Chapter 14 - The Last Person She Called
Eddie’s statement did not solve everything.
It gave investigators places to look.
A repair receipt.
A payment.
An old message Richard had sent him.
Eddie had kept that message because he believed the cash bonus had been used to buy his silence, and he had been afraid of losing the only proof.
Richard had written:
No questions about the damage. Bring it back clean.
When questioned about the message, Richard changed his account again.
This time, his lawyer contacted the prosecutor.
Nathan learned the details gradually, through meetings and calls that left him unable to eat.
Vanessa had followed Claire from the house.
She wanted the documents.
She had pulled alongside, called repeatedly, and tried to force Claire to stop.
There had been contact between the vehicles.
Claire had lost control.
Richard claimed Vanessa called him afterward, saying Claire had swerved.
Then Claire called.
Alive.
Frightened.
Asking for help.
Richard had understood more than he first admitted.
He knew roughly where she was.
He knew she was hurt.
But Vanessa had told him the papers were in the car.
If police found them, she said, both of them would go to prison.
So Richard drove toward the road.
And before he called for help, he looked for the documents.
Nathan heard that part in Shaw’s office.
He stood without meaning to.
Maria, seated beside him, reached for his sleeve.
“Sit down, Nathan.”
He couldn’t.
“My father went to the crash?”
Shaw’s expression was grave.
“That is his latest statement. We’re checking every part of it.”
“And he looked for papers?”
“Yes.”
Nathan stared at the wall.
A cheap clock ticked above a cabinet.
He remembered Richard at the funeral, one hand on his shoulder.
You have to be strong for Lily.
He remembered thanking him.
“Did she know he was there?”
“We don’t know.”
The answer hurt almost as much as everything else.
Nathan wanted certainty.
The truth refused to give him more than it had.
That afternoon, Vanessa was arrested.
Financial offenses.
Witness intimidation allegations.
Charges connected to Claire’s death followed after further review.
Richard was arrested too.
Nathan watched neither arrest in person.
He was at Beth’s kitchen table when Lily asked him to cut the crust off her sandwich.
His hands shook so badly Beth took the knife.
That evening, Shaw called again.
They had searched Vanessa’s personal storage locker.
There were copies of Nathan’s schedules.
Old bank records.
Printouts from public announcements about the company.
And a folder dated months before the grief fundraiser where Nathan believed they had first met.
On the cover, Vanessa had written his name.
May you like
Beneath it were two words.
FAMILY ACCESS.
