Chapter 7 - Vanessa Starts Talking
Vanessa asked for an attorney.
Then she asked for immunity.
Then she asked to speak to me.
Nolan refused the third request.
I agreed anyway.
We met inside a police interview room that afternoon.
She no longer wore my husband’s robe.
Someone had given her gray sweatpants and a sweatshirt.
Without expensive clothing, perfect makeup, and Grant beside her, she looked smaller.
But I did not mistake vulnerability for innocence.
“You hurt my daughter.”
Vanessa stared at the table.
“I disciplined her.”
“You burned her.”
Her eyes flicked upward.
“I never burned her.”
“There is a circular burn on her shoulder.”
Vanessa went pale.
“That wasn’t me.”
I watched her carefully.
“Who?”
She hesitated.
“Grant.”
The room went silent.
“What happened?”
“She knocked over his whiskey.”
My hands clenched under the table.
“He was angry.”
“What did he do?”
Vanessa swallowed.
“He touched the hot end of his cigar to her shoulder.”
For several seconds, I heard nothing except the air-conditioning vent above us.
“You watched?”
“I told him to stop.”
“But you stayed.”
She looked away.
“You stayed in the house.”
“Yes.”
“You wore my clothes.”
“Yes.”
“You slept with my husband.”
“Yes.”
“You stepped on my daughter’s hand.”
Vanessa’s voice dropped.
“Yes.”
There was no excuse large enough to cover that word.
“Why?”
“She hated me.”
“She is five.”
“She kept asking for you.”
“She kept saying you were coming home.”
Vanessa rubbed her forehead.
“Grant hated hearing it.”
“Why?”
“Because he was scared you actually would.”
That answer mattered.
“What was supposed to happen before I came home?”
Vanessa looked toward the mirrored glass.
“I want protection.”
Nolan spoke through the intercom.
“Tell the truth first.”
Vanessa breathed deeply.
“Grant said you were going to die during the operation.”
“Did he tell you how?”
“He said there would be an ambush.”
My entire body went cold.
“When?”
“I don’t know.”
“Vanessa.”
“I swear.”
She started crying.
“I didn’t know he caused it.”
“You knew enough to move into my house.”
“He told me you were never coming back.”
She looked at me desperately.
“He said your people had enemies.”
“He said one of them would take care of you.”
I stood.
Vanessa reached toward me.
“Wait.”
I stopped.
She whispered.
“There’s a safe in Grant’s office.”
“I know about the safe.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“Not the wall safe.”
“There’s another one.”
My eyes narrowed.
“Where?”
“Under Lily’s floor.”
I turned slowly.
Vanessa wiped her face.
May you like
“He hid it beneath her bed because he said nobody would ever search a child’s room.”
And once again, Grant had used our daughter as cover.
