Chapter 9: The Woman Who Knew Everything
I thought Vanessa was in police custody.
Detective Reynolds had arranged for her to be questioned and held while investigators examined the financial documents.
Yet Knew Everything
I thought Vanessa was in police custody.
Detective Reynolds had arranged for her to be questioned and held while investigators examined the financial documents.
Yet somehow, she was now at a private airfield with Daniel.
"How did she get out?"" I demanded.
"She wasn't somehow, she was now at a private airfield with Daniel.
"How did she get out?"" I demanded.
"She wasn't formally arrested for the financial investigation. She was released under supervision while the evidence was being reviewed.""
"But formally arrested for the financial investigation. She was released under supervision while the evidence was being reviewed.""
"But you told me she couldn't leave.""
"I told her she couldn't interfere with the investigation. We didn't have grounds to hold her indefinitely.""
I stared at him.
"So she lied to you told me she couldn't leave.""
"I told her she couldn't interfere with the investigation. We didn't have grounds to hold her indefinitely.""
I stared at him.
"So she lied to us.""
"Apparently.""
We drove toward the airfield with two additional officers following behind.
During the journey, I us.""
"Apparently.""
We drove toward the airfield with two additional officers following behind.
During the journey, I couldn't stop thinking about Danielle's final recording.
Don't trust anyone who tells you Vanessa came into our lives by accident.
I had met Vanessa at a charity fundraiser eleven months after Danielle couldn't stop thinking about Danielle's final recording.
Don't trust anyone who tells you Vanessa came into our lives by accident.
I had met Vanessa at a charity fundraiser eleven months after Danielle died.
She had been standing near the entrance, helping organize donations for a children's hospital.
We had started talking because she noticed the photograph of Nia on my died.
She had been standing near the entrance, helping organize donations for a children's hospital.
We had started talking because she noticed the photograph of Nia on my phone.
"She's beautiful," she had said.
"Thank you. She's my whole world.""
Vanessa had phone.
"She's beautiful," she had said.
"Thank you. She's my whole world.""
Vanessa had smiled.
"I know what it's like to raise children alone.""
At the time, I had believed her.
She had two daughters, Brianna and Kayla. She had told me their smiled.
"I know what it's like to raise children alone.""
At the time, I had believed her.
She had two daughters, Brianna and Kayla. She had told me their father had left when they were young.
We started having coffee.
Then dinner father had left when they were young.
We started having coffee.
Then dinner.
Then family outings.
She had been patient with Nia, or at least I thought she was.
When I proposed, she cried.
Then family outings.
She had been patient with Nia, or at least I thought she was.
When I proposed, she cried.
She told me she had never expected to find love again.
Now every memory felt contaminated.
The airfield appeared in the distance.
A small private jet.
She told me she had never expected to find love again.
Now every memory felt contaminated.
The airfield appeared in the distance.
A small private jet was parked beside a hangar.
Two people stood near the entrance.
Daniel.
And Vanessa.
Daniel was was parked beside a hangar.
Two people stood near the entrance.
Daniel.
And Vanessa.
Daniel was holding a black briefcase.
Vanessa was carrying a handbag.
When our vehicles approached, Daniel looked up.
He immediately started holding a black briefcase.
Vanessa was carrying a handbag.
When our vehicles approached, Daniel looked up.
He immediately started walking toward the plane.
"Police!"" Detective Reynolds shouted.
Daniel stopped.
Vanessa turned toward us.
For a moment, she looked almost relieved.
Then Daniel grabbed walking toward the plane.
"Police!"" Detective Reynolds shouted.
Daniel stopped.
Vanessa turned toward us.
For a moment, she looked almost relieved.
Then Daniel grabbed her arm.
"Get in the car!""
She pulled away.
"No!""
He tightened his grip.
"Vanessa, now her arm.
"Get in the car!""
She pulled away.
"No!""
He tightened his grip.
"Vanessa, now!""
Detective Reynolds and two officers rushed forward.
Daniel dropped the briefcase and raised his hands.
Van!""
Detective Reynolds and two officers rushed forward.
Daniel dropped the briefcase and raised his hands.
Vanessa stood frozen.
"You're both going to remain here," Reynolds said.
Daniel looked at me.
"Marcus, don't do this.""
I walked toward him.
"Youessa stood frozen.
"You're both going to remain here," Reynolds said.
Daniel looked at me.
"Marcus, don't do this.""
I walked toward him.
"You've spent two years lying to me.""
"I was trying to protect you.""
I laughed.
"Protect me from what?""
"From Danielle've spent two years lying to me.""
"I was trying to protect you.""
I laughed.
"Protect me from what?""
"From Danielle.""
I stared at him.
"Don't use my wife's name.""
Daniel's face hardened.
"You don't understand what she was planning.""
"She was planning.""
I stared at him.
"Don't use my wife's name.""
Daniel's face hardened.
"You don't understand what she was planning.""
"She was planning to expose you.""
"She was going to destroy everything.""
"Good.""
He stepped closer.
"Marcus, listen to expose you.""
"She was going to destroy everything.""
"Good.""
He stepped closer.
"Marcus, listen to me. Harrison had a system. The hospital had been running it for years. I wasn't the person making medical decisions.""
"You created the paperwork.""
to me. Harrison had a system. The hospital had been running it for years. I wasn't the person making medical decisions.""
"You created the paperwork.""
"I handled legal matters.""
"You moved the insurance money.""
"That money was supposed to be protected.""
"By"I handled legal matters.""
"You moved the insurance money.""
"That money was supposed to be protected.""
"By stealing it from grieving families?""
Daniel's expression changed.
For the first time, he looked genuinely angry.
"Do you know what happened to me stealing it from grieving families?""
Daniel's expression changed.
For the first time, he looked genuinely angry.
"Do you know what happened to me before all this? I spent fifteen years building a legal practice. I worked for people who never paid their bills before all this?
I spent fifteen years building a legal practice. I worked for people who never paid their bills. I watched dishonest businessmen make fortunes while I struggled to keep my office open.""
I stared at him.
"So you decided to steal from sick people?""
. I watched dishonest businessmen make fortunes while I struggled to keep my office open.""
I stared at him.
"So you decided to steal from sick people?""
He shook his head.
"It wasn't like that.""
"Then explain it.""
Daniel glanced toward Vanessa.
She looked away.
He loweredHe shook his head.
"It wasn't like that.""
"Then explain it.""
Daniel glanced toward Vanessa.
She looked away.
He lowered his voice.
"Danielle discovered the trust before we were ready. Harrison panicked. He said his voice.
"Danielle discovered the trust before we were ready. Harrison panicked. He said she was going to report everything.""
"What happened next?""
"We tried to negotiate.""
"With my dying wife?""
"She wouldn't she was going to report everything.""
"What happened next?""
"We tried to negotiate.""
"With my dying wife?""
"She wouldn't listen.""
I stepped closer.
"Did you know about the medication?""
Daniel's eyes flickered.
That was listen.""
I stepped closer.
"Did you know about the medication?""
Daniel's eyes flickered.
That was enough.
"You knew," I whispered.
"I didn't administer anything.""
"But you knew.""
He looked toward the ground.
"Harrison said the treatment was necessary.""
enough.
"You knew," I whispered.
"I didn't administer anything.""
"But you knew.""
He looked toward the ground.
"Harrison said the treatment was necessary.""
"Necessary for what?""
Daniel didn't answer.
Detective Reynolds intervened.
"That's enough. We'll continue this at"Necessary for what?""
Daniel didn't answer.
Detective Reynolds intervened.
"That's enough. We'll continue this at the station.""
But Vanessa suddenly spoke.
"He's lying.""
Everyone turned.
Daniel stared at her.
" the station.""
But Vanessa suddenly spoke.
"He's lying.""
Everyone turned.
Daniel stared at her.
"Shut up.""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"He's been lying to everyone for years.""
Daniel lunged toward her, but the officers restrained him.
"You'reShut up.""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"He's been lying to everyone for years.""
Daniel lunged toward her, but the officers restrained him.
"You're the one who agreed to everything!"" he shouted.
Vanessa began crying.
"You told me it was the one who agreed to everything!"" he shouted.
Vanessa began crying.
"You told me it was legal!""
"You knew exactly what you were doing!""
I looked between them.
"Tell legal!""
"You knew exactly what you were doing!""
I looked between them.
"Tell me the truth.""
Vanessa turned toward me.
"Marcus, I didn't know Danielle was going to die.""
"But you knew Harrison was manipulating her records.""
She lowered me the truth.""
Vanessa turned toward me.
"Marcus, I didn't know Danielle was going to die.""
"But you knew Harrison was manipulating her records.""
She lowered her eyes.
"Yes.""
"And you knew about the insurance money.""
"Yes.""
"Why did you marry me?""
She looked at me for a long time.
Then she said her eyes.
"Yes.""
"And you knew about the insurance money.""
"Yes.""
"Why did you marry me?""
She looked at me for a long time.
Then she said something I wasn't prepared to hear.
"Because Danielle asked me to.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
Vanessa's something I wasn't prepared to hear.
"Because Danielle asked me to.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
Vanessa's face crumpled.
"Before she died, she contacted me. She knew I had been involved with Harrison. She wanted me to get face crumpled.
"Before she died, she contacted me. She knew I had been involved with Harrison. She wanted me to get close to you because she believed I could find the documents Daniel had hidden.""
I couldn't move.
"You're saying Danielle arranged for you to marry me?""
"No. close to you because she believed I could find the documents Daniel had hidden.""
I couldn't move.
"You're saying Danielle arranged for you to marry me?""
"No. She asked me to help protect you. She thought I could get close enough to Daniel and Harrison to discover where they She asked me to help protect you. She thought I could get close enough to Daniel and Harrison to discover where they kept the original records.""
"Then why did you treat Nia the way you did?""
Vanessa began sobbing.
"Because I was afraid.""
"That doesn't explain anything.""
"H kept the original records.""
"Then why did you treat Nia the way you did?""
Vanessa began sobbing.
"Because I was afraid.""
"That doesn't explain anything.""
"Harrison threatened my daughters. He said if I didn't cooperate, he would make sure Brianna and Kayla lost everything. He also said hearrison threatened my daughters.
He said if I didn't cooperate, he would make sure Brianna and Kayla lost everything. He also said he would tell the police I had helped transfer the money.""
I looked at her.
"So you took your fear out on an eight-year-old child?""
She lowered would tell the police I had helped transfer the money.""
I looked at her.
"So you took your fear out on an eight-year-old child?""
She lowered her head.
"I know.""
"No, you don't.""
My voice shook.
"You locked my daughter downstairs. You denied her food. You made her believe she wasn't part of her head.
"I know.""
"No, you don't.""
My voice shook.
"You locked my daughter downstairs. You denied her food. You made her believe she wasn't part of this family.""
Vanessa covered her mouth.
"I know I did terrible things.""
"Then why this family.""
Vanessa covered her mouth.
"I know I did terrible things.""
"Then why should I believe anything you say?""
She reached into her handbag.
The officers immediately told her to stop.
"Slowly," Reynolds ordered.
Vanessa removed should I believe anything you say?""
She reached into her handbag.
The officers immediately told her to stop.
"Slowly," Reynolds ordered.
Vanessa removed a small envelope.
"I kept something Danielle gave me.""
Daniel suddenly shouted.
"Don't you dare!""
Vanessa ignored him.
She handed the envelope to Detective a small envelope.
"I kept something Danielle gave me.""
Daniel suddenly shouted.
"Don't you dare!""
Vanessa ignored him.
She handed the envelope to Detective Reynolds.
Inside was a photograph and a folded letter.
The photograph showed Danielle sitting in her hospital bed.
Vanessa was beside her.
But there Reynolds.
Inside was a photograph and a folded letter.
The photograph showed Danielle sitting in her hospital bed.
Vanessa was beside her.
But there was another person in the picture.
A man standing near the door.
I recognized him immediately.
Daniel.
The letter was addressed to Vanessa.
I read it while Reynolds watched.
*Vanessa was another person in the picture.
A man standing near the door.
I recognized him immediately.
Daniel.
The letter was addressed to Vanessa.
I read it while Reynolds watched.
Vanessa,
If you're reading this, it means I wasn't able to get the evidence to Marcus myself.
I know you made mistakes. I know,
If you're reading this, it means I wasn't able to get the evidence to Marcus myself.
I know you made mistakes. I know what happened between you and Harrison. But I also know you have two daughters who deserve a future without fear.
Please don't let them become what happened between you and Harrison. But I also know you have two daughters who deserve a future without fear.
Please don't let them become like the people who hurt us.
Help me protect Nia.
Marcus will trust you because he wants our daughter like the people who hurt us.
Help me protect Nia.
Marcus will trust you because he wants our daughter to have a mother again. Don't use that trust against him.
Find the blue folder.
And remember to have a mother again. Don't use that trust against him.
Find the blue folder.
And remember, the original agreement was never signed by me.
I looked up.
"Vanessa, what agreement?""
She, the original agreement was never signed by me.*
I looked up.
"Vanessa, what agreement?""
She wiped her face.
"The agreement Daniel prepared before Danielle died.""
"Where is it?""
She shook her head.
"I don't have it.""
wiped her face.
"The agreement Daniel prepared before Danielle died.""
"Where is it?""
She shook her head.
"I don't have it.""
"Then who does?""
She looked toward Daniel.
He was staring at her with undisguised hatred.
"Daniel.""
"Then who does?""
She looked toward Daniel.
He was staring at her with undisguised hatred.
"Daniel.""
Detective Reynolds picked up the briefcase Daniel had dropped.
An officer opened it.
Inside were passports, cash, several bankDetective Reynolds picked up the briefcase Daniel had dropped.
An officer opened it.
Inside were passports, cash, several bank cards, and a thick stack of documents.
But there was no blue folder.
Reynolds examined cards, and a thick stack of documents.
But there was no blue folder.
Reynolds examined the documents.
Then he stopped.
"Mr. Brooks, what is this?""
Daniel said nothing.
The detective pulled out a property transfer agreement.
It listed my name.
Danielle's name.
And an address.
the documents.
Then he stopped.
"Mr. Brooks, what is this?""
Daniel said nothing.
The detective pulled out a property transfer agreement.
It listed my name.
Danielle's name.
And an address.
Maple Street.
I leaned closer.
It was our first house.
The house Danielle had mentioned in her recording.
But I noticed something else.
The transfer agreement had been executed three days before Danielle died.
It appearedMaple Street.
I leaned closer.
It was our first house.
The house Danielle had mentioned in her recording.
But I noticed something else.
The transfer agreement had been executed three days before Danielle died.
It appeared to transfer ownership of the property into a private trust.
I stared at Daniel.
"You tried to take our first home?""
He finally spoke.
"That property was part of the to transfer ownership of the property into a private trust.
I stared at Daniel.
"You tried to take our first home?""
He finally spoke.
"That property was part of the agreement.""
"Danielle never agreed to it.""
"She didn't need to.""
I felt my blood turn cold.
agreement.""
"Danielle never agreed to it.""
"She didn't need to.""
I felt my blood turn cold.
"What does that mean?""
Daniel looked at me.
"Because the house wasn't yours anymore.""
I shook my head.
"You're lying.""
He gave a tired smile.
"Check"What does that mean?""
Daniel looked at me.
"Because the house wasn't yours anymore.""
I shook my head.
"You're lying.""
He gave a tired smile.
"Check the land registry.""
Detective Reynolds examined the document.
Then he looked at his partner.
"Get an immediate verification.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown the land registry.""
Detective Reynolds examined the document.
Then he looked at his partner.
"Get an immediate verification.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
There was no greeting.
No explanation.
Just a photograph.
It showed the front porch of our old house.
The wooden bench was gone.
The number.
There was no greeting.
No explanation.
Just a photograph.
It showed the front porch of our old house.
The wooden bench was gone.
The floorboards had been pulled up.
And beneath the porch was a blue metal box.
The message floorboards had been pulled up.
And beneath the porch was a blue metal box.
The message contained six words.
*Your wife left something for you there.*
I looked at Detective Reynolds.
"We need to go to Maple Street.""
He contained six words.
*Your wife left something for you there.*
I looked at Detective Reynolds.
"We need to go to Maple Street.""
He nodded.
But before we could leave, Daniel spoke again.
"Don't bother.""
I turned.
He was smiling.
"You're too late, Marcus.""
" nodded.
But before we could leave, Daniel spoke again.
"Don't bother.""
I turned.
He was smiling.
"You're too late, Marcus.""
"Why?""
Daniel looked toward the photograph on my phone.
"Because Harrison got there first.""
My stomach dropped.
Then Reynolds's radio crackled.
An officer'sWhy?""
Daniel looked toward the photograph on my phone.
"Because Harrison got there first.""
My stomach dropped.
Then Reynolds's radio crackled.
An officer's voice came through.
"Detective, we have a voice came through.
"Detective, we have a situation at the Maple Street property.""
"What situation?""
A pause.
Then the officer answered.
"The house is on fire.""
I felt the blood drain from my situation at the Maple Street property.""
"What situation?""
A pause.
Then the officer answered.
"The house is on fire.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
The last place where Danielle had hidden the truth was face.
The last place where Danielle had hidden the truth was burning.
And somewhere inside that house was the one thing she had spent her final days trying to protect.
The original agreement.
burning.
And somewhere inside that house was the one thing she had spent her final days trying to protect.
The original agreement.
The detective grabbed his grabbed his radio.
"Is radio.
"Is anyone inside?""
There was a pause.
Then the officer answered.
"That's the problem, Detective. We found a vehicle outside.""
anyone inside?""
There was a pause.
Then the officer answered.
"That's the problem, Detective. We found a vehicle outside.""
"What vehicle?""
I heard the officer take a breath.
""What vehicle?""
I heard the officer take a breath.
"Mr. Carter's old vehicle. The one registered to his late wife.""
My heart stopped.
Danielle's car.
The car I had sold shortlyMr. Carter's old vehicle. The one registered to his late wife.""
My heart stopped.
Danielle's car.
The car I had sold shortly after her funeral.
I looked at the detective.
"Who is inside?""
The radio crackled again.
Then came the words that made my entire after her funeral.
I looked at the detective.
"Who is inside?""
The radio crackled again.
Then came the words that made my entire body go cold.
"Sir, we believe someone came back to retrieve the blue folder.""
I stepped body go cold.
"Sir, we believe someone came back to retrieve the blue folder.""
I stepped toward the door.
"Who?""
The officer hesitated.
Then he answered.
"We found a woman's handbag beside the entrance. It contains identification belonging to Danielle toward the door.
"Who?""
The officer hesitated.
May you like
Then he answered.
"We found a woman's handbag beside the entrance. It contains identification belonging to Danielle Carter."" Carter.""
