Chapter 17 — The Second Person
The photograph changed the investigation.
Thomas had always been the center of the story.
The villain.
The man everyone blamed.
But the note suggested something worse.
Someone had helped him.
Someone close.
Someone trusted.
Daniel looked at the photograph again.
“Why would Thomas give us this?”
Richard answered quietly.
“Because he wants something.”
Emily looked at him.
“What?”
“To destroy someone else.”
The detective nodded.
“That’s our suspicion.”
Emily stared at the picture.
“Who?”
Nobody wanted to say it.
Because the list was small.
Very small.
The investigation reopened.
For the first time in twenty-five years, Sarah Carter’s death was officially examined again.
Old witnesses were contacted.
Old evidence was reviewed.
And slowly…
The truth began appearing.
A missing phone record.
A hidden bank transfer.
A deleted security report.
All connected to one night.
The night Sarah died.
Then Detective Mason found something.
A payment.
A large payment.
Made three days before the accident.
The receiver?
Vanessa.
Daniel immediately stood.
“No.”
The detective looked at him.
“We need to question her.”
Vanessa was brought to the mansion.
For once, she did not arrive wearing confidence.
She looked scared.
Emily watched her enter.
“Was it you?”
Vanessa looked confused.
“What?”
“The accident.”
Vanessa’s face changed.
“No.”
The answer came immediately.
“I didn’t kill Sarah.”
“Then why did Thomas pay you?”
Vanessa froze.
Nobody spoke.
Daniel stepped closer.
“Answer.”
Vanessa looked at Emily.
Then slowly sat down.
“I was twenty-three.”
Emily said nothing.
“I had just married into the family.”
Vanessa’s voice trembled.
“Thomas approached me.”
“What did he want?”
“He wanted information.”
“About what?”
Vanessa looked at Emily.
“About Sarah.”
Emily felt cold.
“You were spying on my mother?”
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Thomas threatened me.”
Daniel frowned.
“With what?”
Vanessa swallowed.
“My past.”
The room became silent.
Everyone had secrets.
Everyone had something they were hiding.
But Vanessa looked different now.
Not like someone protecting power.
Like someone trapped.
“I thought he wanted information.”
She wiped her eyes.
“I didn’t know he was planning to hurt her.”
Emily stared.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“No.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don’t expect forgiveness.”
She looked at Emily.
“But I need you to know something.”
“What?”
Vanessa whispered:
“Thomas was not the only person who wanted your mother gone.”
A pause.
“There was someone else.”
Emily’s heart raced.
“Who?”
Vanessa looked toward Margaret.
The entire room went silent.
Margaret’s face turned pale.
“No…”
Emily stared.
“Mrs. Harrington?”
May you like
Vanessa whispered:
“Your grandmother knew more than she ever admitted.”
