Chapter 9 - Vanessa’s payments
Vanessa denied it for eleven minutes.
Then I showed her the statements.
She stopped.
Richard had paid her $120,000 over two years.
Consulting.
False.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing at first.”
“Then what?”
“He asked me to keep you away from certain estate files.”
“How?”
“Distract you.”
“That's not an answer.”
She looked ashamed.
“When you wanted to consolidate Ethan’s trust, I convinced you to wait.”
I remembered.
Vanessa said changing trustees would upset Ethan while he was grieving.
I listened.
She had been protecting Richard.
“Did you know he stole from Ethan?”
“Not at first.”
“When did you know?”
“Eight months ago.”
“And you stayed silent.”
“He threatened to expose Lily.”
I stared.
“You chose your secret over my son.”
“Yes.”
At least she finally said it.
“Did Richard have anything to do with Rachel's crash?”
“I don't know.”
“Did Dad think he did?”
“Yes.”
That mattered.
“What evidence?”
“Richard had someone following Rachel.”
“Who?”
Vanessa gave me a name.
Marcus Vale.
Private investigator.
We found him.
He admitted working for Richard.
Not to harm Rachel.
To monitor her meetings.
Rachel had met Dad.
Diane.
And Lily.
“She was building a case,” Marcus said.
“Against Richard?”
“Yes.”
“Did you follow her the day she died?”
His face changed.
“Yes.”
“Did you touch her car?”
“No.”
“Did anyone?”
“I saw someone near it.”
“Who?”
“Couldn't see the face.”
“Man? Woman?”
“Woman.”
My heart tightened.
“Describe her.”
Brown hair.
Cream coat.
Medium height.
Not enough.
Then Marcus added:
“She drove a black Mercedes.”
Vanessa owned a black Mercedes then.
I looked at her.
She went pale.
“I wasn't there.”
“Can you prove it?”
“I didn't even know Rachel then.”
True.
Vanessa and I officially met later.
But she knew who I was.
Knew Lily connected us.
Could have known Rachel.
“Did you ever meet Rachel before we met?”
Vanessa whispered:
“Once.”
My stomach dropped.
“When?”
“Two days before she died.”
“What did you discuss?”
“Lily.”
“Did you go near Rachel’s car?”
“No.”
“What happened at the meeting?”
“Rachel told me she was going to tell you everything.”
“Did you tell Richard?”
Vanessa started crying.
“Yes.”
There it was.
Maybe she didn't sabotage the car.
But she told the man with motive exactly what Rachel intended.
Then Lily said something from the doorway.
“Mom.”
Vanessa looked up.
Lily had never called her that in front of me.
“I saw what you did after Rachel left.”
Vanessa froze.
“What?”
May you like
Lily whispered:
“You gave Richard her address.”
