Chapter 14: The Last Lie Vanessa Told
Detective Harris moved quickly.
She ordered officers to secure the library entrances and keep everyone inside.
Dad stood beside me.
Sophie held her phone tightly.
“Why would Vanessa be released?”” I asked.
Detective Harris answered without looking up.
“It's possible she was never formally detained. If the evidence wasn't sufficient for an arrest, she may still be free to move around.””
“But she has been stealing money for years.””
“We have strong evidence of fraud. We are still verifying the chain of custody and establishing who authorized each transaction.””
Daniel arrived twenty minutes later.
He looked exhausted.
“Have you heard from Lauren?””
Sophie nodded.
“She says Vanessa is on her way here.””
Daniel frowned.
“That's not possible. Lauren told me Vanessa was going to another state.””
Detective Harris looked at him.
“Did Lauren tell you that directly?””
“No. She sent a message through her lawyer.””
The detective stepped away to make a call.
I turned toward Sophie.
“What exactly is on that flash drive?””
She hesitated.
“There's a recording from Eleanor's hospital room. But there's also a recording made afterward.””
“Afterward?””
“Someone returned to the room.””
Dad looked up.
“Who?””
Sophie didn't answer.
Instead, she looked at him.
“That's what you need to hear.””
Detective Harris returned.
“Officers are checking the building perimeter. Nobody leaves.””
A few minutes later, the front doors opened.
Vanessa walked inside.
She wore a cream-colored coat and carried a black handbag.
She looked perfectly calm.
Almost amused.
“Maya,” she said.
I didn't move.
“Stay away from me.””
Vanessa sighed.
“You've become so dramatic.””
Dad stepped forward.
“Don't speak to her.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“Marcus, you really should stop pretending you're innocent.””
Daniel moved beside Dad.
“Where's Michael?””
Vanessa smiled.
“Busy.””
“Doing what?””
“Cleaning up your mess.””
Detective Harris approached.
“Vanessa Bennett, you need to come with us.””
Vanessa raised an eyebrow.
“On what grounds?””
“We have evidence of identity fraud, suspected financial misconduct, and possible tampering with medical records.””
Vanessa laughed.
“You have a recording made by a dying woman and documents supplied by people with personal grievances.””
Sophie stepped forward.
“Eleanor wasn't lying.””
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
For the first time, she looked genuinely frightened.
“Sophie.””
“You remember me?””
“Of course.””
“You told my mother I was better off forgotten.””
Vanessa looked at Dad.
“This is what happens when you let strangers into your family.””
Sophie held up the evidence pouch containing the flash drive.
“You forgot one thing.””
Vanessa's eyes fixed on it.
“What?””
“Eleanor made copies.””
Vanessa took a step forward.
Detective Harris immediately blocked her.
“Don't move.””
Vanessa stopped.
Then she looked at me.
“Maya, you don't understand what your mother was doing.””
“Then explain it.””
“She was destroying your father's company.””
Dad shook his head.
“That isn't true.””
“She discovered the transfers and threatened to expose everyone.””
“You stole from her,” I said.
Vanessa turned sharply.
“I kept this family alive.””
“You stole her inheritance.””
“I used money that was going to disappear anyway.””
“You forged my signature.””
“You were a child.””
“I was eighteen when you tried to take my car.””
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“That car was never the point.””
I stepped closer.
“Then what was?””
She looked at Dad.
“Control.””
The word hung in the air.
Vanessa continued.
“Your mother trusted Marcus with everything. The company, the accounts, the property. And when he nearly lost everything, she still believed he could fix it.””
Dad looked devastated.
Vanessa pointed at him.
“He signed the authorization. He gave me access. He wanted the company saved, and I made sure it was.””
Dad spoke quietly.
“I never authorized you to steal.””
“You signed the documents.””
“I didn't know what they contained.””
“That's your problem.””
Detective Harris stepped forward.
“Vanessa, you're under arrest.””
Vanessa laughed again.
“You think you've won?””
She turned toward me.
“Ask your father why Eleanor was alone at 11:47 p.m.””
Dad went completely still.
I looked at him.
“What does she mean?””
Vanessa smiled.
“Ask him why he wasn't there.””
Dad's voice broke.
“I was outside the hospital room.””
“Were you?””
Sophie opened the audio file on her phone.
“There's a second recording.””
Detective Harris looked at her.
“Play it.””
The recording began with hospital noises.
A door opening.
Footsteps.
Then Mom's voice.
“Marcus?””
Dad answered.
“I'm here.””
Mom sounded weak.
“Did you bring the papers?””
A pause.
Then Dad said:
“I couldn't sign them.””
Mom whispered:
“Then she'll never stop.””
Another voice entered.
Vanessa.
“Eleanor, please. We can still fix this.””
Mom began crying.
“Get away from me.””
Then came a sound.
A chair scraping.
A bottle hitting the floor.
And Vanessa's voice:
“Don't make me do this.””
The recording stopped.
Nobody moved.
Detective Harris stared at Vanessa.
“What did you do in that room?””
Vanessa's face had gone pale.
“I didn't hurt her.””
Sophie spoke.
“Then explain why the medication record was changed.””
Vanessa looked at Dad.
“Tell them.””
Dad shook his head.
“Tell them what?””
“That you asked me to make sure Eleanor couldn't interfere with the company.””
Dad's face twisted.
“That is a lie.””
Vanessa turned to the detective.
“He signed the authorization. He wanted her sedated.””
Detective Harris held up a hand.
“Enough. These claims will be investigated.””
Two officers approached Vanessa.
She suddenly pulled something from her handbag.
A folded document.
She threw it toward Dad.
“Read it!””
The paper landed at his feet.
Dad picked it up.
His expression changed as he read the first page.
“What is this?””
Vanessa smiled.
“Your wife's final medical directive.””
Sophie looked horrified.
“That isn't possible.””
Detective Harris took the paper.
She examined it carefully.
Then looked at Vanessa.
“Where did you get this?””
Vanessa's smile faded.
“From Eleanor.””
Sophie shook her head.
“No. Eleanor gave the original to Lauren.””
Vanessa looked at her.
“What?””
Sophie pulled a second document from her bag.
“The original.””
Detective Harris placed both papers side by side.
The signatures looked almost identical.
But the dates were different.
And one contained an additional paragraph.
A paragraph stating that Eleanor wanted all medical decisions made by Marcus.
The other named Vanessa.
Detective Harris studied the two documents.
Then she said:
“One of these is a forgery.””
May you like
Vanessa stopped smiling.
And for the first time, she had nothing to say.
