Chapter 9 - Somebody Used Her Name
“That is not my signature.”
Khloe’s voice shook.
Harrison compared the documents.
“It’s a digital certificate tied to your identity.”
“I never bought life insurance on Richard.”
“I believe you.”
“Will anyone else?”
“That’s why we prove it.”
Marcus pointed to an IP log.
“The application came from your house.”
Khloe felt sick.
Richard had built more than a divorce case.
He had built a trap.
If something happened to him, suspicion would point to her.
Motive.
Money.
A failing marriage.
A twenty-million-dollar policy.
Harrison said, “Richard is either planning something or protecting himself from someone.”
Khloe whispered, “Vanessa.”
“Maybe.”
That afternoon, Vanessa appeared outside Harrison’s office.
Security stopped her.
She demanded to see Khloe.
Harrison said no.
Khloe said yes.
Vanessa walked into the conference room wearing oversized sunglasses.
“You look terrible,” she said.
Khloe folded her arms.
“You look desperate.”
Vanessa removed the glasses.
There was a bruise beneath one eye.
Khloe stared.
“Did Richard do that?”
Vanessa looked away.
“No.”
“Vanessa.”
“He found out.”
“About what?”
Silence.
Khloe suddenly knew.
“The pregnancy.”
Vanessa started crying.
“I was going to get pregnant.”
Khloe stared at her.
“You lied about carrying his child?”
“He was going to leave you.”
“So you invented a baby?”
“You don’t understand him.”
“I understand him better than you think.”
Vanessa wiped her face.
“He promised me everything.”
“Richard promises futures when he wants obedience.”
Vanessa looked at Khloe.
For the first time, there was no arrogance.
Only fear.
“He said you were unstable.”
“I know.”
“He said Harrison manipulated you.”
“I know.”
“He said if something happened to him, everyone would know you did it.”
Khloe went still.
“What exactly did he say?”
Vanessa swallowed.
“Last night he told me, ‘If I go down, Khloe goes down first.’”
Behind the glass wall, Harrison had heard everything.
He entered.
“Did Richard mention the life insurance policy?”
Vanessa’s face changed.
“What policy?”
Harrison watched her carefully.
“You really don’t know.”
Vanessa shook her head.
Khloe leaned forward.
“Why did Richard hit you?”
Vanessa stared at the table.
“Because I told him I was leaving.”
Harrison said, “Why now?”
She looked at him.
“Because I found a voice recording.”
“What recording?”
“He was talking to someone.”
“About?”
Vanessa’s hands began shaking.
“About the courthouse hearing.”
Harrison stopped moving.
“What did he say?”
May you like
Vanessa whispered:
“He said after Thursday, Khloe wouldn’t be a problem anymore.”
