Chapter 8 - SHE WAS ALIVE
I couldn’t breathe.
Rachel had survived the crash.
For three years, I had imagined her dying instantly.
That lie had been the only mercy I was given.
Now even that disappeared.
Keller replayed Michael’s last words.
I called Vanessa.
The meaning was obvious.
But details mattered.
Where?
When?
What happened after?
Vanessa’s attorney suddenly requested a meeting.
Keller smiled without humor.
“She knows Michael is talking.”
At the station, Vanessa looked different.
No makeup.
Hair pulled back.
Gray detention clothes.
She no longer resembled the woman who kissed me goodbye that morning.
Her attorney began.
“My client is willing to provide information.”
Keller asked.
“In exchange for what?”
“Consideration.”
I stood behind the observation glass.
I wanted to break through it.
Vanessa looked toward the mirror.
As if she knew I was there.
Keller placed Rachel’s photograph on the table.
“You knew her.”
“Yes.”
“You worked with Michael.”
“Yes.”
“You were at the crash?”
Her attorney whispered to her.
Vanessa swallowed.
“After.”
My hands tightened.
“What happened?”
Keller’s voice remained calm.
“Michael called me.”
“Rachel had crashed.”
“He was panicking.”
“She was conscious.”
Vanessa stared at the table.
“She kept saying Daniel’s name.”
My eyes burned.
I pressed one hand against the glass.
Keller asked.
“Did you call an ambulance?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Michael said we needed the folder first.”
“And?”
“We searched the car.”
“Did you find it?”
“No.”
“What happened to Rachel?”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“She tried to stand.”
“Michael grabbed her.”
“She hit him.”
“Then she ran.”
“Where?”
“Toward the road.”
My whole body shook.
Keller leaned forward.
“And then?”
Vanessa’s face changed.
Fear.
Real fear.
“Michael caught her.”
“What did he do?”
She looked toward the mirror again.
“He hit her.”
“With what?”
“A tire iron.”
I made a sound I didn’t recognize.
Keller’s jaw tightened.
“One time?”
Vanessa shook her head.
“Twice.”
Silence filled the room.
Then Keller asked.
“Did you help?”
“No.”
“Did you stop him?”
“No.”
“Did you call police?”
“No.”
“What did you do?”
Vanessa began crying.
“I helped put her back in the car.”
I turned away from the glass.
I couldn’t see her anymore.
Keller continued.
“Then?”
“Michael pushed the car farther down the slope.”
“He made it look like she died in the crash.”
“And Rachel’s necklace?”
“I took it off.”
“Why?”
Vanessa wiped her face.
“It had blood on it.”
Keller stared at her.
“You removed evidence.”
“Yes.”
“What about Lieutenant Doyle?”
“Michael handled him.”
“And marrying Daniel?”
For the first time, Vanessa looked directly toward the mirror.
“That wasn’t part of the original plan.”
I almost believed her.
Then Keller asked.
“Why did you do it?”
Her face hardened.
“Because Michael thought Daniel might know where Rachel hid the files.”
There it was.
Our marriage.
My children calling her stepmother.
May you like
The nights she held me while I grieved.
All of it had begun as surveillance.
