My Engagement Ring Fell Into His Couch—What I Found Inside Made Me Call the Police

They looked like a couple.

On the back was a date from three years earlier.

I stared at it.

Then I saw another picture.Rings

Peter.

With another woman.

And another.

My hands began shaking.

There were at least six women.

Maybe more.

Then I noticed something else.

Several photographs had red marks drawn across the women’s faces.

I dropped the picture.

My stomach turned.

“No.”

I whispered it.

“No, no, no.”

I started searching through the box more carefully.

There were copies of identification documents.

Addresses.

Phone numbers.

Notes about women’s routines.

One page contained a list of names.

Next to each name were dates.

Some had check marks.Sofas & Armchairs

Some had crossed-out lines.

At the bottom was a sentence written in black ink:

“Never leave loose ends.”

I couldn’t breathe.

Then I noticed something at the very bottom of the box.

A photograph.

I picked it up.

It showed Peter standing beside a woman.

But this woman wasn’t a stranger.

I recognized her.

She was the woman from one of the missing-person posters I had seen online months earlier.

Her face had been in the news.

She had disappeared after meeting someone through a dating app.

I stared at the photograph.

Then I looked at the date.

It was two days before she disappeared.

My hands went numb.

Suddenly, Peter’s voice came from the hallway.

“Baby?”

I froze.

“You okay?”Writers Resources

Footsteps approached.

I quickly put the photographs back.

But I couldn’t put everything away.

The box was still open.

The door handle moved.

“Why did you lock the door?”

I hadn’t even realized I’d locked it.

My phone was in my hand.

My heart was pounding.

I didn’t answer.

“Hey.”

His voice became softer.

“What’s going on?”

I looked at the box.

Then at my phone.

I knew I had only seconds.

I opened the emergency call screen.

My hands shook as I dialed the police.

“Emergency services. What’s your emergency?”

I whispered:

“I’m at my fiancé’s parents’ house.”People & Society

“Are you in danger?”

“I don’t know.”

“What happened?”

“I found something hidden in a box.”

“What kind of something?”

“Photographs. Identification documents. Notes about women.”

There was silence for half a second.

Then the operator’s voice became very serious.

“Where exactly are you?”

I gave the address.

“Lock the door and stay inside.”

I heard Peter knock.

“What’s wrong?”

I said nothing.

“Open the door.”

His voice was still calm.

That frightened me more than anger would have.

I heard him try the handle.

Then stop.

“Why are you acting strange?”

I looked toward the window.Law Enforcement

I considered climbing out.

But we were on the second floor.

Then Peter spoke again.

“Did you open something?”

My heart stopped.

He knew.

I whispered into the phone:

“He knows.”

The operator told me to stay quiet.

Then Peter said something that made my blood freeze.

“You weren’t supposed to find that.”

I backed away from the door.

“What?”

He sighed.

“Please open the door.”

I didn’t move.

“Peter, what’s in the box?”

Silence.

Then he said:

“You need to trust me.”

I almost laughed.Marriage

Trust him?

After what I’d just seen?

“Who are those women?”

He didn’t answer.

“Who are they?”

Finally, he said:

“People who made mistakes.”

The words made my stomach turn.

“What does that mean?”

“Open the door and I’ll explain.”