Chapter 10 - Vivienne's Version of the Night Elise Died)
Vivienne looked different without the red dress.
She wore gray detention clothing.
No heels.
No jewelry.
No carefully arranged hair.
Yet when Grant entered the interview room, the arrogance remained.
Then Tessa walked in behind him.
Vivienne's face changed.
"You actually brought her."
Grant sat across from her.
"You asked."
Vivienne looked at Tessa for several seconds.
"Do you know who you are?"
Tessa remained standing.
"I know exactly who I am."
"No. You don't."
Grant leaned forward.
"You said you had information about Elise."
Vivienne smiled faintly.
"I said I could prove she was murdered."
"Then prove it."
Vivienne looked toward the detective.
"I want the deal first."
The detective replied, "You haven't offered enough for a deal."
Vivienne turned back to Grant.
"Tell him."
"No."
Her expression sharpened.
"Grant."
"You assaulted my son."
"It was one mistake."
Grant's voice became quiet.
"Don't ever describe it that way again."
Vivienne looked down.
For the first time, something like shame appeared.
It vanished quickly.
She took a breath.
"Elise called me the night she died."
Grant's body stiffened.
"What time?"
"Nine thirteen."
"Police records showed no call."
"She used another phone."
"Whose?"
"Mine."
Grant frowned.
Vivienne continued.
"She had taken it earlier."
"Why?"
"Because she believed hers was being monitored."
Tessa looked at Grant.
Vivienne noticed.
"You see? She never trusted anyone."
Grant ignored the jab.
"What did she say?"
"She told me to meet her at the old Mercer property."
Grant frowned.
The old property was an abandoned house thirty miles outside the city, once owned by Grant's grandfather.
"Why there?"
"She said she had proof."
"Of what?"
"That someone had been manipulating the family trust."
Grant leaned forward.
"Who?"
Vivienne smiled sadly.
"She thought it was me."
"Was she right?"
Vivienne looked away.
"I moved money."
Grant's jaw tightened.
"For yourself?"
"At first."
The detective took notes.
Vivienne continued.
"I had debts."
"What kind?"
"Enough."
"Marcus Vale?"
Vivienne's head snapped toward him.
Grant saw fear.
"So you know."
"I know you met him."
Vivienne looked at the camera in the corner of the interview room.
Grant remembered her fear of being recorded at the house.
"Is Vale the man you're afraid of?"
Vivienne whispered, "You should be afraid of him too."
"Why?"
"Because he doesn't work for himself."
"Who does he work for?"
Vivienne did not answer.
Grant leaned closer.
"Who?"
Vivienne stared at him.
Then said, "Your family."
Grant's expression went still.
"Which member?"
Vivienne laughed bitterly.
"That's the problem. I never knew."
Grant waited.
She continued.
"Vale approached me after he discovered the transfers. I thought he was going to expose me."
"Instead?"
"He offered protection."
"For what?"
"For information."
"About me?"
"About Elise. About the trust. About Noah."
Tessa's face hardened.
"You gave it to him."
Vivienne looked at her.
"I was scared."
"You were greedy."
Vivienne flinched.
Tessa continued.
"You knew Elise was afraid."
"Yes."
"You knew someone was watching her."
"Yes."
"And you kept helping them."
"I didn't know they would kill her."
Grant's hand tightened against the table.
The detective shifted slightly.
Vivienne saw Grant's expression.
"I swear."
"Tell me about that night."
Vivienne looked down.
"Elise met me at the old property. She had documents. Recordings. Copies of messages."
"What messages?"
"Vale giving instructions."
Grant's pulse quickened.
"Did she know who hired him?"
Vivienne shook her head.
"But she thought she was close."
"What happened?"
"She told me to help her go to police."
Grant stared.
"And?"
"I agreed."
Tessa whispered, "You lied."
Vivienne looked at her.
"Yes."
Grant's voice became colder.
"Why?"
"Because Vale had something on me."
"The stolen money."
"More than that."
"What?"
Vivienne did not answer.
Grant slammed his palm against the table.
The detective stood.
Grant did not move again.
"Tell me."
Vivienne's eyes filled with tears.
"I had been feeding him information about Elise for months."
Grant felt sick.
"Why?"
"Because I thought he was working for Julian."
Grant stared.
"My brother?"
"That's what he implied."
"Did Julian know?"
"I don't know."
Grant looked at the detective.
Then back at Vivienne.
"What happened after you refused Elise?"
"She left."
"Alone?"
"Yes."
"Then how do you know she was murdered?"
Vivienne reached beneath the table.
The detective immediately tensed.
Vivienne slowly placed a folded piece of paper on the table.
The detective took it first.
It was a storage receipt.
A locker number.
"What's in it?" Grant asked.
Vivienne looked at him.
"A dash camera."
Grant froze.
"From Elise's car?"
"No."
"Whose?"
Vivienne swallowed.
"Marcus Vale's."
Silence.
"I stole it two days after Elise died."
"Why didn't you give it to police?"
"Because it would have connected me to him."
"What does it show?"
Vivienne's eyes moved toward Tessa.
"The road where Elise crashed."
Grant's chest tightened.
"And?"
Vivienne whispered, "A second car."
Grant leaned forward.
"Who was driving?"
"I couldn't see the face."
"Then what can you prove?"
Vivienne looked directly at him.
"The second car belonged to Mercer Global."
Grant stopped breathing.
The room became completely silent.
Then Tessa asked the question Grant could not.
"Who had access to it?"
Vivienne's answer came softly.
"Only three people."
She looked at Grant.
"You."
A pause.
"Julian."
May you like
Another pause.
"And Elise."
