Chapter 2 - The Detective at the Door
The grandfather clock had barely finished striking eight when the mansion’s front doors opened.
Detective Mateo Ruiz entered first.
Two uniformed officers followed him.
Behind them walked Dr. Marcus Lane, Elena’s private obstetrician.
Vanessa’s fake tears stopped instantly.
Mrs. Howard stared at the men as though strangers had invaded a funeral.
“What is the meaning of this?” she demanded.
Detective Ruiz did not answer her.
His eyes moved directly toward Elena.
Elena remained on the marble floor with one hand beneath her cardigan.
Her breathing was shallow, but controlled.
Dr. Lane hurried toward her.
Vanessa stepped forward.
“She fell,” Vanessa said quickly.
Ruiz stopped.
“I didn’t ask you what happened.”
The room went silent.
Vanessa’s mouth tightened.
Dr. Lane knelt beside Elena and checked her pulse.
“Elena, can you hear me?”
Elena slowly opened her eyes.
“Yes.”
A gasp traveled through the room.
Mrs. Howard covered her mouth.
Vanessa looked as though someone had pulled the floor from beneath her.
“You were awake?” she whispered.
Elena did not look at her.
Dr. Lane helped Elena sit carefully against the bottom step.
Three weeks earlier, after Vanessa had begun making strange comments about the staircase, Elena had secretly consulted Dr. Lane.
He had warned her never to intentionally place herself in danger.
Elena had listened.
She had not planned to be pushed.
She had planned for the possibility.
That afternoon, before Vanessa arrived, Elena had instructed the housekeeper to place a thick decorative runner over the lower landing because the marble had recently been polished.
Beneath it was the shock-absorbing underlay Dr. Lane had recommended months earlier after Elena nearly slipped while pregnant.
Vanessa had chosen the worst possible place to attack her.
But not the worst possible place for Elena to fall.
Dr. Lane glanced toward Ruiz.
“She needs a hospital examination.”
Ruiz nodded.
“Of course.”
Vanessa finally found her voice.
“This is insane.”
She pointed at Elena.
“She planned this.”
Elena looked up.
“I planned cameras.”
Vanessa froze.
Elena continued.
“I planned backups.”
Ruiz reached inside his jacket and removed a small evidence bag.
Inside was a black memory card.
“And she planned for me to have a copy before tonight began.”
Mrs. Howard slowly turned toward Vanessa.
“What is on that?”
Vanessa laughed nervously.
“Nothing.”
Ruiz studied her.
“That is an interesting answer for someone who supposedly doesn’t know what’s on it.”
Vanessa’s face lost color.
Elena rested one hand protectively across her stomach.
For months, she had wondered why Vanessa kept appearing at family dinners.
Why Vanessa knew private details about her marriage.
Why bank statements disappeared from Richard Howard’s office.
Why someone had tried twice to convince the family that Elena was mentally unstable.
Tonight, she finally had enough evidence to stop wondering.
But the push was only part of it.
Detective Ruiz looked toward the staircase.
“Where is Mr. Howard?”
Mrs. Howard blinked.
“My son is in New York.”
Ruiz shook his head.
“No, ma’am.”
Elena finally looked directly at Vanessa.
Vanessa’s eyes widened.
Ruiz finished the sentence.
“Richard Howard landed forty minutes ago.”
The color drained from Vanessa’s face.
Elena knew immediately.
May you like
Vanessa had been expecting Richard to stay away.
And that meant whatever Vanessa planned tonight was supposed to be finished before he came home.
