Chapter 11 - Vanessa's Truth
Vanessa stood at the end of the hallway.
She wasn't angry.
She looked terrified.
Rachel stared at her.
"How did you find me?"
Vanessa ignored the question.
"Did he contact you?"
"Who?"
"Your father."
Rachel's silence answered.
Vanessa closed her eyes.
"I knew it."
Daniel stepped between them.
"Stay away from Rachel."
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"You still think I'm the enemy."
"Are you?"
Vanessa looked at him.
"I don't know anymore."
Rachel stepped around Daniel.
"Tell me the truth."
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
"I don't know the whole truth."
"Then tell me what you know."
Vanessa looked at the photograph in Rachel's hand.
"You found the letter."
"Yes."
Vanessa nodded.
"I knew he was alive."
Rachel's heart tightened.
"For how long?"
"Three years."
"Three years?"
"He contacted me."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because he told me you would be killed if I did."
Rachel stared.
"By whom?"
Vanessa looked toward Daniel.
"His father."
Daniel's face hardened.
"My father is dead."
"That doesn't mean his network died with him."
Daniel took a step forward.
"You've been using Rachel's identity."
Vanessa shook her head.
"No."
"The accounts."
"I didn't create them."
"The company."
"That was someone else."
Rachel interrupted.
"Who?"
Vanessa looked directly at her.
"Your husband."
Rachel froze.
Daniel turned pale.
"What?"
Vanessa continued.
"Daniel created the shell company."
Rachel stared at him.
"Is that true?"
Daniel didn't answer.
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"He thought he could control the money."
Rachel turned to Daniel.
"Tell me."
Daniel closed his eyes.
"I created the company."
Rachel felt betrayed again.
"Why?"
"To move the money somewhere safe."
"Without telling me?"
"Yes."
"Why put Vanessa's name on it?"
"I didn't."
Vanessa shook her head.
"Someone altered the registration."
Daniel looked at her.
"Who?"
Vanessa stared at Rachel.
"That's what your father has been trying to tell you."
Rachel's voice trembled.
"Who?"
Vanessa reached into her coat.
She pulled out a small key.
"The second file."
Daniel stepped forward.
"Where is it?"
Vanessa held the key tightly.
"Somewhere neither of you would think to look."
Rachel frowned.
"Where?"
Vanessa looked at her.
"In the house you grew up in."
Rachel's blood ran cold.
"My father's house?"
"What's left of it."
Rachel remembered the old property.
It had been sold after his supposed death.
She hadn't returned in years.
Vanessa continued.
"Your father hid the file before he disappeared."
"Why haven't you taken it?"
"Because I don't know the combination."
Rachel stared at the key.
"What combination?"
Vanessa's expression changed.
"Your birthday."
Rachel frowned.
"My birthday?"
"Not the date."
"What then?"
Vanessa looked at Daniel.
"Your father's name."
Daniel shook his head.
"That's impossible."
Vanessa whispered.
"Try it."
Rachel looked at Daniel.
Then at the key.
Something inside her told her the truth was waiting there.
But before anyone could move, the lights went out.
A gunshot sounded somewhere outside.
Everyone froze.
Clara screamed.
Daniel grabbed Rachel's hand.
Vanessa shouted.
"Down!"
The hallway plunged into darkness.
May you like
And somewhere in the building, a man calmly said:
"Finally."
