Chapter 13: The Maid of Honor's Final Secret
The airport was already crowded when we arrived.
Richard had arranged for two police officers to meet us near the private terminal. Graham walked beside me, holding his phone and repeatedly checking the messages from Brooke.
I couldn't stop thinking about one sentence.
The original plan was to make him disappear.
Daniel hadn't simply died in an accident.
Someone had planned something.
And my sister had been part of it.
"Claire.""
Richard stopped beside the security entrance.
"Before we see Brooke, I need you to understand something. Whatever she tells us, we cannot assume she's telling the whole truth.""
I nodded.
"She's been protecting Vanessa for years.""
"Exactly.""
Graham looked toward the terminal.
"Where is she?""
An officer approached us.
"She's in the interview room. She refused to speak until Claire arrived.""
I swallowed.
"Why me?""
The officer hesitated.
"She said she owes you an explanation.""
We followed him down a narrow corridor.
Brooke sat at a metal table.
Her expensive wedding dress from the previous evening had been replaced by jeans and a gray sweater. Her hair was tied back, and her hands were wrapped around a paper cup.
When she saw me, she stood.
"Claire.""
I didn't sit.
"Tell me what happened to Daniel.""
She looked at the officers.
One of them nodded.
"You can speak.""
Brooke took a breath.
"Four years ago, Vanessa told me she needed help with a financial problem. She said your husband had discovered something about her business and was threatening to expose her.""
"What business?""
"The company that received your money. Thomas helped set it up.""
Richard placed a folder on the table.
"Did you know the company was fraudulent?""
Brooke nodded.
"I knew eventually. At first, Vanessa told me it was legitimate.""
I stared at her.
"Why did you stay?""
She looked down.
"Because she had evidence that I had helped move some of the money.""
Graham's expression hardened.
"So you protected her because she could implicate you.""
"Yes.""
Brooke's voice cracked.
"I was afraid.""
I leaned forward.
"Did you know she planned to hurt Daniel?""
Brooke shook her head.
"Not at first.""
She opened her handbag and removed a small envelope.
Inside was a memory card.
"This is the original recording.""
Richard took it carefully.
"Where did you get this?""
"Thomas gave it to Vanessa after the accident. She asked me to destroy it, but I made a copy.""
"Why?""
Brooke looked at me.
"Because I heard what she said afterward.""
She took out her phone and played another recording.
Vanessa's voice filled the room.
"Thomas, I told you to make him disappear, not kill him!""
A man's voice answered.
"You told me to make sure he never reached the police.""
"Now he's dead!""
"Then stop shouting and think.""
There was a pause.
Then Vanessa spoke again.
"Did you get the phone?""
"Yes.""
"And the wallet?""
"Yes.""
"Good. Make sure the police find everything where it belongs.""
The recording ended.
I felt physically sick.
Richard immediately signaled to the officers.
"Preserve that file. We need a forensic copy.""
Brooke continued.
"There's more.""
She placed another photograph on the table.
It showed Daniel sitting in a car outside a warehouse.
A second vehicle was parked behind him.
"Where was this taken?"" Graham asked.
"At the warehouse Thomas used for his business.""
"Why?""
Brooke swallowed.
"Because Daniel wasn't supposed to leave that building.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
"Thomas had arranged for Daniel to meet him there. He wanted him to sign a statement accepting responsibility for the financial transfers.""
"Why would Daniel sign that?""
"He wouldn't.""
Brooke looked toward the floor.
"Vanessa told me the plan was to frighten him. They wanted him to believe that if he refused, Claire would lose custody of Lily.""
My hands curled into fists.
"And then?""
"Daniel escaped from the warehouse. He got into his car and drove away. Thomas and Vanessa followed him.""
Richard leaned forward.
"Who was driving the vehicle that followed him?""
Brooke hesitated.
"Vanessa.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"She chased my husband?""
Brooke nodded.
"Thomas was in the passenger seat. I was in the back.""
The room went silent.
"You were there?"" I whispered.
"Yes.""
I stared at her.
"You watched?""
She began crying.
"I was terrified. Vanessa was driving too fast. Daniel tried to get away, but she kept following him.""
"Then what happened?""
Brooke wiped her face.
"At the intersection, Thomas told her to stop. He said there were cameras. Vanessa refused. She accelerated.""
I couldn't breathe.
"Did she hit his car?""
Brooke nodded.
"She struck the rear quarter panel. Daniel lost control.""
I gripped the edge of the table.
"And Thomas switched seats afterward?""
"Yes. Vanessa was hysterical. Thomas told her to get into the passenger seat.
He moved Daniel's wallet and identification. He said the police would believe Daniel had been driving because the vehicle registration was in his name.""
Richard stood.
"That is enough. We need the original recording.""
Brooke pushed the memory card toward him.
"There's one more thing.""
She looked directly at me.
"Vanessa didn't know I kept the second copy.""
"What does that have to do with anything?""
Brooke swallowed.
"She knew Daniel had left something behind. Something more important than the insurance policy.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"An audio recording of the conversation inside the warehouse.""
She reached into her bag and produced a small silver device.
"Daniel hid it in the lining of his jacket. Thomas never found it.""
My heart stopped.
"Where is it?""
Brooke looked toward the officers.
"I gave it to someone.""
"Who?""
She hesitated.
Then she whispered:
"Your daughter.""
I stood abruptly.
"What?""
Brooke began crying harder.
"Last weekend, Vanessa left Lily alone in her office. Lily found the device inside a box. She must have taken it.""
Everything went cold.
I remembered Lily mentioning the silver box.
The phone.
The papers.
And the video she had seen.
I rushed to call Richard's housekeeper.
No answer.
I called again.
Still nothing.
Then Graham's phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed immediately.
"What do you mean she's gone?""
I grabbed his arm.
"What happened?""
He ended the call.
"Lily isn't at Richard's house.""
My heart began pounding.
"Where is she?""
Graham looked at me.
"The housekeeper says Vanessa called and claimed you were coming to collect her.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"Vanessa has Lily?""
Before anyone could answer, my phone vibrated.
A video message appeared.
It showed Lily sitting in the back of a car, wearing her little pink coat.
Her eyes were frightened.
Vanessa's voice came from behind the camera.
"Claire, I think it's time we had a proper family conversation.""
Then the camera turned toward the driver's seat.
May you like
My father was behind the wheel.
And he was smiling.
