Chapter 11 - Vanessa Comes Back)
Vanessa entered through an old wine cellar tunnel built decades earlier.
Nathan's grandfather had used it to transport deliveries during renovations.
Almost nobody knew it existed.
Leonard did.
And Vanessa had apparently learned.
She was found in Emily's art studio.
Grace saw the open door and called security.
By the time Michael reached the room, Vanessa was holding the red metal box.
She also had a knife.
Not against another person.
Against herself.
"Nobody comes closer," she said.
Michael stayed near the doorway.
"Put it down."
Vanessa laughed.
Her wedding elegance was gone.
She wore jeans, a dark jacket, and shoes covered with mud.
"Where's Nathan?"
"On his way."
"I talk to him."
"You talk after you put the knife down."
Vanessa held the red box tighter.
"You don't understand what Leonard has done."
Michael did not answer.
"He'll blame everything on me."
"You can explain that to detectives."
"I need Nathan."
Nathan arrived eight minutes later.
Police surrounded the mansion.
He entered the studio alone after refusing Vanessa's demand to remove every officer from the building.
She looked at him.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Nathan saw the woman he had loved.
Or believed he loved.
He remembered Sunday mornings.
Vacations.
The first time Olivia voluntarily held Vanessa's hand.
Every memory now felt contaminated.
Vanessa began crying.
"Nathan."
"Put the knife down."
"I loved you."
"No."
"I did."
"You studied me."
Her face twisted.
"At first."
Nathan said nothing.
"At first it was a job."
He stared at her.
Vanessa continued.
"Leonard wanted access. He needed someone close to you."
"So you volunteered."
"I needed money."
"And Emily?"
Vanessa looked away.
Nathan's voice changed.
"Look at me."
She did.
"You watched my wife die."
Vanessa shook her head.
"Adrian damaged the brakes."
"Because you told him to."
"We were supposed to scare her."
"Leonard already used that excuse."
Vanessa's eyes hardened.
"Of course he did."
Nathan stepped closer.
Michael remained just outside.
"Why didn't you call for help?"
Vanessa said nothing.
"Emily survived the crash."
Vanessa's face changed.
Nathan saw it.
"You knew."
"She was dying."
"You knew she was alive."
"There was nothing we could do."
"You could have called emergency services."
Vanessa started crying again.
"Everything was already out of control."
Nathan stared at her.
"You stood there and waited for the mother of my child to die."
Vanessa's voice rose.
"You think Leonard would have let me walk away?"
"You had three years."
"I tried."
"When?"
"I tried to make a life with you."
Nathan almost laughed.
"By sending Olivia away?"
Vanessa's expression became defensive.
"Olivia heard things."
"She's four."
"She remembered everything."
"Yes."
Vanessa looked toward the floor.
"More than Leonard expected."
Nathan suddenly understood.
"You were afraid of her."
"She kept repeating conversations."
"So you crushed her hearing aid."
"I panicked."
"You threatened my daughter."
"I never intended to hurt her."
Nathan's voice became quiet.
"You already did."
Vanessa tightened her hand around the red box.
"There's something in here you haven't seen."
Nathan's attention shifted.
"What?"
"A second compartment."
Nathan frowned.
Vanessa turned the box.
She pressed beneath the hinge.
A hidden section opened.
Inside was a small digital recorder.
Vanessa stared at it.
"I found this an hour ago."
Nathan stopped.
"Give it to me."
"No."
"Vanessa."
"If I give you this, Leonard wins."
"Why?"
"Because it proves he planned more than Emily's death."
Nathan felt cold.
"What does that mean?"
Vanessa looked directly at him.
"The honeymoon plane wasn't my idea."
Nathan stared.
"Give me the recorder."
She hesitated.
Then sirens sounded closer outside.
Vanessa panicked.
Her hand moved.
Michael entered.
Everything happened quickly.
The knife fell.
The red box hit the floor.
The recorder slid beneath Emily's old easel.
Michael restrained Vanessa.
Nathan picked up the recorder.
Vanessa screamed from the floor.
"Nathan, listen to the last file."
He looked at her.
"Why?"
May you like
She stopped struggling.
"Because Leonard never expected you to survive Italy."
