CHAPTER 8 The Woman Behind The Smile
Vanessa disappeared after leaving the mansion.
But Richard knew she wasn't gone.
People like Vanessa didn't simply walk away.
They prepared.
They planned.
They waited.
Three days later, Richard received a package.
No sender.
Inside was a USB drive.
And one photograph.
The photograph showed Anna.
Standing with Vanessa.
But this wasn't the first time Richard had seen them together.
It was different.
They weren't smiling.
They were arguing.
Richard inserted the USB into his computer.
A video appeared.
The quality was poor.
Old security footage.
The date was six years earlier.
Richard watched silently.
The video showed Anna entering a building.
A private clinic.
Then Vanessa arrived.
They spoke for several minutes.
The audio was unclear.
But one sentence was understandable.
Vanessa said:
"You don't understand what I'm capable of."
Richard stopped the video.
His heart was racing.
Who sent this?
Why now?
His phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
"Hello?"
A woman's voice replied.
"You finally started looking."
Richard stood.
"Who is this?"
"You don't need my name."
"Why are you sending me this?"
A pause.
"Because Anna was right."
Richard's expression changed.
"What do you mean?"
"She knew Vanessa would come after Sophie."
The call ended.
Richard immediately traced the number.
Nothing.
Blocked.
Encrypted.
Someone skilled.
Someone who had been watching.
Later that evening, Marcus arrived with new information.
"Richard, I found something."
"What?"
"Anna's accident report was altered."
Richard looked up.
"Altered how?"
"Someone accessed the file after the investigation closed."
"Who?"
Marcus placed a document down.
The name was there.
Richard stared.
Because the person who changed the report...
Was someone he trusted.
May you like
Someone who had worked for his family for years.
His own lawyer.
