Chapter 8: The Woman## Chapter 8: The Woman Behind the Wheel Behind the Wheelchair
Adrian listenedchair
Adrian listened to Vanessa's breathing on the other end of the phone.
"Where to Vanessa's breathing on the other end of the phone.
"Where is my father?""
"That's not how this works, darling.""
"Don't call me that.""
A soft is my father?""
"That's not how this works, darling.""
"Don't call me that.""
A soft laugh followed.
"You always were difficult when you didn't get your way.""
Adrian looked toward Emma.
She was standing beside Daniel laugh followed.
"You always were difficult when you didn't get your way.""
Adrian looked toward Emma.
She was standing beside Daniel's hospital bed, watching him carefully.
"Tell me where Edward is.""
"Come to the old Blackwood residence's hospital bed, watching him carefully.
"Tell me where Edward is.""
"Come to the old Blackwood residence. The house on Ashford Lane.""
"Why?""
"Because I have something that. The house on Ashford Lane.""
"Why?""
"Because I have something that belongs to you.""
"What?""
"The truth about your accident.""
Adrian's expression hardened.
"I already know what happened.""
"No, Adrian. You know what Daniel Carter wants belongs to you.""
"What?""
"The truth about your accident.""
Adrian's expression hardened.
"I already know what happened.""
"No, Adrian. You know what Daniel Carter wants you to believe.""
He glanced at Emma.
"What are you talking about?""
Vanessa lowered you to believe.""
He glanced at Emma.
"What are you talking about?""
Vanessa lowered her voice.
"Your father didn't arrange the accident. Edward didn't arrange it either.""
"Then who did?""
A pause.
"Come alone.""
The call her voice.
"Your father didn't arrange the accident. Edward didn't arrange it either.""
"Then who did?""
A pause.
"Come alone.""
The call ended.
Adrian stood motionless.
Emma approached him.
"You're not seriously considering going.""
"She says she knows where Edward is.""
" ended.
Adrian stood motionless.
Emma approached him.
"You're not seriously considering going.""
"She says she knows where Edward is.""
"She also threatened my father.""
"That's why I need to go.""
"No. That'sShe also threatened my father.""
"That's why I need to go.""
"No. That's why you need to call the police.""
Adrian shook his head.
"Vanessa has spent years building relationships with people inside why you need to call the police.""
Adrian shook his head.
"Vanessa has spent years building relationships with people inside the company. If we involve the wrong person, Edward will disappear again.""
Emma folded the company. If we involve the wrong person, Edward will disappear again.""
Emma folded her arms.
"And if you go alone, you'll disappear with him.""
Adrian looked at Daniel.
His father-in her arms.
"And if you go alone, you'll disappear with him.""
Adrian looked at Daniel.
His father-in-law-to-be, in another life, would have been the man who taught him how to repair a car engine.
-law-to-be, in another life, would have been the man who taught him how to repair a car engine.
Instead, Daniel had spent eleven years imprisoned by the consequences of a secret Adrian had helped create.
"I won'tInstead, Daniel had spent eleven years imprisoned by the consequences of a secret Adrian had helped create.
"I won't let anyone hurt him again," Adrian said.
Emma stepped closer.
"Then stop making decisions without telling the people you're trying to protect.""
He let anyone hurt him again," Adrian said.
Emma stepped closer.
"Then stop making decisions without telling the people you're trying to protect.""
He looked at her.
For once, he didn't argue.
"You're right.""
She seemed surprised.
Adrian turned toward Marcus.
"Get the police involved, looked at her.
For once, he didn't argue.
"You're right.""
She seemed surprised.
Adrian turned toward Marcus.
"Get the police involved, but keep the operation quiet. I want the Ashford residence surrounded before I arrive.""
Marcus nodded.
"And you?""
Adrian looked at Emma.
"I'm but keep the operation quiet. I want the Ashford residence surrounded before I arrive.""
Marcus nodded.
"And you?""
Adrian looked at Emma.
"I'm not going alone.""
The old Blackwood residence stood on a quiet road surrounded by overgrown gardens.
It had once been the family's summer home.
Ad not going alone.""
The old Blackwood residence stood on a quiet road surrounded by overgrown gardens.
It had once been the family's summer home.
Adrian remembered spending childhood summers there with his parents. He remembered his mother reading beside the fireplace and his father teaching him chess at the dining table.
He alsorian remembered spending childhood summers there with his parents. He remembered his mother reading beside the fireplace and his father teaching him chess at the dining table.
He also remembered the night his uncle Edward supposedly died.
The family had received a telephone call.
There had been a car remembered the night his uncle Edward supposedly died.
The family had received a telephone call.
There had been a car fire.
No body had ever been recovered.
Richard had told Adrian not to ask questions.
Now, eleven years after fire.
No body had ever been recovered.
Richard had told Adrian not to ask questions.
Now, eleven years after the accident that had changed his life, Adrian was returning to the house where his family had hidden its darkest secrets.
Emma sat the accident that had changed his life, Adrian was returning to the house where his family had hidden its darkest secrets.
Emma sat beside him in the passenger seat.
"Do you recognize the place?""
"Every inch of it.""
"Did Vanessa come here often?""
"Before the beside him in the passenger seat.
"Do you recognize the place?""
"Every inch of it.""
"Did Vanessa come here often?""
"Before the accident, yes.""
"Did you ever suspect her?""
Adrian shook his head.
"She knew my passwords. She attended family meetings. She had accident, yes.""
"Did you ever suspect her?""
Adrian shook his head.
"She knew my passwords. She attended family meetings. She had access to financial records. I trusted her with everything.""
Emma looked out the window.
"That's what access to financial records. I trusted her with everything.""
Emma looked out the window.
"That's what makes betrayal dangerous.""
He glanced at her.
"Do you think I deserved it?""
She didn't answer immediately.
Then she said, "I makes betrayal dangerous.""
He glanced at her.
"Do you think I deserved it?""
She didn't answer immediately.
Then she said, "I think you deserve the truth. Whether you deserve forgiveness is something else.""
Adrian accepted the words.
A few minutes later, the think you deserve the truth. Whether you deserve forgiveness is something else.""
Adrian accepted the words.
A few minutes later, the car stopped outside the entrance.
Marcus's voice came through the communication device.
"Perimeter secured. Two officers are positioned car stopped outside the entrance.
Marcus's voice came through the communication device.
"Perimeter secured. Two officers are positioned behind the eastern wall. Another team is approaching from the rear.""
Adrian stepped out.
Emma behind the eastern wall. Another team is approaching from the rear.""
Adrian stepped out.
Emma followed.
He turned toward her.
"Stay close.""
"I know how to take care of myself.""
"I know.""
They entered the house.
The front door was followed.
He turned toward her.
"Stay close.""
"I know how to take care of myself.""
"I know.""
They entered the house.
The front door was unlocked.
Inside, the furniture was covered with white sheets. Dust floated through the pale light unlocked.
Inside, the furniture was covered with white sheets. Dust floated through the pale light entering from the windows.
A woman's voice came from upstairs.
"You're late, Adrian.""
Vanessa entering from the windows.
A woman's voice came from upstairs.
"You're late, Adrian.""
Vanessa appeared at the top of the staircase.
She was wearing a black dress and holding a glass of wine.
Her burgundy gown from appeared at the top of the staircase.
She was wearing a black dress and holding a glass of wine.
Her burgundy gown from the charity gala was gone.
She looked calm.
Almost amused.
"Emma," she said.
"I see the charity gala was gone.
She looked calm.
Almost amused.
"Emma," she said.
"I see you've brought your little hero complex along.""
Emma ignored the insult.
"Where is Edward?""
Vanessa took a you've brought your little hero complex along.""
Emma ignored the insult.
"Where is Edward?""
Vanessa took a sip of wine.
"Always straight to business.""
Adrian stepped forward.
"You said sip of wine.
"Always straight to business.""
Adrian stepped forward.
"You said you had information.""
"I do.""
"Then talk.""
Vanessa descended the staircase slowly.
"You you had information.""
"I do.""
"Then talk.""
Vanessa descended the staircase slowly.
"You look different standing up.""
"You're not the first person to notice.""
"Seven look different standing up.""
"You're not the first person to notice.""
"Seven months in that chair. You played the part beautifully.""
Adrian stared at her.
"Did you arrange the wheelchair incident?""
Vanessa tilted months in that chair. You played the part beautifully.""
Adrian stared at her.
"Did you arrange the wheelchair incident?""
Vanessa tilted her head.
"What incident?""
"The brakes.""
"Oh, Adrian. You really think her head.
"What incident?""
"The brakes.""
"Oh, Adrian. You really think I would risk killing you in front of fifty witnesses?""
"You already tried to I would risk killing you in front of fifty witnesses?""
"You already tried to kill me once.""
Her expression changed.
For a brief moment, something ugly appeared behind her eyes.
Then she kill me once.""
Her expression changed.
For a brief moment, something ugly appeared behind her eyes.
Then she smiled again.
"You should be thanking me.""
Emma stepped forward.
"Thanking you?""
Van smiled again.
"You should be thanking me.""
Emma stepped forward.
"Thanking you?""
Vanessa looked at her.
"Do you have any idea how much money was involved?""
"I don't care about youressa looked at her.
"Do you have any idea how much money was involved?""
"I don't care about your money.""
"Of course you don't. You're the daughter of a mechanic.""
Emma's jaw tightened.
"At least my money.""
"Of course you don't. You're the daughter of a mechanic.""
Emma's jaw tightened.
"At least my father had the courage to stand up to people like you.""
Vanessa's glass stopped halfway to her lips father had the courage to stand up to people like you.""
Vanessa's glass stopped halfway to her lips.
"Your father was a fool.""
"He was a better person than you will ever be.""
Vanessa suddenly threw the wine.
"Your father was a fool.""
"He was a better person than you will ever be.""
Vanessa suddenly threw the wineglass against the wall.
It shattered.
"Your father ruined everything!""
Adrian watchedglass against the wall.
It shattered.
"Your father ruined everything!""
Adrian watched her carefully.
"What did he discover?""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"He discovered that the Blackwood family was moving her carefully.
"What did he discover?""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"He discovered that the Blackwood family was moving money through offshore companies. He found documents connecting Richard, Edward, and several politicians to the accounts.""
"Why did you help them?""
"Because they money through offshore companies. He found documents connecting Richard, Edward, and several politicians to the accounts.""
"Why did you help them?""
"Because they promised me a future.""
Adrian looked at her.
"You had one with me.""
"I promised me a future.""
Adrian looked at her.
"You had one with me.""
"I had a future as your wife. A woman sitting beside a man who couldn't even walk to his own bedroom.""
Emma's expression hardened.
Van had a future as your wife. A woman sitting beside a man who couldn't even walk to his own bedroom.""
Emma's expression hardened.
Vanessa continued.
"I spent years waiting for you to become the man your father wantedessa continued.
"I spent years waiting for you to become the man your father wanted. Then the accident happened, and suddenly I was expected to spend the rest of my life pushing your. Then the accident happened, and suddenly I was expected to spend the rest of my life pushing your wheelchair.""
Adrian said nothing.
"So I made a choice.""
"You chose money.""
"I chose survival wheelchair.""
Adrian said nothing.
"So I made a choice.""
"You chose money.""
"I chose survival.""
"No," Adrian replied.
"You chose to destroy everyone who stood in your way.""
Vanessa smiled.
"That's what powerful.""
"No," Adrian replied.
"You chose to destroy everyone who stood in your way.""
Vanessa smiled.
"That's what powerful people do.""
Emma looked around the room.
"Where is Edward?""
Vanessa's expression became colder.
"He's downstairs.""
Adrian followed people do.""
Emma looked around the room.
"Where is Edward?""
Vanessa's expression became colder.
"He's downstairs.""
Adrian followed her gaze toward a closed door beneath the staircase.
"Take us to him.""
"Not her gaze toward a closed door beneath the staircase.
"Take us to him.""
"Not yet.""
She reached into her handbag and removed a photograph.
She handed it to Adrian.
It showed him yet.""
She reached into her handbag and removed a photograph.
She handed it to Adrian.
It showed him sitting in his wheelchair at the gala.
The image had been taken moments sitting in his wheelchair at the gala.
The image had been taken moments before Emma stopped the chair from falling.
On the back was a handwritten message.
*The second accident before Emma stopped the chair from falling.
On the back was a handwritten message.
The second accident must succeed.
Adrian looked at her.
"You planned another one.""
Vanessa shrugged must succeed.*
Adrian looked at her.
"You planned another one.""
Vanessa shrugged.
"I was considering my options.""
"Who was supposed to push me?""
She.
"I was considering my options.""
"Who was supposed to push me?""
She smiled.
"Perhaps the person who saved you.""
Emma felt the blood drain from her face.
Adrian stepped between them.
"Don't you dare.""
Vanessa laughed.
"You're smiled.
"Perhaps the person who saved you.""
Emma felt the blood drain from her face.
Adrian stepped between them.
"Don't you dare.""
Vanessa laughed.
"You're still so protective of her.""
"She's not part of this.""
"She became part of it when she started still so protective of her.""
"She's not part of this.""
"She became part of it when she started asking questions.""
Vanessa reached into her handbag again.
This time, she removed a small remote asking questions.""
Vanessa reached into her handbag again.
This time, she removed a small remote control.
Adrian recognized it immediately.
It was a security access device.
"What does that control?""
"The control.
Adrian recognized it immediately.
It was a security access device.
"What does that control?""
"The basement.""
She pressed a button.
A mechanical sound echoed through the house.
The floor beneath the staircase shifted slightly basement.""
She pressed a button.
A mechanical sound echoed through the house.
The floor beneath the staircase shifted slightly.
A hidden panel opened.
Adrian looked toward the darkness below.
"Edward?""
Vanessa nodded.
"Your uncle has been waiting.""
The.
A hidden panel opened.
Adrian looked toward the darkness below.
"Edward?""
Vanessa nodded.
"Your uncle has been waiting.""
The basement smelled of damp wood and old cigarette smoke.
Adrian descended first.
Emma followed, keeping one hand near the wall.
At the bottom was a large room containing basement smelled of damp wood and old cigarette smoke.
Adrian descended first.
Emma followed, keeping one hand near the wall.
At the bottom was a large room containing a desk, several monitors, and a steel cabinet.
A man sat behind the desk.
His silver hair was neatly combed.
His suit was immaculate.
Edward Blackwood looked a desk, several monitors, and a steel cabinet.
A man sat behind the desk.
His silver hair was neatly combed.
His suit was immaculate.
Edward Blackwood looked almost exactly as he had in the photograph.
"Adrian," he said warmly.
"You've finally come home.""
almost exactly as he had in the photograph.
"Adrian," he said warmly.
"You've finally come home.""
Adrian stopped.
"Where is my father?""
Edward gestured toward a chair.
"SitAdrian stopped.
"Where is my father?""
Edward gestured toward a chair.
"Sit down.""
"I'll stand.""
Edward smiled.
"Still stubborn.""
Emma moved beside Adrian.
"Where is Daniel's medical file?""
Edward looked at her.
" down.""
"I'll stand.""
Edward smiled.
"Still stubborn.""
Emma moved beside Adrian.
"Where is Daniel's medical file?""
Edward looked at her.
"Ah. The daughter.""
"Answer me.""
"Your father is alive because IAh. The daughter.""
"Answer me.""
"Your father is alive because I allowed it.""
Emma clenched her fists.
"You kept him imprisoned.""
"I kept him quiet.""
"Why?""
"Because he knew too much.""
Adrian approached allowed it.""
Emma clenched her fists.
"You kept him imprisoned.""
"I kept him quiet.""
"Why?""
"Because he knew too much.""
Adrian approached the desk.
"Where is Richard?""
Edward's expression changed.
"Your father is dead.""
"Then why did you use his identity to move the desk.
"Where is Richard?""
Edward's expression changed.
"Your father is dead.""
"Then why did you use his identity to move Daniel?""
"Because Richard's name opened doors.""
Adrian stared at him.
"Did you Daniel?""
"Because Richard's name opened doors.""
Adrian stared at him.
"Did you kill him?""
Edward slowly removed his glasses.
"Your father was a sentimental old man. He believed he could repair everything with a few apologies kill him?""
Edward slowly removed his glasses.
"Your father was a sentimental old man. He believed he could repair everything with a few apologies and a generous inheritance.""
"Did you kill him?""
Edward leaned forward.
"I gave him a choice. and a generous inheritance.""
"Did you kill him?""
Edward leaned forward.
"I gave him a choice. He could step aside, or he could lose everything.""
"And?""
"He chose badly.""
Emma looked He could step aside, or he could lose everything.""
"And?""
"He chose badly.""
Emma looked toward the steel cabinet.
"What's inside?""
Edward smiled.
"Your father's original police report.""
Adrian's attention sharpened.
"Give it to me.""
Edward opened a drawer and toward the steel cabinet.
"What's inside?""
Edward smiled.
"Your father's original police report.""
Adrian's attention sharpened.
"Give it to me.""
Edward opened a drawer and removed a thick folder.
He placed it on the desk.
"Before you read it, I want you to understand something. Your father signed removed a thick folder.
He placed it on the desk.
"Before you read it, I want you to understand something. Your father signed the documents that transferred Daniel to Ravenhurst. He was not innocent.""
Adrian opened the folder.
The the documents that transferred Daniel to Ravenhurst. He was not innocent.""
Adrian opened the folder.
The first page contained the original incident report.
The second contained a photograph of the damaged vehicle.
The third contained a statement first page contained the original incident report.
The second contained a photograph of the damaged vehicle.
The third contained a statement signed by Richard Blackwood.
Adrian read it.
Then he stopped.
His face turned pale signed by Richard Blackwood.
Adrian read it.
Then he stopped.
His face turned pale.
Emma looked over his shoulder.
"What is it?""
Adrian slowly raised his eyes.
The statement contained a sentence that neither of them expected.
.
Emma looked over his shoulder.
"What is it?""
Adrian slowly raised his eyes.
The statement contained a sentence that neither of them expected.
The driver responsible for the vehicle's mechanical failure was authorized by the family representative, Vanessa Blackwood.
Adrian looked toward the staircase.
Vanessa was goneThe driver responsible for the vehicle's mechanical failure was authorized by the family representative, Vanessa Blackwood.
Adrian looked toward the staircase.
Vanessa was gone.
Edward smiled.
"She was never your fiancée, Adrian.""
He leaned back.
"She.
Edward smiled.
"She was never your fiancée, Adrian.""
He leaned back.
"She was the person who made sure you survived the first accident.""
Adrian's voice dropped.
"What?""
Edward's was the person who made sure you survived the first accident.""
Adrian's voice dropped.
"What?""
Edward's smile widened.
"And the person who was supposed to make sure you didn't survive the second.""
Before smile widened.
"And the person who was supposed to make sure you didn't survive the second.""
Before Adrian could respond, every monitor in the basement switched on.
A live camera feed appeared.
It showed Daniel Adrian could respond, every monitor in the basement switched on.
A live camera feed appeared.
It showed Daniel Carter lying in his hospital bed.
A masked man entered the room.
Emma screamed.
"NO Carter lying in his hospital bed.
A masked man entered the room.
Emma screamed.
"NO!""
The man pulled a pillow from beneath his arm.
Then the screen went black.
Edward stood.
"Now!""
The man pulled a pillow from beneath his arm.
Then the screen went black.
Edward stood.
"Now you understand why you should have stayed away.""
Adrian lunged across the desk.
But Edward you understand why you should have stayed away.""
Adrian lunged across the desk.
But Edward pressed a button beneath it.
The basement door slammed shut.
May you like
And somewhere above them, an engine started.
Vanessa had escaped.
