Chapter 7 - The Witness They Wanted Gone
Elena refused police protection at first.
She said officers should remain with Mom.
Detective Brooks gave her no choice.
“She is not the only witness.”
“You are the person who preserved the medication bottles.”
“You are the person Vanessa attacked.”
“You are the person Charles identified as a problem.”
Elena finally agreed to stay in a secured apartment near the hospital.
I offered to pay for private guards.
She refused my money.
“I helped Mrs. Ross because it was right.”
“Not because I wanted a reward.”
“I know.”
“Then stop trying to turn gratitude into control.”
The words surprised me.
Vanessa had accused Elena of wanting my life.
Elena was the first person who refused every advantage I offered.
That night, a man attempted to enter the secured apartment using a delivery uniform.
Police arrested him in the lobby.
His name was Peter Lane.
He had worked for Charles Voss for eleven years.
Inside his van were syringes, forged immigration documents, and a plane ticket in Elena’s name.
The plan was to drug her, move her out of the country, and claim she had stolen from us before fleeing.
Charles had prepared a bank transfer into an account opened using her identity.
Vanessa had supplied a copy of Elena’s passport.
I remembered my wife asking all staff members to update employment records.
It had seemed responsible.
Every ordinary request had served another purpose.
Peter cooperated after learning Charles had no plan to protect him.
He gave police a network of safe houses and shell companies.
He also revealed Vanessa and Charles had been involved for nearly three years.
Their affair began before I accepted the Saudi assignment.
Vanessa encouraged me to take the project.
Distance gave them time.
Money gave them tools.
My mother gave them the last obstacle.
Peter played an audio file.
Vanessa’s voice said:
“Once Margaret is gone, Daniel will be too broken to question anything.”
Charles answered:
“And if he does?”
May you like
Vanessa laughed.
“Then Elena takes the blame.”
