Chapter 9 - Vanessa Comes Back
Claire called Ethan again.
No answer.
She called Brooks.
No answer.
Her heart raced.
A nurse entered.
"Everything okay?"
"No."
Claire pushed the blanket aside.
"Please get security."
The nurse frowned.
"What's happening?"
"My family."
That was enough.
Hospital security had already been briefed.
Within a minute, two guards stood outside the room.
Claire called Ethan again.
This time he answered.
His voice was breathless.
"We're fine."
Claire closed her eyes.
"What happened?"
"Power cut."
"Who did it?"
"Working on that."
"Brooks?"
"Here."
The video returned.
Flashlights moved through the underground room.
Brooks appeared.
"Property security system was shut down remotely."
Claire knew who had access.
"Richard."
"Possibly."
"Where is he?"
"Officers are checking."
A sound came from Ethan's end.
Someone shouting aboveground.
Brooks turned.
"Stay here."
She went up the stairs.
Ethan followed despite her order.
Claire watched the screen shake.
They reached the garden.
Police flashlights swept toward the rear gate.
A figure stood there.
Vanessa.
She was still wearing the cream engagement dress.
The stain on the skirt had dried dark.
Her hair was disheveled.
She was crying.
Two officers ordered her to show her hands.
She did.
"Don't shoot."
Nobody had drawn a weapon.
Brooks approached.
"Where have you been?"
Vanessa looked toward Ethan.
He did not move closer.
"I need to talk to Claire."
Claire's stomach tightened.
Ethan lifted the phone.
"She's here."
Vanessa saw her sister on the screen.
For a moment, all her anger disappeared.
She looked like the girl Claire remembered at fourteen.
Lost.
Terrified.
"Claire."
"What did you do with the archive?"
Vanessa looked down.
"Dad emptied it."
"When?"
"Yesterday."
"Why?"
"He knew you'd found the key."
Claire went cold.
"How?"
"I told him."
Ethan closed his eyes.
Claire's voice hardened.
"Why?"
"Because he said you were going to take everything."
"He lied."
"I know."
Claire said nothing.
Vanessa looked toward the open cellar hatch.
"You found Grandma's box."
"Yes."
Vanessa began crying harder.
"He told me after the party, Ethan's firm would approve the restructure. Then you'd be declared temporarily incompetent. I would hold your proxy."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
Vanessa spoke faster.
"Dad said once the company stabilized, we'd reverse it."
Claire almost laughed.
"You believed him?"
"I wanted to."
"That's not the same thing."
"I know."
"Did you know about the coffin before today?"
"No."
"You suggested it."
Vanessa flinched.
"I panicked."
"You hit me."
"I know."
"You helped them put me inside."
"I know."
Claire's voice cracked.
"You heard me begging."
Vanessa lowered her head.
"I know."
There was no excuse.
No misunderstanding.
Claire was grateful she did not try to invent one.
Vanessa looked back at the phone.
"You should hate me."
"I don't know what I feel."
"That's worse."
"Probably."
Ethan shifted.
"Why did you come back?"
Vanessa wiped her face.
"Because Dad is going to run."
Brooks stepped closer.
"Where?"
"I don't know. But he has cash. Passports. He keeps them in a safe at the lake property."
Claire stared.
"Mom?"
Vanessa's mouth trembled.
"She's with him."
Claire had expected it.
Still, something inside her sank.
Brooks asked, "Did they tell you to do anything tonight?"
Vanessa nodded.
"Destroy Grandma's recordings."
"Did you?"
"No."
"Where are they?"
"I don't have them."
Claire frowned.
"You went to the archive."
Vanessa looked at her.
"Dad had already taken everything. He told me the recordings were moved."
"Moved where?"
"He wouldn't say."
Brooks asked, "Then why did you disappear?"
Vanessa hesitated.
"Because I went to the lawyer."
Claire's breath caught.
"What lawyer?"
"Grandma's."
"Martin Hale?"
Vanessa nodded.
Claire stared.
"You knew him?"
"He contacted me last month."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I thought he was helping you."
Claire almost smiled at the absurdity.
"He was Grandma's attorney."
"I know that now."
"What did he tell you tonight?"
Vanessa reached into her small evening purse.
Officers tensed.
She stopped.
"It's paper."
Brooks took it herself.
A sealed envelope.
Across the front, in Eleanor's handwriting, was Vanessa's name.
Claire recognized the writing.
Vanessa looked at the phone.
"Grandma left one for me too."
"Did you read it?"
"Yes."
"What did it say?"
Vanessa's voice collapsed.
"That Dad would tell me you were my enemy."
Claire closed her eyes.
Vanessa continued.
"She said I would believe him because it was easier than admitting he never planned to give either of us anything."
Ethan looked away.
"Anything else?"
Vanessa nodded.
"She said if I ever helped him hurt you, I should not ask you to forgive me."
Claire opened her eyes.
Vanessa was shaking now.
"She said I should tell the truth and accept whatever it cost."
Silence settled across the dark garden.
Claire did not forgive her.
Not then.
Forgiveness was not a switch somebody else could flip with an apology.
But for the first time, Vanessa had returned without demanding something.
That mattered.
Brooks asked, "What truth haven't you told us?"
Vanessa looked toward the house.
"When Grandma got sick that last week, Mom changed her pills."
Claire stopped breathing.
"What?"
Vanessa cried.
"I saw her."
"Changed them how?"
"I don't know. She had a different bottle."
"Did you ask?"
"Mom said Grandma's doctor had adjusted the dose."
Claire's voice barely worked.
"Why didn't you tell anyone?"
"I believed her."
Brooks said, "Did you see the label?"
"No."
"Anything else?"
Vanessa nodded slowly.
"Grandma fell asleep at dinner."
Claire remembered.
Eleanor had never fallen asleep at dinner.
Vanessa continued.
"After Dad carried her upstairs, I heard Mom and Dad arguing in the pantry."
"What did they say?"
Vanessa looked directly at Claire on the screen.
"Mom said, 'You wanted her quiet. She's quiet.'"
Claire's entire body went still.
Ethan's face hardened.
Officer Brooks immediately turned to another officer.
"Contact Major Crimes."
Claire stared at Vanessa.
Vanessa whispered, "There's more."
"What?"
"Dad didn't empty Archive C yesterday because he was afraid of you."
"Then why?"
"Because someone called him."
"Who?"
May you like
Vanessa swallowed.
"Grandma's doctor."
