Chapter 3 - Richard Came Home Early
Richard Howard’s car stopped outside the mansion at 8:17 p.m.
Nobody inside spoke when they heard the engine.
Elena remained seated near the staircase while Dr. Lane monitored her.
Vanessa stood near the fireplace.
Her hands trembled despite the confident expression she was trying to maintain.
The front door opened.
Richard stepped inside wearing a dark navy business coat over a wrinkled white shirt.
He had clearly come directly from the airport.
His eyes went first to the police officers.
Then to his mother.
Then to Vanessa.
Finally, he saw Elena sitting on the floor.
Everything in his face changed.
“Elena.”
He dropped his suitcase.
He crossed the foyer so quickly that Ruiz had to step aside.
“What happened?”
Elena watched his expression carefully.
For the past four months, she had not known whether she could still trust her own husband.
That uncertainty hurt almost as much as the push.
Vanessa moved toward him.
“Richard, thank God.”
He turned.
Vanessa immediately began crying.
“Elena attacked me.”
Elena said nothing.
Vanessa continued.
“She lost control.”
Richard looked from Vanessa to Elena.
“She came at me on the stairs,” Vanessa said.
“I tried to defend myself.”
Richard’s jaw tightened.
“What did you do?”
Vanessa hesitated.
“I pushed her away.”
“You pushed my pregnant wife?”
“It wasn’t like that.”
Richard moved one step closer.
Detective Ruiz raised a hand.
“Mr. Howard.”
Richard stopped.
Ruiz continued.
“We need everyone calm.”
Richard looked down at Elena.
“Is the baby okay?”
“We don’t know yet.”
The answer hit him harder than anything else.
He crouched beside her.
“I’m going with you.”
Elena studied him.
“Why did you come home?”
Richard’s eyes shifted.
That tiny movement frightened her.
“My meetings ended early.”
“That isn’t true.”
Mrs. Howard looked between them.
“Elena, what are you talking about?”
Elena kept her eyes on Richard.
“Your assistant told me your final meeting was tomorrow.”
Richard remained silent.
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
“Maybe he wanted to surprise his wife.”
Ruiz turned toward her.
“You seem eager to answer questions nobody asked you.”
Richard closed his eyes for a moment.
Then he reached inside his coat.
He removed a sealed envelope.
“I came home because this was delivered to my hotel.”
He handed it to Elena.
On the front were five words.
COME HOME BEFORE SHE DOES IT.
Elena opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
The picture showed Vanessa entering a downtown law office three nights earlier.
Beside her stood a man Elena recognized immediately.
Gerald Pike.
Richard’s family attorney.
Elena looked at her husband.
“What were they doing together?”
Richard’s voice dropped.
“I don’t know.”
Vanessa laughed.
“This is ridiculous.”
Richard turned.
“Then explain it.”
“I met Gerald for legal advice.”
“About what?”
Vanessa stared at him.
Richard repeated the question.
“About what, Vanessa?”
Her expression hardened.
“About protecting your family from her.”
She pointed toward Elena.
Mrs. Howard looked confused.
“Protecting us?”
Vanessa nodded.
“Elena has been moving money.”
Richard slowly stood.
“What money?”
Vanessa seemed almost relieved to finally say it.
“Your father’s trust.”
Nobody moved.
Richard’s father had died eighteen months earlier.
His estate had been divided between Richard, Mrs. Howard, and a family charitable foundation.
Elena had never controlled a single account.
Richard knew that.
Elena knew that.
But Mrs. Howard did not.
The older woman looked at Elena with sudden suspicion.
“Is that true?”
“No.”
Vanessa reached for her handbag.
Ruiz stepped forward.
“Don’t.”
Vanessa stopped.
“There are documents inside.”
“Then an officer will retrieve them.”
One officer opened the handbag.
He removed a folder.
Inside were wire transfers bearing Elena’s electronic signature.
Richard read the first page.
His face went pale.
Nearly six million dollars had supposedly been moved into an offshore account.
Mrs. Howard whispered Elena’s name.
Vanessa finally smiled.
“You see?”
But Elena was not looking at the transfers.
She was looking at the date.
Then she looked at Ruiz.
“That transfer was supposedly authorized on March fourth.”
Ruiz nodded.
Elena turned toward Richard.
“Where was I on March fourth?”
Richard stared at the document.
Then realization hit him.
“You were in surgery.”
Vanessa’s smile disappeared.
May you like
Elena had been under anesthesia for nearly six hours that day.
And somebody had just handed Detective Ruiz proof that the financial evidence against her had been fabricated.
