Chapter 10 - WHAT VANESSA WAS HIDING
The search warrant was executed the following morning.
Police entered the storage unit Vanessa had visited with Trevor.
Inside were three boxes from Adrian’s company.
Two laptops.
A printer.
Blank company letterhead.
Copies of Adrian’s driver’s license.
Several documents containing examples of his signature.
There were also printed emails Adrian had never written.
One stated that Vanessa had permission to transfer money between business accounts.
Another appeared to authorize the creation of the holding company.
The forensic specialist identified inconsistencies almost immediately.
Wrong formatting.
Metadata from a different computer.
A date that fell on a day Adrian had been in surgery after a car accident three years earlier.
The evidence was not perfect.
But it was growing.
Trevor was questioned that afternoon.
He denied stealing anything.
Then detectives showed him photographs from the storage facility.
His story changed.
He claimed Vanessa told him Adrian knew about everything.
Then detectives showed him the stroller footage.
His story changed again.
By evening, Trevor asked for an attorney.
Adrian spent most of the day with Emma and Olivia.
For the first time in years, he turned off his work phone.
They ordered pizza.
Olivia chose an old movie Rachel used to love.
Emma fell asleep halfway through it.
The evening should have felt peaceful.
Instead Adrian kept looking at the empty space on the couch where Vanessa normally sat.
Olivia noticed.
“You miss her?”
Adrian considered lying.
Then decided he had done enough of that.
“I miss who I thought she was.”
Olivia nodded.
“That makes sense.”
“I also feel stupid.”
“That makes sense too.”
Adrian glanced at her.
“You’re really enjoying this honesty thing.”
“A little.”
He almost smiled.
Then the doorbell rang.
Adrian checked the camera.
Clara stood outside.
Olivia jumped up.
“Clara.”
She reached the door before Adrian.
Clara entered carrying a small backpack.
Emma woke at the sound of her voice.
The baby immediately reached toward her.
Clara froze.
Emotion crossed her face.
Olivia handed Emma to her.
Clara held her carefully.
Emma rested her head against Clara’s chest as if nothing had changed.
Adrian looked away.
Clara noticed.
“I came for some things.”
“Of course.”
“My jacket is upstairs.”
“I’ll get it.”
“No.”
Clara’s voice was gentle.
“I can.”
Adrian stepped aside.
While Clara went upstairs, Olivia followed.
Adrian remained in the kitchen.
He wanted to apologize again.
He wanted to tell Clara everything he had learned.
He wanted to ask her to stay.
Instead he waited.
Five minutes later Clara returned carrying her jacket and a small cardboard box.
She placed something on the counter.
A house key.
Adrian stared at it.
“You can keep it until everything settles.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“I don’t work here anymore.”
“Clara.”
She looked at him.
“I know saying sorry won’t change what happened.”
“No.”
“I know paying you won’t fix it.”
“No.”
“I know asking you to come back would be selfish.”
Clara said nothing.
Adrian continued.
“So I’m not asking.”
Her expression softened slightly.
“I just want you to know I finally understand something.”
“What?”
“You spent six months protecting my daughters.”
“And I spent six months assuming that because I paid you, I was the one taking care of everything.”
Clara looked down.
Adrian’s voice became quieter.
“I was wrong.”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
The honesty almost hurt less than forgiveness would have.
Then Clara looked toward Olivia.
“I came for another reason.”
Adrian waited.
“Detective Mercer called me.”
“What happened?”
“They found messages between Vanessa and Trevor.”
Adrian’s stomach tightened.
“What kind of messages?”
Clara pulled out her phone.
She had been allowed to read only a few excerpts relevant to her.
One message was dated two days before the stroller incident.
VANESSA: SHE WON’T TAKE THE MONEY.
TREVOR: THEN MAKE ADRIAN FIRE HER.
VANESSA: I’M WORKING ON IT.
TREVOR: WE NEED HER GONE BEFORE THE AUDIT.
VANESSA: I KNOW.
Then another message appeared from the morning of the incident.
VANESSA: TODAY.
TREVOR: DON’T DO ANYTHING CRAZY.
VANESSA: I JUST NEED HER TO LOOK CARELESS.
Adrian stared at the final line.
Clara put her phone away.
“She planned it.”
Adrian nodded slowly.
“She planned to frame you.”
Clara looked at Emma.
“Yes.”
Adrian’s phone rang.
Detective Mercer.
He answered.
“Detective?”
Mercer’s voice was serious.
“We have a problem.”
May you like
“What?”
“Vanessa is gone.”
