Chapter 14 - The Woman Julian Called
Detective Ruiz traced a number appearing repeatedly in Julian’s phone records.
The calls happened during the month before his death.
The number belonged to an attorney named Rebecca Sloan.
Claire had never heard of her.
Vanessa had told everyone Julian was planning estate changes.
That part was true.
But not for the reason Vanessa claimed.
Rebecca remembered Julian clearly.
“He was frightened.”
“Of Vanessa?”
“He never used the word frightened.”
Rebecca paused.
“But he asked what would happen if his spouse tried to have him declared incompetent.”
Ethan’s stomach tightened.
The parallels were becoming impossible to ignore.
Julian told Rebecca Vanessa had been telling friends he was paranoid.
He believed she was building a record.
Rebecca advised him to document everything.
Julian did.
He created a written timeline.
But after his death, nobody found it.
Until Rebecca opened an archived client folder.
There was a scanned copy.
The entries were brief.
“Vanessa moved $40,000.”
“Vanessa told Claire I forgot dinner.”
“I did not forget.”
“Prescription missing.”
“Insurance change intercepted.”
“Vanessa told doctor I was depressed.”
Then the final entry.
“I told her I am leaving Friday.”
Julian died Thursday night.
Claire covered her mouth.
Rebecca continued.
“There’s something else.”
She opened an old email.
Julian had written:
“If anything happens to me, please do not accept the first explanation.”
No accusation.
No dramatic claim.
Just fear.
Police reopened Julian Hart’s death investigation formally the next morning.
Vanessa’s legal strategy changed immediately.
Her attorney withdrew from the divorce case.
A criminal-defense attorney appeared in his place.
Ethan watched the news from home.
Vanessa was photographed entering the attorney’s office wearing dark sunglasses.
Reporters shouted questions.
“Did you hurt Sophie Bennett?”
“Are police reopening your first husband’s death?”
“Did you receive Julian Hart’s insurance money?”
Vanessa said nothing.
For once, silence belonged to her.
Then Ethan’s security team discovered a vehicle parked near Sophie’s preschool for three consecutive days.
The driver was a private investigator.
Vanessa had hired him.
Maya contacted the court.
The judge expanded the protective order.
Vanessa’s attorney called it harassment.
But the investigator’s photographs revealed something strange.
He had not only photographed Sophie.
He had photographed Maria.
Claire.
Dr. Clarke.
And Detective Ruiz.
Vanessa was mapping every witness.
Then Noah found another name in the investigator’s invoices.
A woman Ethan did not recognize.
Lydia Monroe.
Claire did.
May you like
Her face went completely white.
“That was Julian’s therapist.”
