Chapter 11: The Witness
Vanessa was in a hospital room with a bandage around her forehead and bruising along her jaw.
When I entered, she looked away.
I stopped at the doorway.
“Vanessa.””
Her eyes returned to mine.
“I didn't know.””
I walked closer.
“Know what?””
“That he was capable of this.””
I pulled a chair beside the bed.
“You knew he was married.””
“Yes.””
“You knew he lied.””
“Yes.””
“You still stayed.””
Tears filled her eyes.
“I thought he loved me.””
I looked at her for a long moment.
Then I asked the question that mattered.
“What did the man say?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“He knew your brothers.””
“How?””
“I don't know.””
“Did he mention Adrian?””
“Yes.””
“What did he say?””
She closed her eyes.
“He said Adrian didn't want you dead.””
My stomach tightened.
“Then what does he want?””
“He wants you scared.””
“Why?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't know.””
I reached for the photograph I'd taken from Adrian's safe.
“Have you seen this?””
She stared at it.
Her face went pale.
“Yes.””
“Where?””
“In Adrian's office.””
“Why was it there?””
“I asked him.””
“What did he say?””
Vanessa looked at me.
“He told me it was insurance.””
“Insurance against what?””
“You.””
My chest tightened.
“Against me?””
“He said if you ever left him, there were things about your family that would destroy you.””
Marcus, standing near the window, clenched his jaw.
“What things?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Vanessa, think carefully.””
She looked at him.
“He kept talking about a warehouse.””
“What warehouse?””
“I don't know.””
“Where?””
“South side. Near the river.””
Daniel exchanged a look with Detective Bennett.
“Any address?””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“I remember a number.””
“What number?””
“Seventeen.””
Julian frowned.
“Warehouse seventeen?””
She nodded.
“That's all I know.””
Detective Bennett left immediately to make a call.
I sat quietly.
Vanessa looked at me.
“I am sorry.””
I believed her.
Not because she deserved forgiveness.
Because she looked genuinely broken.
“You should have told me.””
“I was scared.””
“So was I.””
She nodded.
Then she reached beneath her pillow.
“I took this.””
She handed me a small flash drive.
“What is it?””
“Something from Adrian's office.””
“When?””
“Before the gala.””
I stared at it.
“Why?””
“Because I suspected he was lying to me.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“What's on it?””
“Videos.””
My pulse quickened.
“Of what?””
“Your father.””
I looked at Daniel.
He immediately connected the drive to his laptop.
A folder appeared.
Six video files.
The first showed my father sitting behind a desk.
He looked tired.
Older than I remembered.
A man sat opposite him.
Richard Cole.
My father's voice came through the speakers.
“You're destroying your own son.””
Richard answered.
“Your daughter is the problem.””
“She doesn't even know about the company.””
“She will.””
“And when she does?””
Richard smiled.
“Then Adrian will make sure she never has a chance to tell anyone.””
I covered my mouth.
The video ended.
The second file began.
This time, Adrian was in the room.
He looked younger.
But unmistakably himself.
Richard said, “You understand what happens if you fail.””
Adrian nodded.
“I'll marry her.””
My blood went cold.
Marcus whispered, “No.””
Adrian continued.
“I'll get control of the trust.””
Richard smiled.
“And then?””
Adrian looked toward the camera.
“I'll make her dependent on me.””
The video ended.
Nobody moved.
I felt like I was watching someone else’s life.
My entire marriage had been planned before I ever knew his name.
Daniel opened the third file.
The timestamp appeared.
*Three days before my father's death.*
My father's voice came through.
“If anything happens to me, Claire must know the truth.””
Then the screen flickered.
A shadow appeared behind him.
Someone entered the room.
My father looked up.
His face changed.
He whispered one word.
“Richard?””
The screen went black.
Vanessa gasped.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He answered.
His face turned white.
“Detective Bennett?””
He listened.
Then looked at me.
“The police just searched Warehouse 17.””
“What did they find?””
May you like
Daniel swallowed.
“They found your father's missing car.””
