Chapter 15 - Vanessa’s Childhood House
The farmhouse outside Charlottesville had been abandoned for twelve years.
Vanessa’s mother died there.
Her father moved to New York shortly afterward.
According to Evelyn, Vanessa refused to return.
Evelyn left Clara with Arthur at a nearby hotel.
Clara argued.
“You need me.”
“I need you safe.”
“You said that last time.”
The words hurt.
Evelyn understood.
“This time I’m coming back.”
Evelyn, Thomas, and Rebecca drove to the farmhouse.
Inside, dust covered everything.
They searched Martin’s old office.
Nothing.
Then Evelyn noticed the painting from the video.
It still hung on the wall.
Behind it was a safe.
Rebecca tried several combinations.
Thomas looked at Evelyn.
“Vanessa’s birthday?”
Nothing.
“Martin’s?”
Nothing.
Evelyn suddenly remembered something.
Vanessa once told her that her mother died on the day Vanessa considered her real birthday.
The day she learned nobody was coming to save her.
Evelyn entered the date of Margaret Hale’s death.
The safe opened.
Inside was the ledger.
Martin’s signed confession.
And dozens of photographs.
Daniel and Vanessa meeting secretly.
Daniel transferring money.
Vanessa forging documents.
Then Evelyn found something unexpected.
A photograph of Daniel standing beside a third man near Blackwater Ridge.
The timestamp showed two hours after Evelyn’s crash.
Thomas recognized him.
“Detective Warren.”
Warren had led the investigation into Evelyn’s disappearance.
Rebecca whispered, “Daniel had a police officer helping him.”
A sound came from downstairs.
Someone entered the house.
Thomas turned off the light.
Evelyn took the evidence.
Footsteps approached.
Then Daniel’s voice echoed from the hallway.
“You always did love dramatic hiding places.”
Evelyn froze.
Daniel stepped into the doorway.
He held no weapon.
But Detective Warren stood behind him.
Still wearing his badge.
Daniel looked at the ledger.
“Give it to me.”
Evelyn smiled.
“You’re too late.”
Daniel’s confidence flickered.
She held up her phone.
“Everything was uploaded thirty seconds ago.”
Warren stepped forward.
Evelyn continued.
“To three attorneys.”
Another step.
“Two journalists.”
Daniel’s face changed.
“And the district attorney.”
Outside, sirens began approaching.
Daniel looked at Warren.
Warren turned and ran.
Thomas blocked Daniel.
Rebecca called police.
Evelyn stared at the man she had once married.
“It’s over.”
Daniel laughed quietly.
“No.”
May you like
Then he said five words that drained the color from her face.
“You still don’t know Vanessa.”
