Chapter 9: Vanessa’s Mistake
Vanessa came to the lake house three nights later.
She was drunk, mascara streaked, voice shaking with a mixture of fear and fury.
“You don’t understand,” she said. “He promised me everything. The company. The life. He said the children were never supposed to… he said it would be quick.”
I let her talk.
She told me how Daniel had planned it for months. How Richard had helped disable the secondary systems. How they had waited until I left for wine because they knew my habits. How Daniel had stood in the nursery doorway and watched the twins sleep before walking out and locking the door behind him.
When she finished, I poured her a glass of water.
“You’re going to write all of that down,” I said. “You’re going to sign it. And then you’re going to disappear before he decides you’re a liability too.”
She stared at me.
“Why would you help me?”
“I’m not helping you,” I answered. “I’m using you. There’s a difference.”
May you like
She signed the statement.
By morning she was gone. The statement was already in the hands of the detective who had originally closed the case.
