Chapter 13 - VANESSA’S FALL
Vanessa didn’t hit the ground.
A lower balcony caught her.
She broke her arm and fractured two ribs.
She survived.
Ethan stood outside the ambulance while officers gathered pages from Sophie’s notebook.
Some were gone forever.
Enough remained.
Crayon drawings.
A woman beside a staircase.
A bottle.
A crying child inside a dark rectangle.
A man with a scar.
A cup beside the word DADDY.
It wasn’t evidence in the traditional sense.
But together with recordings, testimony, medical reports, financial fraud, and Vanessa’s own confession…
It was devastating.
Three days later Hale met Ethan at the hospital.
“We reopened Emily’s crash investigation.”
Ethan barely breathed.
“And?”
“Vehicle records show the brake system had been repaired after the accident because investigators originally believed impact caused the damage.”
“But?”
“New forensic review suggests tampering occurred before impact.”
Ethan stared through the window.
Sophie was laughing with Rachel.
“So Vanessa killed Emily.”
“Prosecutors believe there’s enough to charge her.”
Ethan sat down.
He expected satisfaction.
He felt none.
Only grief.
Emily had not died because the universe was cruel.
She died because someone had chosen her.
Targeted her.
Studied her.
Removed her.
And Ethan had later married that person.
Hale sat beside him.
“Vanessa planned to meet you long before you met officially.”
Ethan nodded.
“She researched your business.”
“Money.”
“Partly.”
“What else?”
“Lifestyle.”
Ethan looked at him.
“She wanted your life.”
Hale nodded.
“She created the opening.”
The sentence haunted Ethan.
That evening Sophie asked a question.
“Daddy?”
“Yeah, bug?”
“Is Vanessa coming home?”
“No.”
“Ever?”
Ethan swallowed.
“No.”
Sophie was quiet.
Then she whispered, “Will you go away again?”
Ethan pulled her close.
“Not like before.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
“Even for work?”
“I might have to travel sometimes.”
Her face fell.
“But never without making sure you’re safe.”
She thought.
Then nodded.
“Okay.”
Ethan kissed her forehead.
Sophie suddenly looked toward the door.
A uniformed officer was speaking with Hale.
Something was wrong.
Ethan stepped outside.
“What happened?”
Hale’s jaw was tight.
“Cole changed his story.”
“So?”
“He says Vanessa wasn’t the person who first approached him about Daniel.”
Ethan frowned.
“Who did?”
Hale handed him a printed photograph.
An older man.
Gray hair.
Expensive suit.
Ethan recognized him immediately.
His former business partner.
Richard Vaughn.
“What does Richard have to do with this?”
Hale’s answer turned Ethan’s stomach.
May you like
“Apparently, a lot.”
And the case Ethan thought was nearly over opened one final door.
