Chapter 11 - THE CONSPIRACY ON THE STAIRCASE
Police arrested Vanessa before midnight.
She was charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment of an unborn child.
She cried during processing.
She claimed the shove was impulsive.
Then investigators showed her the message from Richard.
Khloe gave everything to federal agents.
Harrison will protect her.
You will take the fall alone.
Vanessa stopped crying.
“He told me she destroyed us.”
“He brought you to the courthouse,” Detective Mara Sinclair said.
“He pulled the alarm.”
“He positioned you near Khloe.”
“He warned you that you would be blamed.”
Vanessa stared at the table.
“He said we needed to make her lose control.”
“What did that mean?”
“She was supposed to yell.”
“Maybe slap me.”
“Then reporters would see she was unstable.”
“Did Richard tell you to push her?”
“No.”
“Did he know you might become physical?”
Vanessa did not answer.
Mara played another message.
Richard wrote:
Do whatever you need to do.
Just make sure she cannot walk into the next hearing looking innocent.
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Richard had not written the word push.
He had created the result while preserving language he could deny.
Daniel Price was arrested the next morning for conspiracy, evidence tampering, and obstruction.
He admitted distracting Harrison.
He claimed he knew nothing about the planned shove.
Phone records showed Richard told him:
Get Cole away from her for ten seconds.
Price received fifty thousand dollars through a shell company that morning.
Richard was arrested at a private airport.
He carried two passports, cash, and a ticket to the Cayman Islands.
His attorney called it a scheduled business trip.
The judge called it evidence of flight risk.
Bail was denied.
Harrison watched the arraignment from the hospital.
Khloe remained unconscious.
Hope remained inside an incubator.
The infant wore a breathing mask and a knitted white cap.
Her hand was smaller than Harrison’s thumb.
He placed one finger through the opening.
Hope’s fingers closed around it.
Harrison stopped breathing.
“You’re your mother’s daughter.”
A nurse smiled.
“She has a strong grip.”
“She comes from stubborn people.”
He stayed until Khloe woke.
It happened thirty-six hours after surgery.
Her eyes opened slowly.
Harrison was beside her.
“Harry?”
“I’m here.”
“The baby?”
“Alive.”
Khloe began crying.
“Is she okay?”
“She is fighting.”
“Can I see her?”
“When the doctor approves.”
Khloe looked toward the empty side of the room.
“Richard?”
“In custody.”
“And Vanessa?”
“In custody.”
She closed her eyes.
“I remember falling.”
“You do not have to talk about it now.”
“I remember him watching.”
May you like
Harrison took her hand carefully.
“He will not watch from a safe distance anymore.”
