Updated Oct 22, 2025 • ~12 min read
Paige couldn’t go back to court the next day.
“I can’t watch him lie,” she told Vincent over breakfast. “I can’t sit there while he plays the victim and pretends none of it happened.”
Vincent nodded, understanding in his eyes. “Jennifer said you don’t have to be there. Marcus testifying is their show. We don’t need you present for it.”
“But you’re going?”
“I have to. I’m testifying after him—about the evidence I found, about what our father knew. I need to see what he says so I can refute it.” Vincent cupped her face. “But you stay here. Rest. Try not to watch the news coverage. James will be here with you.”
After Vincent left, Paige found herself pacing the house like a caged animal. She tried to work on design projects—had to do something to pay bills eventually—but couldn’t focus. Tried to watch TV but every channel was covering the trial.
MARCUS HARTLEY TAKES THE STAND
DEFENSE CLAIMS VICTIM FABRICATED ABUSE FOR MONEY
BROTHERS FACE OFF IN EXPLOSIVE TRIAL
She turned it all off and sat in silence.
That’s when her phone rang. Unknown number. She almost didn’t answer, but curiosity won.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Carter? This is Detective Sarah Barnes. We spoke when you first reported Marcus Hartley’s bail violations.”
“I remember. What can I do for you?”
“I wanted to give you a heads up. We’ve been investigating Marcus’s activities while he was out on bail. Following the money, so to speak.” Detective Barnes paused. “There are some irregularities in his financial records. Large cash withdrawals. Payments to offshore accounts. It looks like he might have been preparing to flee.”
Paige’s heart raced. “Flee where?”
“We’re not sure yet. But Ms. Carter, there’s something else. We found payments to a private investigator—not the one who was following you. A different one. And this PI specializes in… let’s call it ‘reputation management.'”
“What does that mean?”
“It means finding dirt on people. Fabricating evidence. Creating false narratives.” Barnes’s voice was grim. “We’re trying to get access to what this PI was working on, but I wanted you to know. If Marcus’s team suddenly produces ‘evidence’ that seems too convenient, it might not be real.”
“Can you prove it’s fabricated?”
“We’re working on it. But Ms. Carter, be careful. Marcus has resources we’re still uncovering. He’s not going down without a fight.”
After they hung up, Paige sat with that information. Marcus had hired someone to fabricate evidence. To create a false narrative.
What had he found? What lies had he manufactured?
She thought about calling Jennifer, but Jennifer was in court. Thought about calling Vincent, but he was testifying soon.
Instead, Paige did something she’d been avoiding for months.
She opened her laptop and started digging.
She’d been so focused on surviving that she hadn’t thought to investigate Marcus. But now, with time and distance and the courage that came from already testifying, she wanted to know. What else was he hiding? What other secrets had the Hartley family buried?
She started with public records. Court filings, business registrations, property records. The Hartley family had their fingers in everything—real estate, tech startups, investment firms.
Then she found something interesting. A property in Nevada registered under a shell company. The paperwork was deliberately opaque, but Paige had been doing graphic design long enough to know how to navigate business records.
The shell company was owned by another shell company, which was owned by a trust. And the trust’s beneficiary was Marcus Hartley.
A property. In Nevada. Registered quietly, hidden under layers of corporate structure.
Why?
Paige dug deeper, cross-referencing dates. The property was purchased two years ago—right around the time Marcus had been accused by another victim. The victim who’d ended up settling quietly.
Was this where Marcus ran when things got hot? His escape plan?
She pulled up satellite images of the property. It was a compound in the middle of nowhere. High walls. Gated entrance. Completely isolated.
Perfect for hiding.
Or for hiding someone.
Paige’s phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number.
Unknown: You’re getting close. Keep digging. – R.S.
R.S. Rebecca Stone. The victim who’d called to encourage her.
How did Rebecca know what Paige was researching?
Another text came through.
Unknown: Check the property records for Clark County, Nevada. Look for any police calls to that address. You’ll find something interesting.
Paige’s hands shook as she navigated to the Clark County Sheriff’s website. Public records were searchable, and after some digging, she found it.
Three calls to that property address. All within the last two years. All listed as “welfare checks” requested by concerned neighbors.
But the property was isolated. There were no neighbors.
Someone had called in welfare checks. Someone who knew something was wrong at that property.
Paige clicked on the incident reports—heavily redacted, but she could make out key details. Calls about “screaming heard from the property.” “Concerns about a woman being held against her will.” “Possible domestic disturbance.”
But every report concluded the same way: “No evidence of criminal activity. Resident declined to file complaint.”
What resident? Was someone living there? Someone Marcus was controlling?
Paige grabbed her phone and called Detective Barnes back.
“Ms. Carter? What’s wrong?”
“I found something. A property Marcus owns in Nevada. There were police calls—welfare checks for possible domestic violence. I think he might be hiding something there.”
“Slow down. What property?”
Paige rattled off the address, the shell companies, the police calls.
Barnes was quiet for a moment. “That’s… that’s good work. How did you find this?”
“I’ve been researching. And someone’s been helping me.” Paige looked at the texts from Rebecca. “Someone who knows what Marcus is capable of.”
“I’ll look into it. In the meantime, Ms. Carter, do not go to that property. Do you understand? If Marcus has something hidden there, it could be dangerous.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
But after they hung up, Paige stared at the satellite image of the compound. What was Marcus hiding? Who had made those welfare check calls?
Another text from Rebecca.
Unknown: Her name is Olivia Hayes. She was one of us. One of his victims. She disappeared two years ago. Everyone thought she just left town. But I think Marcus took her there.
Paige’s blood went cold. Olivia Hayes. She recognized that name from the files Vincent had given her—one of the victims who’d been paid off years ago.
P: Is she still there? Is she alive?
Unknown: I don’t know. But I think Marcus was holding her there. Using her. Keeping her isolated so she couldn’t tell anyone what he’d done.
P: We need to tell the police. The prosecutors.
Unknown: They won’t believe it without proof. But there’s someone who might know. Marcus’s mother. Victoria.
Paige thought about Vincent’s cold, calculating mother. The woman who’d chosen Europe over dealing with her family’s sins.
P: She won’t talk to me.
Unknown: She might. If you tell her Marcus might have kidnapped someone. Even Victoria has limits.
Did she? Paige wasn’t sure. But she had Victoria’s contact information from when they’d had that disastrous lunch.
Before she could second-guess herself, Paige called.
Victoria answered on the third ring. “Ms. Carter. To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?”
“I need to ask you about a property in Nevada. A compound Marcus owns.”
Silence. Then: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do. Shell companies, hidden ownership, police calls for domestic disturbances. Mrs. Hartley, I think Marcus was holding someone there. A woman named Olivia Hayes.”
The silence stretched longer. Then Victoria’s voice, colder than ice: “You’re making serious accusations.”
“I’m trying to find the truth. Do you know about this property?”
“I know Marcus has various investments. Real estate, among other things.” Victoria’s voice was careful. “But I’m not involved in his personal affairs.”
“Even when those affairs involve kidnapping?”
“Alleged kidnapping. Based on what? Internet research and conspiracy theories?” Victoria laughed, but it sounded forced. “Ms. Carter, you’re desperate. I understand. The trial isn’t going well for you. But making up wild stories won’t help your case.”
“I’m not making this up—”
“Goodbye, Ms. Carter. Please don’t call me again.”
Victoria hung up.
But Paige had heard something in her voice. Fear, maybe. Or recognition. Victoria knew something about that property. Paige was sure of it.
Her phone buzzed. A text from Rebecca Stone.
Unknown: I’ve been monitoring Marcus’s properties. The Nevada one has been flagged by local authorities multiple times. I think that’s where he took Olivia. Check the Clark County records. – R.S.
Paige stared at the text. Rebecca had been investigating too. Of course she had—once a victim, always vigilant.
P: Thank you. I’m looking into it now.
Unknown: Be careful. If Marcus has her there, he won’t let her go easily.
She was about to call Detective Barnes back when her phone rang again. Jennifer Walsh.
“Paige. Where are you?”
“Home. Why? What’s wrong?”
“Marcus just testified. And it was… bad. Really bad.” Jennifer sounded stressed. “He was convincing, Paige. Charming. He cried. He talked about how much he loved you, how the relationship ending devastated him. He made it sound like you were the unstable one.”
“What about the other victims? The medical evidence?”
“He explained it all away. Said the other women were bitter exes too. Said your injuries could have come from anywhere. He even suggested you might have hurt yourself to frame him.” Jennifer paused. “The jury looked sympathetic. Some of them, anyway.”
Paige felt the ground shift under her feet. “So we’re losing?”
“I don’t know. Vincent testifies next. He’ll refute Marcus’s claims, present the evidence. But Paige, Morrison is good. He’s spinning a narrative that’s landing with some jurors.”
“What do I do?”
“You trust the process. You trust that the evidence speaks for itself.” Jennifer didn’t sound as confident as before. “I’ll call you after Vincent testifies. Just… stay calm. We’re not done yet.”
After Jennifer hung up, Paige sat in the silent house, mind racing.
Marcus was winning. Charming the jury. Playing the victim.
But she had something new. The Nevada property. Olivia Hayes. Evidence that Marcus’s pattern went deeper than anyone knew.
She called Detective Barnes.
“I need you to get a warrant. For that Nevada property. There might be evidence there—evidence that Marcus was holding a woman against her will.”
“Ms. Carter, I can’t get a warrant based on satellite images and old police reports.”
“Then what do we need? What would convince a judge?”
Barnes sighed. “Testimony from someone who’s been there. Someone who can verify that illegal activity occurred. Or some kind of documentation that clearly shows criminal intent.”
Paige’s mind raced. Who would have been to that property? Who would know what Marcus was doing there?
Then it hit her. Jason Turner. The friend who’d betrayed Marcus, who’d provided the recording, who clearly knew Marcus’s secrets.
“What about Jason Turner? Would his testimony be enough?”
“Possibly. If he has direct knowledge. But Ms. Carter, even if we get a warrant, even if we find evidence—it might be too late for this trial. The jury is deliberating soon.”
“But it would prove Marcus is a predator. That his pattern goes beyond what we’ve shown. That he’s dangerous.”
“Maybe. But first we need proof.” Barnes paused. “Let me make some calls. See what I can find out about this property. In the meantime, you stay put. Don’t do anything rash.”
Paige agreed and hung up. But her mind wouldn’t stop racing.
Olivia Hayes. Missing for two years. Possibly held captive by Marcus at some isolated compound.
If it was true, if Marcus had done that, it changed everything. Proved he was more than an abuser—he was a kidnapper. A monster.
And if the jury knew that…
Paige looked at her laptop, at the satellite image of the compound still displayed on the screen.
She shouldn’t go there. Detective Barnes had warned her. It was dangerous, stupid, reckless.
But what if Olivia was still there? What if she needed help? What if this was the evidence they needed to ensure Marcus never hurt anyone again?
Paige made a decision that was either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid.
She grabbed her keys.
“Where are you going?” James appeared in the doorway, alert.
“I need to check something. It’s important.”
“Ms. Carter, my orders are to keep you safe. That means you don’t leave without security.”
“Then come with me.” Paige met his eyes. “But we need to go now. Before I lose my nerve.”
James studied her, then nodded. “I’ll drive. You navigate.”
As they headed for Nevada, Paige texted Rebecca.
P: I’m going to the property. To find Olivia. To find proof.
Unknown: Be careful. Marcus is dangerous. But if Olivia’s there… she deserves to be found.
Paige stared out the window as Los Angeles faded behind them, replaced by desert highway.
She was either about to find the evidence that would bury Marcus forever.
Or she was walking into a trap that would destroy them all.
Either way, there was no turning back now.
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