Chapter 6 - the first crack in Vanessa's story
Vanessa did not panic.
Not immediately.
That was what made her dangerous.
She looked at Lily with wounded disbelief.
"Sweetheart, you were having a nightmare."
Lily shook her head.
"I wasn't."
"You were crying before I entered."
"No."
"Lily."
Vincent stepped between them.
"Stop."
Vanessa looked at him.
"You think I wrote that?"
"I don't know what I think."
Her expression hardened.
"I came in because she screamed."
"Lily says you were here."
"She's five."
The words landed badly.
Vanessa heard it too late.
Vincent's eyes narrowed.
"Yes. She is."
"I didn't mean it like that."
"Then how did you mean it?"
Vanessa shook her head.
"This is insane."
Martha examined the writing on the wall.
The letters had been made with something sharp.
Not a pen.
Not a marker.
Vincent turned to security.
"Nobody leaves the house."
Vanessa stared.
"You cannot be serious."
"I am."
"The guests arriving tomorrow for planning meetings?"
"Cancel them."
"Vincent."
"Cancel everything."
She stepped closer.
"This engagement party matters to us."
"My daughter matters more."
Vanessa's face went still.
For the first time, she understood the balance of power had changed.
She softened.
"Of course she does."
Vincent did not respond.
Vanessa reached for Lily.
The child recoiled.
Vincent saw it.
So did Vanessa.
Something like hatred flashed across her face before she controlled it.
"Maybe I should stay at the hotel tonight."
Vincent nodded.
"Maybe."
She stared at him.
She had expected him to stop her.
He did not.
Vanessa packed a small bag.
What Vincent did not know was that her real suitcase remained hidden in the guest dressing room.
Inside were copied documents, photographs, and the floor plan she had collected over months.
She could not leave those behind.
So she made a call.
Julian answered on the first ring.
"We have a problem."
"What happened?"
"The child said I was in her room."
"Why were you?"
"I thought she had the key."
"What key?"
"The one Grace tied to the ribbon."
"Vanessa."
"I remember seeing it in a photograph."
"You said the box was at the lake."
"I said it might be."
"Then stop pushing the child."
"She remembers more than she says."
"She's five."
"Exactly. She can be frightened."
Julian went quiet.
Then, "You are losing control."
Vanessa lowered her voice.
"I'm not losing anything."
"Vincent is suspicious?"
"Temporarily."
"Then postpone the party."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because once the engagement becomes public, the trust amendments move faster."
"Only if he signs."
"He will."
"Will he?"
Vanessa looked toward the mirror.
For the first time, she was not sure.
Julian continued.
"If he does not sign before he discovers the foundation records, we're exposed."
"The records are gone."
"Grace made copies."
"Which is why I need the box."
"Then find it."
Vanessa hung up.
She stared at her reflection.
The engagement ring on her finger looked enormous.
She had spent three years building toward this life.
She had no intention of losing it to a dead woman and a frightened child.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Vincent sat beside Lily's bed.
Martha had moved the child temporarily to another room.
Vincent waited until security finished checking the windows and hallway.
Then he dismissed everyone except Martha.
"Lily."
She looked at him.
"No one is angry with you."
She nodded.
"Do you understand?"
Another nod.
"I need you to tell me why Vanessa was in your room."
Lily twisted the blanket.
"She asks about Mommy."
"What does she ask?"
"The box."
"What box?"
"The blue one."
"Where is it?"
"I don't know."
"Did Mommy show it to you?"
A nod.
"When?"
"When I was little."
Vincent almost smiled at the phrase.
She was five.
But he did not.
"What was inside?"
"Treasure."
"What kind?"
"I don't know."
"Did Mommy give you a key?"
Lily froze.
Vincent saw it.
"A key?"
Her eyes filled.
Martha sat beside her.
"It's all right."
Lily whispered, "Vanessa said not to tell."
Vincent had to force himself to stay calm.
"Tell me anyway."
Lily crawled off the bed.
She walked to a wooden dollhouse Grace had given her.
Then she turned it around.
On the back, near the tiny chimney, was a narrow hidden compartment.
Vincent stared.
Lily inserted her finger and pulled.
A small brass key fell onto her palm.
It was tied to a faded blue ribbon.
Martha covered her mouth.
Vincent took the key.
"Mommy put this here?"
Lily nodded.
"She said it opens treasure."
"Do you know where?"
"No."
Vincent examined it.
Small.
Old.
Not for a modern door.
Possibly a lockbox.
Martha said, "The lake house."
Vincent looked at her.
Lily looked frightened again.
"No."
Vincent knelt.
"What?"
"Not the lake."
"Then where?"
Lily shook her head.
"I don't remember."
Vincent kissed her forehead.
"That's okay."
He stood.
Martha followed him into the hall.
"What now?"
"Now I find out why my dead wife hid a key in our daughter's dollhouse."
His phone rang.
Edward Hale.
Vincent answered.
"Tell me you found nothing."
Edward did not.
Instead he said, "Vincent, I need you to come to my office."
"Why?"
"I found three documents with your signature."
"I sign hundreds."
"You didn't sign these."
Vincent went still.
"How do you know?"
"Because one of them transfers temporary control of Lily's trust to Vanessa in the event that you are medically incapacitated."
Vincent looked through the open doorway at his daughter.
Edward continued.
"And there is something else."
"What?"
"A life insurance amendment."
"On me?"
"No."
May you like
Edward paused.
"On Lily."
