Chapter 17 - Why Vanessa Chose Emily
Vanessa had recognized Emily from the beginning.
The revelation made every past interaction feel different.
The polite smiles.
The small insults.
The unnecessary questions about Emily’s childhood.
The strange interest in how long she had worked for the Hawthornes.
Emily sat in Daniel’s study reading Vanessa’s messages to Adrian.
One message was dated eight months earlier.
CARTER’S DAUGHTER WORKS IN THE HOUSE.
Adrian replied.
ARE YOU SURE?
Vanessa answered.
SAME NAME.
LOOKED HER UP.
Daniel’s expression tightened.
Another message appeared.
SHE MAY KNOW SOMETHING.
Vanessa responded.
SHE DOESN’T.
BUT HER FATHER HID RECORDS.
Adrian wrote back.
THEN KEEP HER CLOSE.
Emily felt sick.
“They weren’t afraid of what I knew.”
Grant shook his head.
“They were afraid of what you might accidentally lead them to.”
That explained Vanessa’s sudden friendliness months earlier.
She had invited Emily to speak about her childhood.
Asked about her father.
Asked whether he left anything behind.
Emily had interpreted it as casual curiosity.
It had been an investigation.
Then Vanessa became impatient.
The message from two weeks earlier was clear.
CARTER GIRL SAW ME LEAVING THE STUDY.
Adrian responded.
GET HER OUT.
Vanessa asked.
HOW?
Adrian’s answer contained only two words.
MAKE EVIDENCE.
Emily stared at the screen.
“The necklace.”
Daniel nodded.
Vanessa had selected Margaret’s most recognizable piece of jewelry.
She intended to plant it.
Accuse Emily.
Have her fired.
Possibly arrested.
Then search Emily’s belongings without suspicion.
The plan would have worked.
Except Daniel had installed a new foyer camera two days earlier after a delivery dispute.
Vanessa apparently did not know.
One camera had destroyed a seventeen-year criminal strategy.
Emily leaned back.
“She slapped me because she thought she had won.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Yes.”
“She thought everybody would believe the necklace.”
“Yes.”
Emily shook her head.
“And they did.”
Daniel lowered his eyes.
“For a few minutes.”
“That was enough.”
Margaret entered quietly.
She had heard the last sentence.
She approached Emily.
“I owe you more than an apology.”
Emily looked at her.
Margaret removed the diamond necklace from a velvet box.
The same necklace Vanessa had planted.
“I don’t want that.”
“I’m not giving it to you.”
Margaret sat beside her.
“I wanted to tell you something.”
Emily waited.
“This necklace belonged to my mother.”
Margaret looked at the diamonds.
“For decades, I thought its value came from what it cost.”
She closed the box.
“Yesterday, it became the ugliest object I owned.”
Emily’s expression softened.
Margaret continued.
“Not because of the diamonds.”
“Because of what Vanessa used it for.”
Margaret nodded.
“I’m selling it.”
Daniel looked surprised.
Margaret continued.
“The money will establish a legal defense fund for workers falsely accused by employers.”
Emily stared at her.
Margaret smiled through tears.
“And I want it named after Robert Carter.”
Emily could not speak.
Daniel placed his hand on his mother’s shoulder.
For the first time, the necklace that had been used to destroy Emily’s dignity would become part of restoring someone else’s.
Then Grant’s phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
Daniel knew immediately.
“Vanessa?”
Grant nodded.
Canadian police had found her.
May you like
But Vanessa was demanding one condition before she surrendered.
She wanted to speak to Emily.
