Chapter 7 - VANESSA CAME BACK FOR EMMA
Adrian did not open the door.
Instead he called his attorney.
Vanessa remained on the porch.
Her attorney occasionally checked his watch.
Olivia stood upstairs holding Emma.
“What does she mean by custody?”
Adrian looked at his older daughter.
“It means nothing is changing today.”
“Can she take Emma?”
“Not right now.”
“Are you sure?”
Adrian wanted to promise her everything.
Instead he told the truth.
“I’m calling people who know more than I do.”
Five minutes later, Adrian’s attorney told him not to allow Vanessa inside until temporary arrangements had been documented.
Vanessa’s attorney called immediately afterward.
He spoke politely.
Almost casually.
“Vanessa wishes to see her daughter.”
Adrian looked at Emma through the upstairs railing.
“Vanessa endangered her yesterday.”
“That interpretation is disputed.”
“I watched the video.”
“The video shows a stroller moving.”
“My wife admitted pushing it.”
“She admitted repositioning it.”
Adrian almost laughed at the absurdity.
“Toward a staircase.”
“Mr. Cole, this conversation will be easier if we reduce the emotion.”
Adrian’s voice became quiet.
“My eight-month-old daughter was rolling toward stairs.”
“I understand your concern.”
“No.”
“You understand your client.”
A pause.
The attorney changed tactics.
“Vanessa also has serious concerns about the nanny.”
“Clara resigned.”
“Then I suppose that issue solved itself.”
The sentence made Adrian’s blood run cold.
“What did you say?”
“I said Ms. Bennett is no longer employed.”
Adrian had never told anyone Clara’s last name.
Neither had Olivia.
“How do you know Clara resigned?”
The attorney paused.
Then answered.
“My client informed me.”
Adrian looked toward the door.
Vanessa had known.
Before Adrian told her.
He ended the call.
Then he texted Clara.
DID YOU SPEAK TO VANESSA?
Clara answered almost immediately.
NO.
WHY?
Adrian looked back through the camera.
Vanessa was typing on her phone.
He sent another message.
DID ANYONE KNOW YOU RESIGNED BESIDES ME AND OLIVIA?
A longer pause.
Then Clara replied.
ROSA.
AND SOMEONE CALLED ME THIS MORNING ASKING IF I WANTED A NEW JOB.
Adrian frowned.
WHO?
I DON’T KNOW.
THEY SAID THEY GOT MY NUMBER FROM VANESSA.
Adrian’s stomach tightened.
CALL DETECTIVE MERCER.
NOW.
Outside, Vanessa’s attorney knocked again.
“Mr. Cole?”
Adrian opened the door but kept the security chain latched.
Vanessa stepped forward.
“I want to see my daughter.”
Adrian stared at her.
“You knew Clara resigned.”
“So?”
“How?”
Vanessa blinked.
“She obviously would.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“I assumed.”
“Your attorney knew too.”
Vanessa glanced at the man beside her.
Then she looked back.
“You’re paranoid.”
“You pushed Emma’s stroller.”
“Stop saying it like that.”
“How should I say it?”
“I made a stupid choice.”
“No.”
Adrian shook his head.
“You made a plan.”
Vanessa’s expression tightened.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I found the account.”
The color disappeared from her face.
It returned quickly.
But not quickly enough.
Adrian saw it.
Vanessa’s attorney immediately turned toward her.
“What account?”
Vanessa did not answer.
Adrian continued.
“The holding company.”
Her attorney’s posture changed.
“Mr. Cole, I strongly suggest we end this conversation.”
Adrian almost smiled.
“I agree.”
He started closing the door.
Vanessa pushed her palm against it.
“Wait.”
Adrian stared at her hand.
She removed it.
“Adrian, whatever you think you found, there’s an explanation.”
“Six hundred thousand dollars.”
Vanessa’s attorney looked at her.
This time his surprise was impossible to hide.
Vanessa stepped backward.
“Where did you get that number?”
Adrian said nothing.
The question had told him everything.
She knew the amount.
Her attorney whispered something to her.
Vanessa ignored him.
“You had no right to go through my private files.”
“They were company records.”
“You gave me access.”
“Not permission to transfer money.”
Vanessa’s eyes hardened.
“You told me what was yours was mine.”
Adrian stared at her.
“That’s going to be your defense?”
Her attorney grabbed her arm.
“We’re leaving.”
Vanessa pulled away from him.
“Clara put you up to this.”
Adrian’s anger disappeared.
What replaced it was colder.
“Clara didn’t have to.”
Vanessa pointed toward the house.
“She turned Olivia against me.”
“No.”
“You’re choosing them.”
“No.”
Adrian looked directly at her.
“I’m finally listening to them.”
Vanessa’s expression twisted.
Then she said something that made even her attorney go still.
“You think Clara is innocent?”
Adrian did not respond.
Vanessa smiled.
May you like
“Ask her why she was really in your office that night.”
Then she turned and walked toward the driveway.
