Chapter 8: The Person Behind the Cover-Up
The police evidence was supposed to be untouchable.
That was what Ethan believed.
That was what everyone believed.
But when his phone showed the alert, the confidence in the room disappeared.
Someone had accessed the case files.
Someone had tried to erase them.
And whoever it was knew exactly where to look.
Ethan walked away from the crowd.
“Call Detective Harris.””
The man in the gray suit immediately pulled out his phone.
Lena watched Ethan.
“Who could do this?””
Ethan looked at her.
“I don’t know.””
Vanessa smiled faintly.
“You always thought you knew everything.””
Ethan turned.
“Don’t.””
She shrugged.
“What? You have the truth now, don’t you?””
He stared at her.
“No.””
His voice was cold.
“I have enough to know you’re guilty.””
Vanessa laughed.
“But not enough to know who helped me.””
Nobody spoke.
Because she was right.
There was still a missing piece.
The ballroom doors opened again.
A security officer rushed in.
“Mr. Carter.””
Ethan turned.
“What happened?””
The officer looked nervous.
“We checked the camera system.””
“And?””
“There was a gap.””
Ethan frowned.
“A gap?””
“Someone disabled the cameras for twelve minutes.””
Vanessa looked away.
Lena noticed.
“Those twelve minutes.””
Everyone looked at her.
She swallowed.
“That’s when the accident happened.””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
Ethan looked at Vanessa.
“Who had access?””
Vanessa remained silent.
“Answer me.””
She looked around.
Then she smiled.
“You’re asking the wrong question.””
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
“What does that mean?””
“The question isn’t who helped me.””
She looked directly at Lena.
“The question is who wanted you gone.””
Lena stared.
“What?””
Vanessa leaned back.
“You think this was all about jealousy?””
Ethan stepped forward.
“Stop.””
“No.””
Vanessa’s voice grew louder.
“Everyone thinks I’m the monster because it’s easier.””
She pointed at Lena.
“But ask her what she remembers.””
Lena looked confused.
“I don’t understand.””
Vanessa smiled.
“Of course you don’t.””
Ethan moved closer.
“Enough games.””
But Lena stopped him.
“No.””
She looked at Vanessa.
“Let her talk.””
Everyone went silent.
Vanessa looked surprised.
Maybe she expected Lena to stay quiet.
She always had.
But not anymore.
“What do you remember about that night?”” Vanessa asked.
Lena closed her eyes.
The room waited.
“I remember dinner.””
Her voice was slow.
“I remember arguing.””
She swallowed.
“I remember getting into the car.””
“And?””
Lena pressed her fingers against her temple.
“Then…”
She stopped.
Her breathing changed.
Ethan immediately noticed.
“Lena.””
“I remember a voice.””
Vanessa went still.
“What voice?””
Lena opened her eyes.
“I don’t know.””
The fear on Vanessa’s face returned.
“What did the voice say?””
Lena looked at her.
“You know.””
Vanessa stepped backward.
“No.””
Lena’s voice became stronger.
“The voice said, ‘She can’t find out.’”
Everyone turned toward Vanessa.
Vanessa shook her head.
“That doesn’t mean anything.””
“It means someone else was there.””
Ethan looked at Daniel.
“Was anyone else at the scene?””
Daniel hesitated.
“There was someone.””
The room froze.
“Who?””
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“I saw another vehicle.””
Vanessa’s face changed.
“Don’t.””
Ethan noticed.
“Who was driving?””
Daniel looked at Lena.
“I never saw the face.””
“Then why didn’t you tell anyone?””
Daniel lowered his head.
“Because Vanessa threatened me.””
Ethan looked at Vanessa.
“But?””
Daniel continued.
“But the vehicle belonged to someone else.””
Lena whispered:
“Whose?””
Daniel took a breath.
Then he said:
“The Caldwell family’s second car.””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
The answer was already there.
But nobody wanted to say it.
Ethan stepped closer.
“Who drove it?””
Daniel looked toward the entrance.
Everyone followed his eyes.
Standing outside the ballroom was another person.
A man.
Older.
Wearing a perfectly tailored suit.
Vanessa looked terrified.
“Dad.””
The man walked inside slowly.
And said:
“Enough.””
Lena stared.
Because she recognized him.
Her father.
A man she believed had abandoned her after the accident.
Ethan’s voice became cold.
“Richard Caldwell.””
The older man looked at everyone.
Then at Lena.
“I suppose it’s time you knew why your sister did what she did.””
Lena’s face fell.
“Why?””
May you like
Richard looked away.
“Because I told her to.””
