Chapter 5 - VANESSA'S VERSION
By sunrise, Vanessa had already created her own story.
She drove directly to her parents' home in Westchester.
Margaret and Thomas Hale were drinking coffee when Vanessa entered wearing yesterday's clothes.
Her mascara was streaked.
Her hands shook.
"Adrian has lost his mind."
Margaret immediately stood.
"What happened?"
Vanessa collapsed into a chair.
"Clara turned him against me."
That sentence was carefully chosen.
Vanessa knew her mother had never completely trusted Clara.
Not because Clara had done anything wrong.
Because Margaret believed wealthy families should protect their own.
Clara came from a middle-class family.
She had built her career herself.
Margaret had always considered that admirable in public and suspicious in private.
Vanessa began crying.
"There was an accident with Emma's stroller."
Margaret covered her mouth.
"Is Emma okay?"
"She's fine."
"What happened?"
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
"Clara lost control of the stroller."
Thomas entered from the hallway.
"What do you mean?"
Vanessa continued.
"I tried to stop it."
Margaret sat beside her.
"Where is Clara now?"
"She took Emma."
Vanessa leaned closer.
"And Olivia."
Thomas frowned.
"Why would Olivia go with her?"
"Because Clara manipulated her."
Thomas studied his daughter.
Unlike Margaret, he did not immediately react.
"Where's Adrian?"
"At home."
"And what does he say?"
Vanessa's tears increased.
"He believes Clara."
Thomas's eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
Vanessa hesitated.
"There was a video."
Margaret blinked.
"A video of what?"
"The angle makes it look bad."
Thomas's voice changed.
"Vanessa."
She looked at him.
"What does the video show?"
Vanessa wiped her eyes.
"It looks like I pushed the stroller."
Margaret slowly withdrew her hand.
"Did you?"
"No."
Thomas did not move.
"Then what does the video actually show?"
Vanessa became defensive.
"I already told you."
Thomas reached for his phone.
"I'm calling Adrian."
Vanessa jumped up.
"Dad, don't."
That reaction told him more than her explanation had.
He dialed anyway.
Adrian answered.
Thomas put the phone on speaker.
"Your sister is here."
Adrian's voice became cold.
"Do not let her leave."
Margaret stared at Vanessa.
"What?"
Vanessa moved toward the door.
Thomas stepped in front of it.
"Why?"
Adrian answered.
"Because police are looking for her."
Margaret stood.
"Police?"
"There is video of Vanessa releasing Emma's stroller brake and pushing it toward the stairs."
Vanessa shouted.
"He's lying."
Adrian continued.
"The stroller brake was also tampered with."
Thomas looked at his daughter.
Her face had gone white.
Adrian's next words destroyed whatever remained of her story.
"And Clara found one hundred eighty thousand dollars missing from the company."
Vanessa stopped breathing.
Thomas noticed immediately.
"What money?"
Vanessa grabbed her purse.
"I don't have to listen to this."
Thomas blocked the door again.
"Answer him."
"It's Clara."
Vanessa's voice rose.
"She's doing this."
Adrian laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
"Clara didn't register Northbridge Advisory using your address."
Margaret turned toward Vanessa.
"You own Northbridge?"
Vanessa's silence answered.
Adrian continued.
"Dad, Detective Bell is on his way."
Vanessa's eyes filled with panic.
"You called the police on your own sister?"
Adrian's voice dropped.
"You pushed my daughter toward a staircase."
"I knew Clara would catch her."
Everyone froze.
Vanessa realized what she had said.
Thomas stared at her.
Margaret slowly sat down.
Adrian's voice came through the speaker.
"You knew Clara would catch her?"
Vanessa began backing away.
"No."
"That's what you just said."
"I didn't mean it like that."
Thomas looked at his daughter as though he no longer recognized her.
"Vanessa."
She started crying again.
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This time there was no performance left.
"I just needed Clara gone."
