Chapter 11 - VANESSA DISAPPEARED
Vanessa had missed a scheduled meeting with investigators.
Her attorney claimed he did not know where she was.
Her phone had been turned off.
Her credit cards had not been used since early morning.
Police did not immediately call her a fugitive.
But they were concerned.
Adrian was told to remain cautious.
The house security system was changed again.
A patrol car passed the neighborhood several times that night.
Olivia pretended not to be frightened.
Adrian pretended not to notice her pretending.
Clara prepared to leave.
Olivia stopped her near the door.
“Can you stay?”
Clara hesitated.
Adrian immediately spoke.
“You don’t have to.”
Olivia looked at him.
“I’m asking her.”
Adrian nodded.
Clara looked toward Emma.
Then at Olivia.
“Just tonight.”
Adrian gave her the guest room at the far end of the second floor.
He did not ask her to help with Emma.
He did not treat her like an employee.
That mattered.
At eleven thirty, Adrian heard footsteps in the hallway.
Olivia stood outside his room.
“Dad?”
“What’s wrong?”
“My phone.”
She held it toward him.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
YOU DESTROYED THIS FAMILY.
Adrian’s blood went cold.
Another message arrived.
YOU THINK CLARA CARES ABOUT YOU?
Then another.
SHE USED YOU TOO.
Adrian took the phone.
“Don’t answer.”
“I wasn’t going to.”
He called Mercer.
While they spoke, another message arrived.
ASK YOUR FATHER WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO YOUR MOTHER.
Olivia stopped breathing.
Adrian stared at the screen.
“What does that mean?”
Olivia’s voice shook.
Adrian’s heart pounded.
“It means Vanessa is trying to hurt you.”
“What happened to Mom?”
“Cancer happened to your mom.”
“Then why would she say that?”
“Because she knows Rachel is the one thing that can scare both of us.”
Clara appeared at the end of the hallway.
“What happened?”
Olivia showed her.
Clara’s face hardened.
Adrian’s phone buzzed.
Mercer texted.
DO NOT RESPOND.
WE’RE TRACING.
Another message appeared.
ADRIAN NEVER TOLD YOU WHY YOUR MOM CALLED HIM THAT NIGHT.
Olivia looked at her father.
“What call?”
Adrian froze.
He knew exactly what Vanessa was referring to.
A memory he had spent six years trying not to revisit.
Rachel had called Adrian from the hospital the night before she died.
He had been in another state for work.
His phone had been on silent during a meeting.
He missed three calls.
By the time he called back, Rachel had been sedated.
She never woke again.
Adrian had carried that guilt for years.
Olivia knew her mother died while Adrian was away.
She did not know about the missed calls.
Adrian sat on the edge of the bed.
“Your mom called me that night.”
Olivia’s eyes filled.
“You didn’t answer?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I was in a meeting.”
“You didn’t call back?”
“I did.”
“When?”
“Forty minutes later.”
Olivia looked stunned.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you were eight.”
“That was six years ago.”
“I know.”
“You could have told me later.”
“I know.”
Adrian rubbed his eyes.
“I was ashamed.”
Olivia turned away.
Clara remained silent.
Adrian did not chase his daughter.
Not immediately.
He had spent too many years trying to control other people’s reactions.
Finally Olivia spoke.
“Was Mom alone?”
“No.”
“Grandma was there.”
“Did she ask for you?”
“Yes.”
Olivia wiped her face.
Adrian’s voice broke.
“I have regretted that night every day since.”
Olivia looked at him.
“Is that why you stopped going on work trips?”
“Yes.”
“Is that why you freak out when someone doesn’t answer their phone?”
“Yes.”
“Is that why you married Vanessa so fast?”
Adrian looked down.
“Probably.”
Olivia sat beside him.
For a long time, they said nothing.
Then another message arrived.
Clara read it first.
She immediately looked toward Adrian.
“What?”
Clara handed him the phone.
The message contained an address.
Beneath it were six words.
COME ALONE IF YOU WANT ANSWERS.
Detective Mercer called seconds later.
“We traced the phone.”
Adrian stood.
“Where?”
Mercer gave him the location.
May you like
Adrian looked at Olivia’s screen.
It was the exact same address.
