Chapter 11: The Passenger in the Last Photograph
“I## Chapter 11: The Passenger in the Last Photograph
“I was in the car with her.””
My father's words was in the car with her.””
My father's words hung in the hallway.
I stared at him.
“What?””
Richard looked as though hung in the hallway.
I stared at him.
“What?””
Richard looked as though he wanted the floor to swallow him.
“I was with your mother that night. I wasn't supposed to be.””
Van he wanted the floor to swallow him.
“I was with your mother that night. I wasn't supposed to be.””
Vanessa stood halfway down the staircase, holding the leather case against her chest.
“Tell her everything, Richard.””
He looked up at her.
“Shut up.””
It was the first time I had ever heard my father speak to Vanessa like that.
She laughedessa stood halfway down the staircase, holding the leather case against her chest.
“Tell her everything, Richard.””
He looked up at her.
“Shut up.””
It was the first time I had ever heard my father speak to Vanessa like that.
She laughed.
“Now you want to act brave?””
One of the officers approached her.
“Mrs. Bennett, put the case down.””
Vanessa reluctantly placed it on the staircase.
The officer collected it.
I turned toward my father.
“Why were you in Mom's.
“Now you want to act brave?””
One of the officers approached her.
“Mrs. Bennett, put the case down.””
Vanessa reluctantly placed it on the staircase.
The officer collected it.
I turned toward my father.
“Why were you in Mom's car?””
Richard took a shaky breath.
“Your mother called me before she left for the meeting with Margaret. She wanted me to bring the original agreement and admit that I had signed car?””
Richard took a shaky breath.
“Your mother called me before she left for the meeting with Margaret. She wanted me to bring the original agreement and admit that I had signed the transfer documents under pressure.””
“Did you bring them?””
“Yes.””
“Then what happened?””
He rubbed his hands together.
“We met at the old cottage. She was the transfer documents under pressure.””
“Did you bring them?””
“Yes.””
“Then what happened?””
He rubbed his hands together.
“We met at the old cottage. She was furious. She told me she had discovered the money Victor had transferred into Vanessa's company.””
I looked at Daniel.
He nodded slowly.
Richard continued.
“Your mother wanted a divorce. She wanted custody arrangements changed. She wanted to take you away from the house.””
I felt my furious. She told me she had discovered the money Victor had transferred into Vanessa's company.””
I looked at Daniel.
He nodded slowly.
Richard continued.
“Your mother wanted a divorce. She wanted custody arrangements changed. She wanted to take you away from the house.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“She was going to leave?””
“Yes.””
My father started crying again.
“She said she couldn't raise you in a house where nobody respected chest tighten.
“She was going to leave?””
“Yes.””
My father started crying again.
“She said she couldn't raise you in a house where nobody respected her.””
I looked down.
That sounded exactly like my mother.
“What happened after that?””
“Eleanor got into her car. I followed her because I her.””
I looked down.
That sounded exactly like my mother.
“What happened after that?””
“Eleanor got into her car. I followed her because I wanted to talk. I thought if I could convince her to wait until morning, we could resolve everything.””
“Did she agree?””
“No. She told me wanted to talk. I thought if I could convince her to wait until morning, we could resolve everything.””
“Did she agree?””
“No. She told me to go home.””
“Then why were you in the car?””
Richard closed his eyes.
“Because I got into the passenger seat.””
Vanessa interrupted.
“Don't forget the phone call.””
My to go home.””
“Then why were you in the car?””
Richard closed his eyes.
“Because I got into the passenger seat.””
Vanessa interrupted.
“Don't forget the phone call.””
My father turned toward her.
“What phone call?””
“The one Victor made. The one you answered while Eleanor was driving.””
Richard's expression changed.
I stepped closer.
“What did he say father turned toward her.
“What phone call?””
“The one Victor made. The one you answered while Eleanor was driving.””
Richard's expression changed.
I stepped closer.
“What did he say?””
Richard looked at the officers.
“I need to explain this properly.””
One officer nodded.
“Take your time.””
Richard continued.
“Victor called and told me Margaret had been followed. He said the?””
Richard looked at the officers.
“I need to explain this properly.””
One officer nodded.
“Take your time.””
Richard continued.
“Victor called and told me Margaret had been followed. He said the meeting was a setup. I panicked.””
Daniel frowned.
“Why would Victor tell you that?””
“Because he wanted me to stop Eleanor from handing over the documents.””
“And did meeting was a setup. I panicked.””
Daniel frowned.
“Why would Victor tell you that?””
“Because he wanted me to stop Eleanor from handing over the documents.””
“And did you?””
Richard looked at me.
“I grabbed her phone.””
My stomach dropped.
“You took Mom's phone?””
“She was trying to call Margaret. I thought I could make her wait until I spoke to Victor.””
“Dad!””
“I you?””
Richard looked at me.
“I grabbed her phone.””
My stomach dropped.
“You took Mom's phone?””
“She was trying to call Margaret. I thought I could make her wait until I spoke to Victor.””
“Dad!””
“I know. I know.””
He covered his face.
“Your mother fought me for it. I told her to slow down. She shouted at me to get out know. I know.””
He covered his face.
“Your mother fought me for it. I told her to slow down. She shouted at me to get out of the car.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“And the brakes?””
Richard began shaking.
“I don't know what happened next.””
“You were sitting beside her!””
“I know!””
His voice echoed through the hallway.
For a moment, everyone was silent.
Then he whispered, “The car started slowing of the car.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“And the brakes?””
Richard began shaking.
“I don't know what happened next.””
“You were sitting beside her!””
“I know!””
His voice echoed through the hallway.
For a moment, everyone was silent.
Then he whispered, “The car started slowing down. Eleanor pressed the brake pedal, but nothing happened.””
I couldn't breathe.
“She tried again. Then she looked at me.””
He began crying uncontrollably.
“She said down. Eleanor pressed the brake pedal, but nothing happened.””
I couldn't breathe.
“She tried again. Then she looked at me.””
He began crying uncontrollably.
“She said, 'Richard, something is wrong.''”
I closed my eyes.
My mother had been frightened.
And my father had been sitting beside her.
“What did you do?”” I whispered.
“I told her to turn toward the, 'Richard, something is wrong.''”
I closed my eyes.
My mother had been frightened.
And my father had been sitting beside her.
“What did you do?”” I whispered.
“I told her to turn toward the roadside. I grabbed the steering wheel. The car hit the barrier.””
He wiped his face.
“I woke up in the hospital. They told me Eleanor hadn't survived.””
Daniel looked furious.
roadside. I grabbed the steering wheel. The car hit the barrier.””
He wiped his face.
“I woke up in the hospital. They told me Eleanor hadn't survived.””
Daniel looked furious.
“And you never told the police you were in the car?””
Richard shook his head.
“Victor told me that if I admitted what happened, I would be charged with interfering with the vehicle and potentially causing“And you never told the police you were in the car?””
Richard shook his head.
“Victor told me that if I admitted what happened, I would be charged with interfering with the vehicle and potentially causing the accident.””
“Did you interfere with the brakes?””
“No!””
“Did Victor?””
“I don't know!””
Vanessa suddenly laughed.
“That's convenient.””
My father looked at her.
“You knew the the accident.””
“Did you interfere with the brakes?””
“No!””
“Did Victor?””
“I don't know!””
Vanessa suddenly laughed.
“That's convenient.””
My father looked at her.
“You knew the car had a problem.””
Vanessa's expression changed.
“What?””
“You knew. You told me Victor had arranged the inspection.””
She shook her head.
“Don't you dare blame me.””
Richard stepped forward.
“You gave me the paperwork. You told me the mechanic had signed it.””
“I was trying to help car had a problem.””
Vanessa's expression changed.
“What?””
“You knew. You told me Victor had arranged the inspection.””
She shook her head.
“Don't you dare blame me.””
Richard stepped forward.
“You gave me the paperwork. You told me the mechanic had signed it.””
“I was trying to help!””
“You told me everything was safe!””
The officer intervened.
“Both of you, calm down.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“Why did you have Mom's documents?””
She lifted her chin.
“Because Eleanor was going to ruin everything.””
There it was!””
“You told me everything was safe!””
The officer intervened.
“Both of you, calm down.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“Why did you have Mom's documents?””
She lifted her chin.
“Because Eleanor was going to ruin everything.””
There it was.
No apology.
No denial.
Just the truth slipping out of her mouth.
Daniel stared at her.
“You knew she was going to expose the fraud.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“She was going to destroy a business that supported two families.””
“My mother built.
No apology.
No denial.
Just the truth slipping out of her mouth.
Daniel stared at her.
“You knew she was going to expose the fraud.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“She was going to destroy a business that supported two families.””
“My mother built that business!””
“She was selfish!””
I flinched.
Vanessa continued.
“Eleanor wanted everything. The company, the designs, the money, even Richard. She couldn't accept that other people deserved success.””
I looked at her in disbelief.
“You stole from a dead woman and then stole from her that business!””
“She was selfish!””
I flinched.
Vanessa continued.
“Eleanor wanted everything. The company, the designs, the money, even Richard. She couldn't accept that other people deserved success.””
I looked at her in disbelief.
“You stole from a dead woman and then stole from her daughter.””
Vanessa's face hardened.
“You have no idea what your mother was really like.””
“Then show me.””
She said nothing.
I pointed toward the silver USB drive in the officer's possession.
“What's on it?””
Vanessa suddenly lunged forward.
“Don't open that daughter.””
Vanessa's face hardened.
“You have no idea what your mother was really like.””
“Then show me.””
She said nothing.
I pointed toward the silver USB drive in the officer's possession.
“What's on it?””
Vanessa suddenly lunged forward.
“Don't open that!””
The officer caught her arm.
“Mrs. Bennett, step back.””
She struggled.
“You don't understand! That recording isn't complete!””
Daniel looked at her.
“What recording?””
Vanessa stopped fighting.
For the first time, she seemed to realize what she!””
The officer caught her arm.
“Mrs. Bennett, step back.””
She struggled.
“You don't understand! That recording isn't complete!””
Daniel looked at her.
“What recording?””
Vanessa stopped fighting.
For the first time, she seemed to realize what she had admitted.
The officer removed the USB drive from its case and placed it inside an evidence bag.
I looked at my father.
“Does Mom's recording show what happened?””
He nodded slowly.
“Possibly.””
“Then I had admitted.
The officer removed the USB drive from its case and placed it inside an evidence bag.
I looked at my father.
“Does Mom's recording show what happened?””
He nodded slowly.
“Possibly.””
“Then I want to see it.””
The officer shook his head.
“It will need to be examined properly.””
I understood.
But I wasn't prepared to wait.
My phone vibrated.
A message from Brielle.
She was want to see it.””
The officer shook his head.
“It will need to be examined properly.””
I understood.
But I wasn't prepared to wait.
My phone vibrated.
A message from Brielle.
She was standing only a few feet away, but she had apparently sent it instead of speaking.
*Brielle: Maya, I need to tell you something about the USB.*
I looked at her.
She was crying.
I typed back.
*Me: What?*
Her reply appeared.
standing only a few feet away, but she had apparently sent it instead of speaking.
*Brielle: Maya, I need to tell you something about the USB.*
I looked at her.
She was crying.
I typed back.
*Me: What?*
Her reply appeared.
*Brielle: I saw Mom delete a video from it last month.*
Another message followed.
*Brielle: But she didn't know I had already copied it.*
I stared at the screen.
Then Brielle walked*Brielle: I saw Mom delete a video from it last month.*
Another message followed.
*Brielle: But she didn't know I had already copied it.*
I stared at the screen.
Then Brielle walked toward me.
She reached into her handbag and removed a tiny black memory card.
“It's on here,” she whispered.
I looked at the card.
“What video?””
B toward me.
She reached into her handbag and removed a tiny black memory card.
“It's on here,” she whispered.
I looked at the card.
“What video?””
Brielle swallowed.
“The video Mom thought nobody had ever seen.””
Daniel took therielle swallowed.
“The video Mom thought nobody had ever seen.””
Daniel took the card carefully.
“Brielle, where did you get this?””
She looked at me.
“From the security camera system in Mom's office.””
My heart began pounding.
“What's on it?””
Brielle looked toward Vanessa.
Then she whispered:
“It's card carefully.
“Brielle, where did you get this?””
She looked at me.
“From the security camera system in Mom's office.””
My heart began pounding.
“What's on it?””
Brielle looked toward Vanessa.
Then she whispered:
May you like
“It's the reason Mom has been terrified of Margaret Collins for seven years.””
the reason Mom has been terrified of Margaret Collins for seven years.””
