Chapter 10 - Four Days Before the Crash)
The video began with Laura sitting at her old kitchen table.
Daniel recognized everything behind her.
Yellow curtains.
A blue coffee mug.
Noah's plastic dinosaur on the counter.
Laura looked tired.
Nervous.
Very much alive.
The timestamp showed four days before the crash.
She looked directly into the camera.
"If you're watching this, I either became paranoid for no reason or something happened."
Daniel felt Laura grip his hand.
It was the first time they had touched voluntarily since the airport.
He did not pull away.
Neither did she.
On the screen, past Laura continued.
"I discovered financial transfers connected to Martin Shaw."
She explained that while redesigning an office for one of Martin's business partners, she had accidentally received access to a shared archive containing bank records.
At first she thought the files were routine.
Then she noticed names she recognized.
Clients of Martin's law practice.
Trust accounts.
Estate funds.
Money temporarily transferred into investment vehicles Martin controlled.
Laura had confronted him privately.
"He said everything was legal."
She gave a humorless laugh.
"It isn't."
Daniel looked at Martin's folder.
The video continued.
"I copied enough to prove he moved client money without authorization."
Laura held up a flash drive.
The same one now inside police evidence.
"I told him I was going to Daniel."
Daniel closed his eyes.
Past Laura looked frightened.
"Martin reminded me that he manages several Carter family documents. Insurance. Trusts. Estate planning."
Vanessa whispered, "Oh, God."
Laura on screen continued.
"Yesterday, I checked our policies."
She held up paper.
"My life insurance beneficiary has been changed."
Daniel looked toward Vanessa.
Past Laura said, "It now lists Vanessa Carter."
Vanessa began crying.
"I didn't know."
No one answered.
Laura on screen continued.
"I called Vanessa."
The room became still.
Daniel slowly turned.
Vanessa's face collapsed.
Past Laura spoke.
"She told me she had no idea."
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Daniel stared.
That part had been true.
Then the video continued.
"But she begged me not to tell Daniel yet."
Daniel's expression changed.
Vanessa whispered, "Please."
Past Laura explained.
"Vanessa admitted Martin has been helping her financially. She says her business is in trouble. She thinks if Martin is investigated, she'll lose everything."
Daniel looked at his sister.
Vanessa cried harder.
Past Laura's voice became firm.
"I told her I don't care."
Vanessa squeezed her eyes shut.
"I told her I'm giving Daniel the evidence tomorrow."
Daniel whispered, "You knew."
Vanessa shook her head.
"I knew she was going to expose him. I didn't know about the crash."
The video continued.
"Vanessa asked me to wait forty-eight hours."
Daniel stared at her.
"Why?"
Vanessa answered before the video could.
"Martin promised he could repay the missing money."
Past Laura confirmed it.
"Vanessa says Martin only needs two days to replace the funds."
Laura on screen leaned closer.
"I don't believe him."
The video ended with a final statement.
"If anything happens to me, Daniel, look at Martin first."
Black screen.
No one moved.
Daniel released Laura's hand.
Not because he was angry with her.
Because his entire body was shaking.
Vanessa whispered, "I never told Martin where Laura was going that night."
Daniel turned.
"What?"
"The accident."
"Explain."
"Laura called me that afternoon. She said she was driving north to meet one of Martin's former clients."
"Did you tell Martin?"
"No."
Daniel stepped closer.
"Think."
"I didn't."
"Think."
Vanessa pressed her palms against her temples.
"I talked to him that day."
Daniel's chest tightened.
"About what?"
"The money."
"And?"
"He asked if Laura had contacted me."
"What did you say?"
"I said yes."
"What else?"
Vanessa began breathing faster.
"I said she was angry."
"Vanessa."
"I told him she was going to expose him."
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Did you mention Vermont?"
Silence.
Laura stared at her.
Vanessa whispered, "I may have."
Daniel opened his eyes.
Vanessa shook her head violently.
"I didn't know what he would do."
"You told a desperate criminal where she was going."
"I thought he would talk to her."
Laura stood.
For the first time that night, her anger became visible.
"You thought he would talk to me?"
Vanessa backed away.
"I was scared."
"So was I."
Laura's voice broke.
"I was scared every day after I woke up without knowing my own son's name."
Vanessa cried.
Laura stepped closer.
"I spent months learning how to read normally again."
Another step.
"I had to relearn parts of my own life from newspaper articles."
Vanessa looked down.
"And when I finally remembered enough to come home, you told me my husband hated me."
"I'm sorry."
Laura shook her head.
"No."
Vanessa looked up.
"You don't get to use sorry like a key."
The room went silent.
Laura continued.
"You don't say it and walk back into the life you damaged."
Vanessa cried openly.
Daniel watched Laura.
She was stronger than he remembered.
Or perhaps he had simply never understood the kind of strength survival had forced her to build.
The detective entered.
"We've located Martin Shaw."
Everyone turned.
Daniel stood.
"Where?"
The detective looked grim.
"At Lake Hollow Storage."
Vanessa stared.
"Why would he go back?"
The detective answered.
"He wasn't alone."
Daniel felt dread return.
"Who was with him?"
The detective looked at Laura.
"One of the former clients named in your video."
Laura's face changed.
"George Ellison."
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"You know him?"
"He's the man I was driving to meet the night I crashed."
