Chapter 5: Vanessa Knew My Secret
At 11:43 that morning, Rebecca arrived at Sarah's office carrying a brown envelope.
She looked exhausted.
Her hair was tied back, and her wedding ring was gone.
"I found something," she said.
Sarah closed the office door.
"What happened?""
Rebecca placed the envelope on the desk.
"Vanessa called me last night. She wanted to negotiate.""
"Negotiate what?"" I asked.
Rebecca looked at me.
"Her silence.""
I frowned.
"About Tyler?""
"About everything. She says Tyler promised her money, but he hasn't paid her what he owes.""
Sarah opened the envelope.
Inside were printed photographs, bank statements, and several pages of handwritten notes.
Rebecca pointed to a photograph.
It showed Vanessa standing outside a small office building.
Beside her was a man I didn't recognize.
"That's Richard Cole," Rebecca explained.
"He used to work in property acquisitions. He was fired from his previous company after an investigation into fraudulent real estate transactions.""
Sarah studied the picture.
"Why is Vanessa meeting him?""
"Because he helped her establish the consulting business.""
I stared at the photograph.
"Does Tyler know?""
Rebecca nodded.
"He knows Richard. They met twice aboard the ship.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"What were they planning?""
Rebecca pulled out another document.
"This is the part I think you'll find interesting.""
It was a copy of a property evaluation.
My house.
The report listed the estimated market value at $485,000.
Under the heading Proposed Acquisition Structure, someone had written:
Transfer to V. Sterling Consulting following execution of spousal authorization.
I looked at Sarah.
"That means they were going to take my house.""
"That's what it appears to indicate," she replied.
Rebecca lowered her voice.
"There's something else. Vanessa told me Tyler wasn't the one who originally approached her.""
I frowned.
"Then who did?""
"Richard.""
Sarah stopped turning the pages.
"Explain.""
Rebecca took a breath.
"Richard knew Tyler was married to a woman who owned property. He contacted Vanessa through a mutual acquaintance. She started working aboard the cruise ship as a temporary guest-relations contractor.""
I stared at her.
"She got on that ship to meet my husband?""
"Apparently.""
Rebecca continued.
"Vanessa told me she didn't initially intend to have an affair with him. Her job was to get close enough to learn about his finances and convince him to sign certain documents.""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"So the entire relationship was a setup?""
"That's what she claims.""
Sarah leaned back.
"Claims aren't evidence. We need something that establishes her role.""
Rebecca nodded.
"That's why I brought this.""
She pulled out a printed email.
The sender was Richard Cole.
The recipient was Vanessa.
The subject line read: Carter Account.
I began reading.
Tyler is becoming impatient. Remind him that the property transfer must happen before his return. His wife should remain unaware until the funds clear.
My throat tightened.
Another paragraph followed.
If the wife becomes suspicious, use the medical expenses as leverage. He has enough access to her personal information to make the paperwork appear legitimate.
I put the page down.
"Medical expenses?""
Rebecca looked at me carefully.
"Did you have expensive hospital bills when the twins were born?""
I nodded.
"We had insurance, but there were complications. The hospital charges were higher than expected.""
"Did Tyler ever ask you to send him copies of the bills?""
I remembered.
He'd requested them several times, saying he needed to organize our finances.
"Yes.""
Sarah made a note.
"Those documents may contain personal information. We should include them in the identity-theft investigation.""
My phone buzzed again.
An incoming video call.
Tyler.
I almost declined it.
Then Sarah said, "Answer. Don't discuss anything about the investigation.""
I accepted.
His face appeared on the screen.
He was sitting in a hotel room, wearing a white shirt with the collar open.
"Emily, thank God.""
"What do you want?""
"I want to see my daughters.""
I looked toward the carriers.
"They're sleeping.""
"I don't care. I haven't seen them properly yet.""
I stared at him.
"You walked past them yesterday.""
His jaw tightened.
"Don't start.""
"Then don't pretend you're the victim.""
He rubbed his face.
"Listen, Vanessa lied to me.""
I almost laughed.
"About what? Being married? Having a child?
Having a business? Or planning to steal my house?""
He went completely still.
"Who told you about the house?""
"That's not important.""
"Emily, you need to stop talking to Rebecca. She's unstable.""
Rebecca, sitting beside me, gave a bitter smile.
I leaned toward the phone.
"Did you know Vanessa was married?""
He looked away.
"Not at first.""
"And when did you find out?""
"Later.""
"When?""
He didn't answer.
I waited.
Finally, he muttered, "About two months ago.""
My chest tightened.
Two months.
Our daughters had been barely a month old.
"Did you know she had a baby?""
His eyes flickered.
"Emily—"
"Did you?""
He lowered his voice.
"Yes.""
I felt something inside me break all over again.
"Did you know the baby was yours?""
He didn't answer.
That silence told me more than any confession could.
Then Tyler leaned closer to the camera.
"There's something you don't understand. Vanessa has been threatening me. She said she'd expose everything unless I helped her.""
I stared at him.
"Then why did you kiss her?""
His expression hardened.
"Because I was trying to keep her calm.""
Rebecca let out a sharp laugh.
Tyler heard it.
"Is that Rebecca? Get her away from this.""
Rebecca stood up.
"Tyler, I hope you enjoy explaining to your son why you abandoned him for a married man who abandoned his own children.""
Tyler ended the call.
The office fell silent.
I looked down at Piper, who had started stirring.
Then my phone rang again.
This time, the caller ID displayed an unknown number.
I answered cautiously.
A man's voice came through.
"Mrs. Carter? My name is Richard Cole.""
I froze.
"How did you get my number?""
"That isn't important. What matters is that I can help you recover the money your husband and Vanessa took.""
Sarah immediately gestured for me to put the call on speaker.
I did.
Richard continued.
"But I need something in return.""
"What?""
"A meeting. Alone. No lawyers, no Michael Bennett, and absolutely no Rebecca.""
Sarah shook her head firmly.
I swallowed.
"Why would I meet you?""
Richard laughed softly.
"Because, Mrs. Carter, Tyler didn't just use your signature.""
He paused.
"He used your daughters' identities, too.""
My blood turned cold.
"What did you just say?""
May you like
"Check the insurance policy he opened three weeks after their birth.""
Then he hung up.
