Cover of The Housemaid's Secret

The Housemaid's Secret

by Freida McFadden


Genre
Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Crime
Year
2023
Contents

Chapter 74

Overview

Millie learns Wendy Garrick’s suicide note includes a confession to Douglas Garrick’s murder, and police footage from a hidden back-entrance camera proves Millie was never in the building when Douglas was killed. Detective Rodriguez formally clears Millie, apologizes, and closes the case with no further investigation. He reframes Millie as someone who tries to protect victims, gives her his personal number as a resource, and sends her out to Enzo, who has been waiting for her.

Summary

Millie sits in an interrogation room that feels less frightening than before, having spent the patrol-car ride reading news stories about Wendy Garrick’s apparent suicide and the claim that Wendy killed her boyfriend first. The reports mention a suicide note, which makes Millie realize the story around Douglas Garrick’s death has shifted.

Detective Benito Rodriguez arrives looking perplexed and asks if Millie has heard about Wendy. Rodriguez confirms that Wendy’s suicide note includes a confession to murdering Douglas. Millie asks if she is no longer a suspect, and Rodriguez explains that Millie was already cleared because an unknown back-entrance camera showed Millie was never in the building at the same time as Douglas.

Rodriguez apologizes for jumping to conclusions, admitting Wendy was insistent that Millie was responsible and that Millie’s record made her an easy target. Millie reflects bitterly that Wendy’s convincing “victim” presentation has damaged Millie’s ability to trust future women who ask for help.

When Millie asks why she is still there, Rodriguez says Millie has a reputation as a “hero” for trying to help women in danger. He gives Millie his card with his cell number and asks her to call him immediately if she ever suspects a woman is at risk, promising he will believe her next time.

Millie jokes to clarify Rodriguez is not flirting, and Rodriguez laughs, noting Enzo caused a scene at the station the previous day insisting police had the wrong person. Rodriguez says Enzo is still waiting to see her, and Millie shakes Rodriguez’s hand before leaving to reunite with Enzo and go home.

Who Appears

  • Millie Calloway
    Cleared of suspicion; reflects on being framed; accepts Rodriguez’s offer of help and leaves to Enzo.
  • Detective Benito Rodriguez
    Reveals Wendy’s confession and exonerating footage; apologizes, closes the case, and gives Millie his card.
  • Enzo
    Waits in the station lobby; previously argued for Millie; prepares to take her home.
  • Wendy Garrick
    Reported dead by suicide; her note confesses to Douglas’s murder and helps clear Millie.
  • Douglas Garrick
    Victim of the murder Wendy confesses to; case is considered closed.
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