Chapter 17 - Mr. Pendelton's Secret
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I ushered my weeping mother out of the estate while the dinner party descended into utter chaos behind us. Guests were murmuring, grabbing their coats, and exiting in hurried discomfort.
As we reached my car, Mr. Pendelton stepped out from the darkness near his driveway, holding a flash drive in his hand.
"Take this, Sarah," he said urgently, thrusting the small plastic drive into my hands.
"What is this, Mr. Pendelton?" I asked, putting my arm around my shivering mother.
"Security footage," Mr. Pendelton revealed with a grim smile. "When Arthur built that high stone wall around his property three years ago, he installed directional security cameras along his roofline. One of them points directly toward his back patio—and it records audio. I tapped into his wireless network two months ago."
My mother looked up in disbelief. "Mr. Pendelton... you did what?"
"I was an engineer for forty years, Evelyn," the old man said gently. "I know how electronics work. On that drive, you'll find three separate video clips of Arthur verbally threatening you, locking you outside in the rain, and physically snatching you by the arms. It’s all timestamped."
Tears spilled over my mother's cheeks. "Why would you help me?"
"Because no human being deserves to be treated like a dog in her own house," Mr. Pendelton said firmly. "Now get out of here. He's inside calling his lawyers right now."
We drove straight to my small, two-bedroom cottage on the edge of town. For the first time in five years, my mother sat on a plush couch without asking for permission. I made her hot tea, wrapped her in a soft fleece blanket, and sat beside her.
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"I was so afraid, Sarah," she wept, holding the tea mug with shaking hands. "He made me feel so worthless. He told me if I ever complained, everyone would think I was crazy."
"He was lying to keep you trapped, Mom," I said, holding her hands tightly. "You are safe now. You are never going back to that house."
