Chapter 14 - Vanessa Changes Her Story
Vanessa sat across from Detective Ruiz beneath harsh fluorescent lights.
For six hours, she had demanded an attorney.
Then Gerald disappeared.
Then police found the photograph.
Now she wanted to talk.
Ruiz placed the image on the table.
“When did you meet Daniel Howard?”
Vanessa looked exhausted.
“February.”
“You told us you only received messages from someone claiming to be him.”
“I lied.”
“Why?”
“Because Daniel asked me to.”
Ruiz leaned back.
“Start over.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
She had met Daniel at a hotel outside Boston.
He contacted her first.
He knew their history.
He knew she once loved Richard.
He knew she once slept with him.
Daniel claimed Gerald had spent years manipulating the Howard family.
He wanted Vanessa to get close to Richard again.
She agreed.
Ruiz stared at her.
“So you were working for Daniel?”
“At first.”
“What changed?”
Vanessa looked toward the observation mirror.
“I realized Daniel didn’t want Richard destroyed.”
“He wanted Gerald exposed.”
“Yes.”
“And you?”
Vanessa’s expression hardened.
“I wanted what should have been mine.”
“What exactly was that?”
“Richard.”
Ruiz said nothing.
Vanessa continued.
“I spent years watching him build a life with Elena.”
“You mean watching him choose someone else.”
Her eyes flashed.
“She didn’t belong there.”
“And you did?”
“Yes.”
The answer came without hesitation.
Ruiz understood.
Vanessa had never been Gerald’s loyal partner.
She had never been Daniel’s loyal partner.
She had been loyal only to the fantasy in which Richard eventually chose her.
“So you created the forged-transfer accusation.”
“Gerald created the documents.”
“And you planted them.”
“Yes.”
“You tried to separate Richard and Elena.”
“Yes.”
“You pushed Elena.”
Vanessa looked down.
Ruiz waited.
Finally, she spoke.
“She knew.”
Ruiz’s eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“She knew I hated her.”
“That does not answer the question.”
“She kept looking at me like she had already won.”
“Did you push her?”
Vanessa’s jaw tightened.
“Yes.”
Ruiz remained still.
Vanessa suddenly looked frightened.
“I didn’t mean for her to fall that far.”
“You pushed a pregnant woman beside a staircase.”
“She grabbed my arm.”
“The cameras show otherwise.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Ruiz continued.
“Were you acting under Gerald’s instruction?”
“No.”
“Daniel’s?”
“No.”
“Anyone’s?”
“No.”
The admission changed everything.
Vanessa had acted alone.
Ruiz placed another photograph on the table.
It showed Vanessa and Gerald entering the law office.
“What did Gerald promise you?”
“A settlement.”
“What kind?”
“If Elena was removed from Richard’s marriage, Gerald would help me prove she stole from the trust.”
“And then?”
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“I thought Richard would need someone.”
Ruiz almost looked sad.
“You built a criminal conspiracy around the idea that a man would come back to you.”
Vanessa’s eyes filled.
“He loved me once.”
“Once is not now.”
She looked away.
Ruiz changed direction.
“Where is Daniel?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where is Gerald?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where is Derek Hale?”
Vanessa’s head snapped around.
Ruiz saw it.
There.
Fear.
“You know that name.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“You reacted to it.”
“I’ve heard it.”
“From whom?”
She remained silent.
Ruiz leaned forward.
“Vanessa.”
She looked at him.
“If Gerald finds Derek before we do, someone may die.”
Vanessa finally whispered.
“Derek isn’t hiding from Gerald.”
May you like
Ruiz waited.
“He’s hiding Gerald.”
