Chapter 6 - Adrian’s Mistake
Adrian apologized in the hospital parking garage.
Not beautifully.
Not dramatically.
He simply said:
“I failed you.”
I looked at him.
“Yes.”
He flinched.
I was too tired to protect him from the truth.
“I thought Vanessa was jealous.”
“She was.”
“I thought she was manipulative.”
“She was.”
“I didn’t think she was dangerous.”
“You didn’t want to think she was dangerous.”
He looked away.
That was the difference.
For months, I told Adrian something was wrong.
He answered with logic.
Vanessa had known him for twenty years.
Vanessa loved the family.
Vanessa had supported him after his father died.
Vanessa had no reason to hurt me.
I had evidence of behavior.
He had history.
History won.
Until it almost killed his wife.
“I’m not asking you to forgive me.”
“Good.”
His eyes met mine.
“I want to earn back your trust.”
“That may take longer than the criminal case.”
“I know.”
Maybe he did.
Maybe he did not.
We would find out.
Ruiz called before we left.
“We searched Vanessa’s apartment.”
“What did you find?”
“A second phone.”
My stomach tightened.
“Who was she talking to?”
“That’s what we’re working on.”
The device contained encrypted messages.
Deleted drafts.
Photographs of trust documents.
Images of the mansion’s security system.
And a photograph of my prenatal appointment schedule.
Someone had sent it to her.
Only four people had access.
Me.
Adrian.
My doctor’s office.
And Margaret.
Adrian went silent.
“My mother wouldn’t.”
I said nothing.
He looked at me.
“She wouldn’t.”
I wanted to believe that.
Then Ruiz sent another message.
A recovered text from Vanessa’s phone.
M says Elena still suspects nothing.
May you like
Adrian’s face drained of color.
The letter M changed everything.
