Nineteen Victims

Chapter 1

     Gianna Harding was a businesswoman that worked late nights and that was the perfect gate-way for her husband to believe that she would have to work late hours at the office. A woman had to hide secrets from her husband just so she could get away with the biggest secret of all that she was hiding. A quick change back into her pant-suit was all it took to make it look like she was coming home from late nights at the office. Though, if the secret were to come out, then her whole life would unfold.
     "You're home late again," Chris, Gianna's husband spoke.
     When Gianna got home Chris was sitting on the couch beside their daughter, Isobel in their home in Manhattan, New York, as she watched cartoons waiting for Gianna to get home to do their nightly goodnight routine. Isobel would not go to bed without being able to say goodnight to Gianna and be tucked in by her as well. They lived the perfect family life, the that everyone hoped to have with a nice family, a nice house and the classic white picket fence.
     Gianna stood by the kitchen counter. There was a bottle of wine sitting there on the counter. A glass that had yet to be filled, then Gianna grabbed the bottle of wine and poured the substance into the glass. She came over to Chris and leaned over from behind the couch and kissed his cheek. "Sorry about the late night."
     He was much taller than Gianna, black-brown hair, blue-ish green eyes, and a muscular build. He was already in comfortable clothes to lounge around for the rest of the night, sweatpants and a short sleeve shirt. His hair was messy almost like he had run his fingers through it just moments before.
     His ocean eyes turning to look towards Gianna, then glancing at a now fast asleep, Isobel. "She was waiting for you to get home."
     Gianna sighed lightly.
     "All these long nights, Gi. Our daughter barely sees you."
     That's when Gianna realized that because of her secret, she was barely home when she was supposed to be and she was missing out on her own daughter's life. She started to think about the permanent consequences that would come from her actions.
     "I'm sorry, Chris," Gianna replied.
     "That's what you say every time." He continued. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't start anything. You've clearly had a long night."
     The echoes of the cartoons playing on the television were in the background of their conversation. The house was filled with children's toys scattered everywhere or in their specified corner where Gianna and Mark would put them. The house had a very clear visual that a child was living there as well.
     "I just wish you were home more often, you know?" He replied.
     "I know you do. I wish I could be home more, but my job needs me, too."
     "Just try." Chris spoke, his tone was almost filled with anger but he tried not to show it. He wanted Gianna around more, not only for Isobel but for himself as well. "You miss out on the important things sometimes."
     The words hit Gianna like the truth that the words actually were. She was really missing out on her daughter's life and it was starting to set in all at once. She was pursuing her secret actions for multiple reasons.
     The big reason was that her friend and coworker had been suffering on end due to the fact that his wife was murdered and her killers were released on good behavior.
     The other reasons weren't so important but every reason that involved her secret meant something to her and that became the reason why for the rest of it.
     "I will try." Gianna replied.
     "Try harder."
     "I've been trying. I get caught up with work."
     "Okay," Chris said. "I believe you. I just want you to improve and spend time with Izzy most importantly. That's all I ask of you."
     Gianna ran her fingers through her hair and pushed it back with a sigh. "The wine after work gets me through it all."
     "I know."
     "You even set it out for me."
     "Because I know you need it."
     He smiled towards her and pressed his lips against hers. "You have an understandably stressful job. I may not know how that is, but I know that it's tough on you. You deserve a little something when work gets stressful and you're there late at night. I will say that I am proud of you and all that you do. You're one successful woman and that means I have a successful wife."
     Isobel's voice could now be heard in a quiet tone, "Daddy, is Mommy home yet? I need her to tuck me in."
     The little girl's voice was so soft that it couldn't help but make the parents smile. One little girl could bring so much happiness to someone. Even a stranger. Isobel brought out so much light in people and Gianna never wanted to see that disappear.
     "I'm right here, Baby Girl."
     "Mommy, I'm tired. Tuck me in, please."
     "Come here."
     Gianna went over to the side of the couch where she could reach and pick up Isobel. She scooped the blonde-haired girl up in her arms as she fell limp from being tired from staying up so late. Gianna carried her up the stairs to her butterfly and rainbow-themed room, laying her down in her toddler bed then she tucked Isobel in. Giving her a kiss on her forehead as the little girl closed her eyes.
     "Goodnight, sweet girl." Gianna spoke softly.
     "Come on, Gi. Let's go to bed ourselves."
     Moments like these were when Gianna couldn't help but smile because she felt lucky to have Isobel and Chris. She turned back one last time and looked at her peacefully sleeping daughter.
     "She's asleep. Now it's time for us to do the same." Mark said.
     "I know. She just looks really peaceful."
     "That she does. She was very tired today."
     The two walked down the hall to their own room, Gianna then changing into more comfortable clothes to sleep in for the night. "Are you okay?" Chris asked.
Gianna looked toward him as she crawled into bed.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" She replied. "I'm tired that's all. It was a long night for me."
"Gi, come on—" he sighed. "Tell me what's wrong."
"I'm fine." she leaned in close to him and gave him a kiss. "Now do you believe that I'm fine? You act as if I murdered someone."
There it was, the first minimal confession that hse had done something, but Mark didn't know that. "What?"
"I'm kidding, but seriously I am fine and you have nothing to worry about. I promise."
Then Chris let it go past his head and then the two of them drifted off to sleep.