Chapter 9: Vanessa’s Second Home
“Her what?””
Dad’s voice cracked through the office.
Madison immediately looked frightened.
“Dad…”
“What condo?””
Mr. Brennan leaned back in his chair.
I stared at Madison.
She looked like she wanted to disappear.
“My mom has a condo.””
Dad’s face became unreadable.
“Where?””
“Lakeview.””
“How long?””
“I don’t know exactly.””
“Madison.””
She swallowed.
“Maybe two years.””
Dad sat down.
For several seconds, he didn’t move.
Then he asked the question I knew he was afraid to ask.
“You’ve been there?””
Madison nodded.
“A few times.””
“With Vanessa?””
“Yes.””
“What did she tell you it was?””
Madison wiped her face.
“She said it was an investment.””
Dad laughed quietly.
There was no humor in it.
“An investment I knew nothing about.””
“She told me you knew.””
“Of course she did.””
I looked at Mr. Brennan.
“Could Mom’s money have paid for it?””
He pointed toward the transaction.
“If this property company received thirty-two thousand dollars from the custodial account, we need to establish why.””
Dad stood.
“We’re going there.””
Mr. Brennan raised a hand.
“Daniel, don’t confront anyone recklessly.””
“I’m not confronting anyone.””
Dad picked up the documents.
“I’m finding out what belongs to my daughter.””
Forty minutes later, we pulled into an underground parking garage beneath a luxury condominium building.
Madison guided us upstairs.
Apartment 804.
She stopped outside the door.
“I don’t have a key.””
Dad looked at her.
“How did you get in before?””
“Mom.””
Dad knocked.
Nothing.
He knocked again.
Still nothing.
Then the elevator doors opened behind us.
Vanessa stepped out.
She was carrying two shopping bags.
She froze.
Nobody spoke.
Her eyes moved from Dad…
to Madison…
to me.
Then to the folder in Dad’s hand.
“What are you doing here?””
Dad looked at the apartment door.
“Apparently visiting property my daughter helped pay for.””
Vanessa’s face changed.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.””
Madison whispered, “Mom, stop.””
Vanessa turned toward her.
“You brought them here?””
“I told them the truth.””
“You had no right.””
Madison stared at her.
“No right?””
Her voice shook.
“You used me.””
“I gave you everything.””
“With Emily’s money!””
Vanessa’s shopping bag slipped from her hand.
A bottle of perfume rolled across the hallway.
Dad didn’t move.
“Open the door.””
“No.””
“Vanessa.””
“This property has nothing to do with Emily.””
Dad held up the bank record.
“Thirty-two thousand dollars from Laura’s custodial account went directly to the company that owns this unit.””
Vanessa’s lips parted.
Nothing came out.
“Open the door.””
For several seconds, she refused.
Then she pulled out her keys.
The apartment was beautiful.
Floor-to-ceiling windows.
White furniture.
Marble counters.
Designer lamps.
Everything looked untouched.
Expensive.
Temporary.
Like a life waiting for someone.
I walked slowly through the living room.
Then I stopped.
On the shelf was a framed photograph.
Vanessa and Madison.
Taken in Miami.
Beside it was another photograph.
Vanessa standing in front of this building holding keys.
Dad picked it up.
“What is this place?””
Vanessa dropped her purse onto the counter.
“My security.””
Dad stared at her.
“Security from what?””
“From you.””
The words landed hard.
Vanessa continued.
“I needed something in my own name.””
“So you used Emily’s inheritance?””
“I intended to repay it.””
“When?””
She didn’t answer.
Dad laughed bitterly.
“When she turned eighteen?””
Vanessa’s eyes flashed.
“You don’t know what it’s like depending on someone else for everything.””
I stepped forward.
“So you made sure I would have nothing.””
She looked at me.
“That’s not what I did.””
“You took my college money.””
“I borrowed it.””
“You sold my mother’s car.””
“It was depreciating.””
“You used another account for this condo.””
“It was an investment.””
Every answer sounded rehearsed.
Every theft had a softer word.
Borrowed.
Invested.
Necessary.
Family.
Dad walked toward the hallway.
Vanessa stepped in front of him.
“Where are you going?””
“To see what else is here.””
“You can’t search my home.””
Dad stopped.
“Your home?””
He looked around.
“My daughter paid the deposit.””
Vanessa’s expression hardened.
“Get out.””
Dad ignored her and walked toward a small office.
I followed.
There was a desk.
A filing cabinet.
A printer.
Nothing unusual.
Until Madison noticed the cardboard box beneath the window.
“Mom…”
Vanessa rushed forward.
“Don’t touch that.””
Too late.
Madison pulled it open.
Inside were things I recognized instantly.
Mom’s photographs.
The ones Vanessa supposedly threw away.
Her jewelry box.
Her favorite scarf.
Her recipe notebook.
My knees almost gave out.
“You kept them?””
Vanessa stood frozen.
I picked up the velvet jewelry case.
Inside was Mom’s heart necklace.
I started crying before I could stop myself.
Dad looked at Vanessa.
“You stole these from Emily.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I protected them.””
“From whom?””
She couldn’t answer.
Then I noticed an envelope beneath the jewelry box.
It had my name on it.
Not Vanessa’s handwriting.
Mom’s.
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph of Mom standing beside the blue Honda.
On the back, she had written:
“For Emily—when she finally understands why I kept the car.””
Below that was an address.
Dad looked over my shoulder.
“I know that place.””
“What is it?””
His face changed.
“It’s the storage facility Laura used before we married.””
Vanessa suddenly moved toward me.
“Give me that.””
I pulled the photograph against my chest.
“No.””
“Emily, you don’t understand.””
“Then explain it.””
She stared at the address.
And for the first time since this began, Vanessa looked genuinely frightened.
Dad noticed too.
“What’s at that storage facility?””
Vanessa whispered,
“Nothing.””
But Madison shook her head.
“No, Mom.””
She pointed toward the photograph.
“You went there last month.””
Vanessa turned sharply.
Madison’s voice dropped.
“I saw the receipt in your car.””
Then she looked at me.
“And whatever she took out of that storage unit…”
May you like
She swallowed.
“…she brought it here.””
