Chapter 5: The Recording in Tyler's Backpack
Daniel didn't plug in the USB drive immediately.
He placed it inside an evidence envelope and documented where it had come from.
Tyler watched him nervously.
"Am I in trouble?""
Daniel shook his head.
"You're not in trouble for bringing something forward. But I need to understand how you obtained this recording.""
Tyler looked at me.
"Mom was talking in her bedroom. She thought I was upstairs.""
"How did you record it?""
"I left my tablet on the dresser. I was trying to record her because she kept saying Maya was stealing.""
I studied him.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?""
His face crumpled.
"Because I was scared.""
He glanced toward Maya.
"Mom said if I told you anything, she'd make sure I never saw Sophie again.""
Maya sat silently on the sofa.
She wasn't looking at him.
I understood why.
For months, Tyler had been allowed to watch her struggle while he enjoyed the privileges she was denied. Now he was asking us to trust him.
I couldn't demand that my daughter forgive him.
But I could listen.
Daniel arranged for the recording to be examined properly. He also asked Tyler to describe exactly when and where it had been made.
According to Tyler, it was recorded the previous Sunday evening.
Vanessa had been speaking to a man.
Tyler didn't recognize the voice.
"Did you hear his name?"" Daniel asked.
Tyler nodded.
"She called him Richard.""
Daniel wrote it down.
"What else?""
Tyler looked uncomfortable.
"She said the money was almost ready.""
"What money?""
"I don't know.""
He swallowed.
"Then she said Marcus wouldn't fight once the paperwork was finished.""
My chest tightened.
Daniel looked at me.
"Did she mention Maya?""
Tyler nodded.
"She said Maya would be gone before Christmas, and nobody would question it because everyone already thought she was difficult.""
Maya finally looked up.
"Why would she say that?""
Tyler stared at the floor.
"Because Mom said she was going to tell people you ran away.""
Maya went completely still.
I moved toward her.
"Sweetheart...""
"She told me that.""
Her voice was barely audible.
"She said if I kept telling Dad things, she'd make sure everyone believed I was a bad girl who ran away because nobody loved me.""
Tyler began crying.
"I'm sorry.""
Maya didn't respond.
Daniel picked up the evidence envelope.
"We'll need to verify the recording and identify the other person. Until then, nobody should confront Vanessa about it.""
I nodded.
Then I looked at Tyler.
"Where is Sophie?""
"At home.""
"With your mother?""
He nodded.
"She doesn't know I came here.""
I stood immediately.
"We need to make sure she's safe too.""
Daniel called the appropriate authorities to request guidance regarding the children's welfare. We didn't want to create another confrontation that might put Sophie at risk.
A short time later, my phone rang.
Vanessa.
I answered.
"Where are you?"" she demanded.
"Why?""
"Tyler isn't home.""
I looked at the boy standing beside Daniel.
"He's safe.""
"Put him on the phone.""
"No.""
Her voice sharpened.
"Marcus, don't you dare turn my son against me.""
I kept my voice steady.
"Tyler came to speak with me.""
"About what?""
"About the necklace you put in Maya's backpack.""
Silence.
Then Vanessa laughed.
"You're believing that little liar?""
I looked at Tyler.
He was trembling.
"Did you put the necklace in Maya's bag?""
"That's none of your business.""
"Did you prepare documents claiming she was a thief?""
"She is a thief!""
"Then why did your son record you discussing a plan to make her disappear?""
The silence that followed was different.
Longer.
Heavier.
Finally, Vanessa spoke.
"What recording?""
I ended the call.
Daniel gave me a warning look.
"That was risky.""
"I know.""
He checked his phone.
"Actually, we have something.""
He turned his laptop toward me.
The recording had been reviewed sufficiently to identify several clear portions, although the full authentication process was still underway.
The audio began with Vanessa's voice.
"Richard, I need this finished before Marcus discovers the other account.""
A man's voice replied.
"You're running out of time.""
Vanessa answered:
"The girl is becoming a problem.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
The man said something about the trust.
Then Vanessa spoke again.
"Once she's placed somewhere else, I can finally deal with the money without Marcus interfering.""
The recording continued.
Richard asked whether the documents were ready.
Vanessa answered:
"Almost. I have the signature. I just need the final approval.""
I leaned closer.
"What signature?""
Daniel paused the audio.
"That's what we need to establish.""
The recording resumed.
Then the man's voice said something that made Daniel stop typing.
"Are you sure Marcus won't recognize it?""
Vanessa laughed.
"He's never checked anything I've signed. Why would he start now?""
I stared at the laptop.
She had been using my trust in her as a weapon.
And apparently, someone had helped her.
The recording ended with Vanessa saying:
"After Christmas, Maya won't be our problem anymore.""
Tyler covered his face.
Maya had stopped moving entirely.
I closed the laptop.
"Who is Richard?""
Tyler shook his head.
"I don't know.""
Daniel searched the name against the records already available.
A few minutes later, he found something.
Richard Cole.
A private financial consultant who had previously worked with Vanessa's property company.
But that wasn't the most disturbing discovery.
His name appeared on a document attached to the trust's disputed amendment.
He had witnessed the signature.
I looked at the date again.
The date my mother's accountant had supposedly witnessed my signature.
But the accountant had already been dead.
Richard Cole's name appeared in the same section as his.
"Daniel, is this enough to prove the amendment is fraudulent?""
"Not yet. But it gives us a specific person to investigate.""
He turned to Tyler.
"Did your mother keep any other recordings or documents?""
Tyler hesitated.
"There's something in the garage.""
"What?""
"A box.""
"What kind of box?""
"Mom told me never to touch it. She said it belonged to Richard.""
My phone vibrated.
A new message from Vanessa appeared.
*I know Tyler is with you. If he gave you anything, return it immediately.*
Then another.
*You have no idea what you're getting involved in.*
I showed Daniel.
He read both messages.
"We're going to preserve everything.""
I looked at Maya.
"Sweetheart, we're going to stay somewhere safe for a while.""
She nodded.
Then she asked a question I hadn't expected.
"Can Sophie come too?""
I looked at her.
"Why?""
Maya's eyes filled.
"Because Vanessa makes her tell me I'm bad when she doesn't want to do it herself.""
Tyler started crying again.
"She told Sophie that Maya was stealing our things. She said Sophie shouldn't play with her because Maya was dangerous.""
I looked at the two children.
One had been forced to lie.
The other had been forced to believe she deserved punishment.
I realized Vanessa hadn't simply divided the household.
She had been deliberately turning the children against one another.
And if I wanted to protect all of them, I needed to understand exactly what she had planned.
Daniel's phone rang.
He listened for a moment.
Then his expression changed.
"Marcus, the financial consultant has just been located.""
"Where?""
"He's scheduled to meet someone tomorrow morning.""
"Who?""
May you like
Daniel looked at the document on his desk.
"Your wife.""
