Chapter 8: The Woman Behind the Wedding
Richard refused to let me meet Vanessa alone.
Instead, he arranged for a monitored meeting at his law firm's conference room.
Vanessa agreed to come at ten the following morning.
I arrived fifteen minutes early.
My mother came with me, along with Robert.
Richard had already contacted the bank and requested that all relevant footage and documents be preserved.
At ten precisely, the receptionist opened the conference room door.
Vanessa walked in.
She looked nothing like the confident wedding planner who had spent months directing vendors and telling everyone where to stand.
Her makeup was smudged.
Her hair was tied back carelessly.
She wore a black coat and held a large leather handbag against her chest.
She looked at me.
"Emily.""
I didn't stand.
"Sit down.""
She glanced at Richard.
"Am I supposed to be here?""
Richard gestured toward the chair.
"You requested this meeting.""
Vanessa sat.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she placed a small velvet box on the table.
I recognized it immediately.
It was my grandmother's jewelry box.
My heart tightened.
"Where did you get that?""
Vanessa looked down.
"Daniel gave it to me.""
I stared at her.
"Why would he give you my grandmother's jewelry box?""
"He wanted me to find something inside it.""
"What?""
She opened the lid.
The box was empty except for a folded piece of paper.
Vanessa pushed it toward me.
I unfolded it.
It was a handwritten note.
If someone asks for the original records, do not give them the blue folder. The truth is not where they expect it to be.
I recognized my grandmother's handwriting.
"Where was this?""
"Inside a compartment beneath the lining.""
Richard leaned forward.
"How did Daniel get the box?""
Vanessa swallowed.
"He took it from your house.""
I felt my hands tighten.
"He stole it?""
"He said you had given him permission to organize your grandmother's belongings.""
I looked at her.
"Why are you helping him?""
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
"Because I thought he loved me.""
The answer was so ridiculous that I almost laughed.
"You helped him plan my wedding.""
"I know.""
"You kissed him in the groom's room.""
"I know.""
"You forged my signature.""
She lowered her head.
"I didn't know what he was going to do with the document.""
I leaned forward.
"Then why did you sign it as a witness?""
"Because Daniel told me you had already signed it. He said he needed me to confirm that I had watched you.""
Richard interrupted.
"Did you actually witness Emily signing the document?""
"No.""
"Then you knowingly provided false information.""
Vanessa nodded.
"I know.""
I stared at her.
"Why?""
She finally looked up.
"Because Daniel promised me we would be together after the wedding.""
I sat back.
"And you believed him?""
She wiped her eyes.
"He said the marriage was only temporary. He told me he would divorce you after gaining access to the trust.""
My stomach turned.
"Temporary?""
"He said he would make sure you received enough money to live comfortably, and then we would start over somewhere else.""
My mother stood.
"You thought you could steal from my daughter and call it a fresh start?""
Vanessa flinched.
"I know how it sounds.""
"It sounds exactly like what it is," my mother snapped.
I raised a hand.
"Mom, let her finish.""
Vanessa took a breath.
"Daniel told me the marriage was part of a larger plan. He said his mother had arranged everything years ago.""
Richard's expression hardened.
"His mother?""
Vanessa nodded.
"Margaret introduced Daniel to Victor Hayes. She told him that your grandmother was hiding assets that belonged to the Whitmore family.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"She claimed your father had taken money from a business partnership and that your grandmother had kept it.""
Richard shook his head.
"That's false.""
Vanessa looked at him.
"I know that now.""
I stared at her.
"Why would Margaret say that?""
"Because she wanted the money. She believed the Boston account contained the remaining assets from your father's company.""
My mother's face changed.
"That money was never hers.""
"I know.""
Vanessa reached into her handbag and removed a small flash drive.
"Daniel gave me this.""
Richard took it.
"What is on it?""
"Copies of emails between Daniel, Margaret, and Victor.""
I looked at her.
"Why didn't you give this to the police?""
"Because one of the emails mentions me.""
Richard placed the drive on the table.
"That doesn't protect you from responsibility.""
"I know.""
He looked at her.
"Then why bring it here?""
Vanessa stared at me.
"Because Daniel told me something last night.""
I felt a knot form in my stomach.
"What?""
"He said he was going to leave the country.""
Richard sat forward.
"When?""
"Tonight.""
"Where?""
"I don't know. He said he had a private flight arranged.""
Richard immediately stood and called his investigator.
I looked at Vanessa.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?""
She looked away.
"Because I was afraid.""
"Of Daniel?""
She nodded.
"He told me that if I ever betrayed him, he would make sure everyone believed I had stolen the money.""
I studied her face.
For the first time, I saw genuine fear.
But fear didn't erase what she had done.
"Did you know about my grandmother's death?""
Vanessa hesitated.
"What about it?""
"Did you know she had been investigating Daniel and Margaret?""
She nodded.
"Daniel told me.""
"When?""
"Two months before she died.""
I stared at her.
"Two months?""
Vanessa looked down.
"He said your grandmother was becoming suspicious and that they needed to act quickly.""
Richard stopped his phone call.
"Act quickly how?""
Vanessa's voice dropped.
"Margaret wanted to get the blue folder before Eleanor could hand it to her attorney.""
My grandmother's note suddenly seemed more important.
I looked at the velvet box.
"The blue folder. What is it?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"I don't know. But Daniel searched your grandmother's house several times.""
My mother whispered, "He never mentioned that.""
Vanessa looked at me.
"He believes the folder contains proof of where your father hid the money.""
Richard took the flash drive.
"We'll examine this immediately.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Is there anything else?""
She hesitated.
Then she reached into her coat and pulled out a folded photograph.
I recognized my grandmother.
She was sitting at a restaurant table with a man.
The man was older, with silver hair and a familiar face.
I leaned closer.
It was Richard.
I looked up.
"What's this?""
Richard went completely still.
Vanessa placed the photograph in front of him.
"Daniel found it in Margaret's office. He said it proved your grandmother had been working with someone inside the family.""
I turned toward Richard.
"Why were you meeting my grandmother?""
Richard looked at the photograph for a long moment.
Then he closed his eyes.
"Because she asked me to help her investigate your father's death.""
My mother looked at him.
"You knew?""
Richard nodded.
"Yes.""
I felt betrayed all over again.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because your grandmother specifically asked me not to.""
"She trusted you enough to investigate my father's death, but not enough to tell me?""
Richard's expression softened.
"She wanted you to have a normal life. She believed that if you knew the truth too early, you might become a target.""
I looked at the photograph.
"When was this taken?""
"Three weeks before she died.""
"Did she tell you who killed my father?""
Richard stared at me.
"No.""
I didn't believe him.
Not completely.
Before I could ask another question, his phone rang.
He answered.
"Collins.""
He listened.
Then his face changed.
"What do you mean?""
A pause.
"Are you certain?""
He ended the call.
I stood.
"What happened?""
Richard looked at me.
"The bank has reviewed the authorization documents. They found a second submission.""
"From Daniel?""
"No.""
He looked down at the photograph.
"From someone using your grandmother's identity.""
My mother grabbed the table.
"That's impossible. Eleanor is dead.""
Richard nodded.
"Which is why the bank has frozen the account and referred the matter for investigation.""
I stared at him.
"Who submitted it?""
Richard looked directly at me.
"Your grandmother's former trustee.""
I frowned.
"Who?""
He answered quietly.
"Your uncle Robert.""
I turned toward the door.
Robert had been standing outside the conference room.
May you like
But the door was now open.
And he was gone.
