Chapter 13 - Vanessa's final bargain
Vanessa spent eleven days in custody before requesting to speak with Vincent.
He refused.
She requested again.
He refused again.
On the third request, Detective Price called.
"You should hear what she wants."
"Why?"
"Because she says she has evidence against Julian."
"She can give it to you."
"She says she only gives it if you are present."
Vincent almost hung up.
Price added, "She also says it concerns Grace's last phone call."
Vincent's hand tightened around the phone.
Grace's missed call.
The one wound Vanessa knew could still reach him.
He agreed.
The interview room was small.
Vanessa wore plain jail clothing.
No diamonds.
No perfect hair.
No engagement ring.
She still carried herself like someone entering a negotiation.
Vincent sat opposite her.
Detective Price remained by the wall.
Vanessa smiled faintly.
"You came."
"Talk."
"No hello?"
"Talk."
She studied him.
"How is Lily?"
Vincent's expression changed.
Vanessa raised both hands.
"Fine."
She leaned back.
"You found the codicil."
"Yes."
For the first time, annoyance crossed her face.
"Where?"
"Grace hid it better than you searched."
Vanessa almost smiled.
"That sounds like her."
The familiarity made Vincent's skin crawl.
"You don't get to speak about her like you knew her."
"I did know her."
"You threatened her."
"I tried to reason with her."
"You helped your brother steal."
Vanessa looked at Price.
"Am I here to confess or negotiate?"
Price said, "You requested the meeting."
Vanessa returned her attention to Vincent.
"Julian killed Grace."
Vincent said nothing.
"I didn't."
"Keep going."
"I knew he was angry. I knew he wanted the investigation stopped. I gave him Grace's schedule."
"So you helped."
"I thought he would confront her."
"At midnight near a remote lake house?"
Vanessa's jaw tightened.
"I didn't ask questions."
"Convenient."
"I am telling you the truth."
Vincent leaned forward.
"You spent three years looking for evidence that could connect you to my wife's death."
"I spent three years protecting myself from Julian."
"You forged documents."
"He did."
"You searched Grace's room."
"Yes."
"You threatened Lily."
Vanessa looked away.
"Yes."
The admission was quiet.
Vincent almost stood.
Price watched him.
Vanessa continued.
"I never intended to hurt her physically."
"You tied a cord around her wrist."
"I lost control."
"You told her she wouldn't eat."
"I was angry."
"You told her what happened to Grace could happen to me."
Vanessa's face hardened.
"I needed her to talk."
Vincent stared at her.
"She is five."
Vanessa looked down.
For the first time, something resembling shame appeared.
It did not move him.
She opened her hands.
"I know what I did."
"No, you know what you got caught doing."
The distinction hit.
Vanessa looked at him.
Then she said, "Grace called you from the car."
Vincent did not move.
"I know."
"She called me first."
Price straightened.
Vincent's face became empty.
"What?"
"Seven minutes before she called you."
Vanessa watched him carefully.
"I still have the recording."
"Where?"
"Safe deposit box."
"Why record it?"
"Because by then I recorded everything involving Julian."
"Play it."
"I want a deal."
Price said, "You don't negotiate with Mr. Moretti."
Vanessa ignored him.
"I testify against Julian. I provide the call. I provide account records. In return, the state reduces the conspiracy charges and drops any suggestion that I participated in murder."
Price said, "That depends on the evidence."
Vanessa looked at Vincent.
"You want the call."
He hated that she was right.
"What did Grace say?"
Vanessa leaned forward.
"She knew Julian had tampered with the car."
Vincent's breathing changed.
"How?"
"She found him near the garage the previous night."
"Why didn't she go to police?"
"She planned to."
"Why drive?"
"She thought the repair shop had fixed it."
Vincent closed his eyes briefly.
Vanessa continued.
"She called me because she believed I could stop Julian from running."
"Could you?"
"Maybe."
"Did you?"
Vanessa said nothing.
Vincent opened his eyes.
"Did you?"
"No."
The answer was barely audible.
"Why?"
"I was afraid."
Vincent stared at her.
Vanessa's eyes filled.
This time the tears seemed real.
"I had spent years doing what Julian told me. Moving money. Creating companies. Signing things. He kept saying once we had enough, we'd be safe."
"Safe from what?"
"Poverty. People like you."
Vincent almost laughed.
"People like me?"
"You've never wondered what happens when rent is due and there is nothing left."
"That doesn't excuse stealing charity money."
"I know."
"Or helping a killer."
"I know."
"You knew Grace was in danger."
"I knew Julian was angry."
"She called you."
"Yes."
"And then she called me."
"Yes."
"What did you tell her?"
Vanessa looked at the table.
"I told her she was overreacting."
Vincent felt physically sick.
"What else?"
"I told her to go home."
"Anything else?"
Vanessa's tears fell.
"I told her if she destroyed Julian, she would destroy me too."
Vincent stared.
"And Grace?"
Vanessa swallowed.
"She said, 'Then choose who you want to be.'"
Silence.
Vincent looked away.
It sounded exactly like Grace.
Not dramatic.
Not cruel.
Simple.
Then choose who you want to be.
Vanessa had chosen.
Again and again.
For three years.
She wiped her face.
"I made the wrong choice."
Vincent stood.
Vanessa looked up.
"You're leaving?"
"Yes."
"You don't want the recording?"
"Price does."
"You do too."
Vincent paused at the door.
"Once I would have traded anything to hear my wife's last words."
Vanessa waited.
"Now I know enough."
Her face changed.
Vincent continued.
"She spent her last day trying to protect our daughter. You spent three years trying to use that daughter to protect yourself."
He opened the door.
"Whatever Grace said to you belongs to the investigation now."
Vanessa whispered, "Vincent."
He looked back.
"For what it's worth, I did love you."
Vincent studied her.
Perhaps she believed it.
That was almost worse.
"No."
He shook his head.
"You loved what standing next to me allowed you to become."
He left.
Two days later, Vanessa gave Price access to the safe deposit box.
The recording was real.
Grace's voice filled the interview room.
Her final words to Vanessa were exactly as Vanessa described.
Then choose who you want to be.
After the call ended, Vanessa had contacted Julian.
Phone records proved it.
She warned him Grace knew.
Eight minutes later, Julian's vehicle left the lake area.
Twenty-three minutes later, Grace crashed.
Vanessa had not touched the brakes.
But she had protected the man who did.
She had lied for him.
Hidden records.
Destroyed evidence.
May you like
And later attempted to take control of the family Grace died protecting.
Her bargain became far less generous than she hoped.
