Chapter 13 - VANESSA TALKS
Vanessa finally asked for a deal.
Not because she was sorry.
Because she was scared.
Her lawyer arranged the meeting.
Dad, Daniel, two investigators, and I sat behind one side of a conference table.
Vanessa entered in county-issued clothing.
No silk dress.
No diamonds.
No perfume.
She looked younger without the performance.
She sat.
Then stared at me.
“You look good.”
I almost laughed.
“Don't.”
She shrugged.
Her lawyer whispered something.
Vanessa sighed.
“Fine.”
She began.
David had recruited her two years earlier.
At first, she was supposed to get close to Adrian and learn how unstable Vale Capital really was.
Then she discovered Adrian liked her.
So she pushed.
Compliments.
Late meetings.
Private dinners.
Messages.
Then an affair.
“And the baby?” I asked.
“David's idea.”
My stomach tightened.
“He said Adrian wouldn't divorce you without a reason that made him feel heroic.”
I frowned.
“Heroic?”
“He wanted to believe he was choosing his future child over a failed marriage.”
That sounded exactly like Adrian.
Vanessa continued.
“The fake pregnancy gave him a story.”
“And the beneficiary document?”
Her eyes moved away.
“David wanted insurance.”
“Meaning my death.”
Her lawyer interrupted.
“My client did not agree to violence against Mrs. Vale.”
I leaned forward.
“Did David?”
Vanessa looked at me.
“He talked about accidents.”
Dad's jaw tightened.
“What kind of accidents?”
“Car brakes. Medication. A fall.”
I felt my skin go cold.
Vanessa continued quickly.
“I told him no.”
“Why?”
She gave a strange laugh.
“I steal money. I sleep with married men. I'm not pretending I'm a good person.”
She looked at me.
“But murder wasn't what I signed up for.”
For the first time, I believed her.
Not because she was decent.
Because she was selfish.
Murder carried too much risk.
“Why run to Adrian's safe?”
“I needed the flash drive.”
“To destroy it?”
“To trade it.”
“For what?”
“My way out.”
Dad asked, “Did David order the archive fire?”
“Yes.”
“Did he sabotage Elizabeth's plane twelve years ago?”
Vanessa hesitated.
“He told me he did.”
Mom closed her eyes.
Even after twelve years, confirmation hurt.
Then Vanessa looked at me.
“There is something else.”
“What?”
“Your accident.”
I frowned.
“What accident?”
“Last summer.”
I remembered immediately.
My brakes had failed on the highway.
I had hit a guardrail.
The mechanic called it a defective hydraulic line.
I had walked away with bruises.
Vanessa's eyes held mine.
“That wasn't mechanical failure.”
Dad stood so fast the chair scraped backward.
I couldn't speak.
“Who?” I whispered.
Vanessa looked down.
“David ordered it.”
My throat tightened.
“And Adrian?”
She looked at me again.
“He knew someone had tampered with your car.”
Everything inside me stopped.
“No.”
“He found out afterward.”
“And he didn't tell me?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because David threatened to expose the forged trust documents.”
I stared through the glass wall at nothing.
My husband had known someone tried to kill me.
And he stayed silent to protect his company.
Then the conference room door opened.
An investigator entered.
“Mr. Sterling?”
Dad turned.
“We have David.”
Dad exhaled.
“Where?”
The investigator hesitated.
“At the airport.”
“Trying to flee?”
“No.”
May you like
He looked at me.
“He was waiting for Claire.”
