Chapter 6 - THE PERFECT ACCIDENT
Rachel began reconstructing Vanessa’s life.
The deeper investigators looked, the less accidental anything appeared.
Vanessa had used different last names.
Different addresses.
Different employers.
She had moved repeatedly after Michael’s death.
Then she appeared in Malibu.
Six months later, she met Ethan at a charity fundraiser.
At least that was the story she had told him.
Security records from the organization revealed something else.
Vanessa had volunteered for the event only three days after Ethan confirmed he would attend.
“She arranged the meeting.”
Ethan stared through the interview-room glass at Rachel.
“It looks that way.”
“Why me?”
“We’re still working on that.”
Ethan already suspected the answer.
Emily.
Vanessa believed Emily possessed Michael’s evidence.
If Vanessa could enter Ethan’s life, she could search for it.
She could learn what Emily had told him.
She could control what happened to the documents.
But Vanessa had underestimated one thing.
Emily had hidden the evidence so well that even Ethan had not known it existed.
The financial ledger was only part of it.
Michael’s email referred to documents.
Plural.
Ethan returned home and searched every box again.
Nothing.
He checked Emily’s office.
Books.
Drawers.
Old luggage.
Nothing.
Then Sophie wandered into the room carrying her stuffed elephant.
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“Why are you making a mess?”
“I’m looking for something Mommy Emily hid.”
Sophie thought seriously.
“Mommy hid things in books.”
Ethan smiled sadly.
“She did?”
“She hid my birthday stickers.”
He looked at the shelves.
Emily had loved novels.
Hundreds lined the wall.
Ethan began pulling them out.
Two hours later, he found nothing.
Then Sophie picked up an old copy of The Secret Garden.
“This was Mommy’s favorite.”
Ethan remembered.
Emily had read it during her hospital stays.
He opened it.
Several pages had been carefully hollowed out.
Inside was a small brass key.
Ethan stared at it.
Sophie smiled.
“You found treasure.”
Maybe he had.
Rachel traced the key to a safe-deposit box.
It had been rented under Emily’s maiden name.
The bank confirmed the account remained active.
The next morning, Ethan and Rachel entered the vault.
Inside the box was a sealed envelope.
FOR LUCY.
Ethan opened it with Rachel present.
There were bank records.
Photographs.
A flash drive.
And a handwritten letter from Michael.
If Lucy is reading this, I failed to protect you.
Ethan swallowed.
Michael described Vanessa’s financial theft.
He also described threats.
Manipulation.
Attempts to isolate him from Lucy.
Then came the final paragraph.
Vanessa has discovered that I intend to expose her.
If my death is presented as an accident, do not believe it.
Rachel stared at Ethan.
“This is enough to reopen the case completely.”
The flash drive contained recordings.
Michael had secretly recorded several arguments.
Vanessa’s voice was unmistakable.
“You think Lucy will protect you?”
Michael answered.
“She doesn’t need to protect me.”
“You’re going to regret humiliating me.”
“You stole from me.”
“I built your life.”
“You’re leaving this house.”
Then Vanessa said something that made Ethan’s skin crawl.
“People fall every day, Michael.”
The recording ended.
Rachel immediately called her supervisor.
An arrest warrant was requested.
But Vanessa was no longer at her attorney’s house.
She had disappeared sometime during the night.
Ethan rushed home.
Claire met him outside.
Her face was pale.
“Sophie’s fine.”
He almost collapsed with relief.
“Then what happened?”
Claire handed him an envelope.
It had been pushed beneath the front door.
Inside was a photograph of Sophie sleeping.
The picture had been taken that morning.
May you like
Written across the bottom were five words.
YOU SHOULD HAVE STOPPED DIGGING.
