like a protective wall. It was our first official day working together, and up until that moment, it had been—surprisingly—smooth.He had come into my office not long after I arrived, greeted me politely, and handed over some paperwork relating to the company’s expansion into the American pharmaceutical market. He spoke with clarity, walking me through the complexities I didn’t quite grasp yet, pointing out what trends to look for, which regulations to note, how th

Chapter 12 – John“Why was she wearing your coat?” Tricia snapped the moment she got into the car. I’d been expecting this—had seen it simmering in her eyes back in Livia’s office—but she’d kept herself in check then, probably to avoid confirming any whispers about our marriage. Now that we were alone, she didn’t hold back.“Tricia, don’t start,” I said calmly, opening the driver’s door. She threw herself into her seat with a dramatic huff.“Stop saying that!” she barked. “Why the hell was she wearing your coat, John?” She twisted her body toward me, hands on her hips, like she was ready for war.“Because she was cold, alright? That’s it. She was freezing, and I—”“Oh wow,” she interrupted. “I didn’t know you were a Cold Patrol officer now. What, she doesn’t own a coat? That stupid bitch probably left her brain behind too.”“Don’t talk about her like that,” I said, my tone low and warning.Truth was, I wasn’t even comfortable giving Olivia the coat in the first place—not because I did

I glanced at my watch. 12:20 p.m.Not a great first impression.I was supposed to meet with the private investigator Kim had recommended. She spoke highly of him—said he was the best. We’d agreed on noon. It had been over thirty minutes, and I was still sitting alone in this café, nursing a second cup of coffee just to avoid looking like the awkward woman staring into space with nothing on her table.“Sorry I’m late,” a voice said from behind me.I looked up as a man approached and slid into the seat across from me.He looked… off. Not what I expected at all. Thin-framed, with a checkered shirt buttoned too high, round glasses that magnified his eyes a little too much, and a bag clutched tightly to his side. He looked like someone who belonged in a library, not tailing suspects.“I’m Benny Clark. The private investigator,” he said, extending his hand. I shook it cautiously.“Olivia Davis. Nice to meet you.”He kept adjusting his glasses, twitchy and fidgety, like the seat had pins.“S