Chapter 7: What Vanessa Knew About My First Wife's Death
Mark Ellison arrived at the police station carrying a cardboard folder and looking like a man who hadn't slept in days.
I recognized him immediately.
He had the same dark hair, the same narrow jaw, and the same habit of rubbing his wedding ring whenever he was nervous.
But the man who walked through that door wasn't the confident brother-in-law who had toasted my marriage eleven years earlier.
His shirt was wrinkled.
His eyes were bloodshot.
And he wouldn't look at me.
Officer Daniels led us into a private interview room.
Mark placed the folder on the table.
"Before we start," he said, "I need you to understand something.""
I folded my arms.
"You knew my daughter was being hurt.""
He looked down.
"Yes.""
"How long?""
"About eight months.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Eight months?""
Mark nodded.
"I saw the bruises. I heard the screaming. I knew something was wrong.""
"And you did nothing?""
"I tried talking to Vanessa.""
I leaned forward.
"Did you call the police?""
"No.""
"Did you call me?""
He shook his head.
"Then don't tell me you tried.""
Mark swallowed.
"I was afraid.""
I stared at him.
"My nine-year-old daughter was afraid to sleep in her own bedroom. What exactly were you afraid of?""
He had no answer.
Daniels interrupted.
"Mr. Ellison, we need to discuss the information you provided concerning Emily Carter.""
Mark opened the folder.
He removed an old photograph.
It showed Vanessa standing beside a black sedan outside a restaurant.
The date printed on the back was three weeks before Emily's accident.
"What's this?"" I asked.
"Vanessa and I met for dinner that evening. She was upset because Emily had confronted her about the trust.""
I looked at him.
"What trust?""
"Lily's inheritance.""
Mark continued.
"Vanessa told me Emily was suspicious. She said Emily had accused her of trying to get access to the money.""
"Did she admit anything?""
Mark hesitated.
"She said Emily was becoming a problem.""
I felt a cold pressure spreading through my chest.
"What did that mean?""
"I didn't know at the time.""
He reached into the folder and removed a printed text conversation.
One message was from Vanessa.
Emily needs to stop interfering. Daniel won't understand until it's too late.
Another message followed.
Once she's gone, things will become easier.
I stared at the words.
"Did you report this?""
"No.""
"Why?""
Mark rubbed his forehead.
"Because I thought she was talking about Emily leaving town. I didn't think...""
He stopped.
"You didn't think what?"" I demanded.
"That she meant anything serious.""
Daniels took the document.
"Where did you obtain these messages?""
"An old phone. Vanessa used it before she upgraded. She left it at my apartment last year.""
I looked at the photograph again.
"Why are you showing me this now?""
Mark's eyes filled.
"Because I heard what happened to Lily. And because I can't keep pretending I don't know what Vanessa is capable of.""
I stood.
"You're eight months late.""
"I know.""
He reached into the folder again.
This time, he removed a folded sheet of paper.
It was a handwritten note.
I recognized Emily's handwriting immediately.
My hands started shaking.
"Where did you get this?""
"Vanessa gave it to me after the funeral. She said Emily had written it before the accident.""
I unfolded it.
Mark,
I know you've been asking questions about Vanessa. Please don't involve Daniel until I have something more concrete.
She has become increasingly interested in Lily's trust, and I don't want my daughter caught in the middle of another adult conflict.
If anything happens to me, please make sure Daniel knows that I never wanted Lily separated from him.
I looked up.
"Why would Vanessa give you this?""
Mark swallowed.
"She wanted me to destroy it.""
"And you didn't?""
"No.""
"Why?""
"Because I thought it might matter someday.""
I stared at him.
For a moment, I wanted to grab him by the collar.
Instead, I sat down.
"Tell me about the accident.""
Mark looked toward Daniels.
Then back at me.
"Two days before Emily died, Vanessa called me. She said Emily had threatened to expose something.""
"What something?""
"She didn't say.""
"And the night of the accident?""
Mark closed his eyes.
"Vanessa called me at 11:47 p.m. She was crying.""
"What did she say?""
"She said Emily was gone.""
My stomach tightened.
"How did she know?""
"She said she'd just heard about the crash.""
"From whom?""
"She wouldn't tell me.""
I stared at him.
"Was Vanessa with Emily that night?""
"I don't know.""
"Then why did you tell Daniels she knew something about the accident?""
Mark opened the folder one last time.
He pulled out a photograph of a newspaper article.
The headline read:
*LOCAL WOMAN KILLED IN SINGLE-VEHICLE CRASH.*
Beneath it was a photograph of the wreckage.
I recognized the road.
I had visited the site after the funeral.
Mark pointed to the photograph.
"Look at the car.""
I leaned closer.
"What am I looking for?""
"The passenger-side door.""
It was damaged.
But something else caught my attention.
A small dent near the rear bumper.
I remembered Emily's car.
It hadn't had that dent when she left home.
Mark spoke quietly.
"Vanessa told me Emily's car had been involved in another incident earlier that evening.""
I stared at him.
"What incident?""
He shook his head.
"She wouldn't explain.""
Daniels took the photograph.
"Mr. Ellison, are you suggesting another vehicle was involved?""
"I'm saying Vanessa told me something that doesn't match the official story.""
"What exactly?""
Mark looked at me.
"She said Emily wasn't alone when the accident happened.""
I felt the room tilt.
"Who was with her?""
Mark's lips trembled.
"I don't know.""
Then he pushed a small memory card across the table.
"I found this inside the old phone.""
Daniels picked it up.
"What's on it?""
Mark shook his head.
"I haven't opened it.""
I stared at the tiny card.
Eleven years of memories had just become questions.
As the meeting ended, Mark stood near the door.
"Daniel, I know you hate me.""
I didn't answer.
"But there's something else you should know.""
I turned.
"Go ahead.""
"Vanessa didn't just want Lily's inheritance.""
"What else?""
He looked directly into my eyes.
"She wanted you to marry her before you found out what Emily had discovered.""
I frowned.
"What are you talking about?""
Mark took a breath.
"Emily had hired someone to investigate Vanessa before the accident.""
I froze.
"Who?""
Mark shook his head.
"She never told me.""
May you like
Then he said something that made the room feel suddenly smaller.
"Whatever that investigator found, Vanessa has been searching for it ever since.""
