Chapter 8: The Witness Who Disappeared
I barely slept that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the dark sedan outside my apartment.
The man standing beside it.
The headlights following me through the rain.
And Vanessa's smile beside the swimming pool.
By morning, I had made a decision.
I was going to tell the investigator everything.
Daniel drove me to the police station with Olivia in the back seat.
James Whitmore had already contacted the investigator and arranged an appointment.
Thomas Reed met us in a small interview room.
He was in his early forties, with short brown hair and a tired expression.
“Thank you for coming in, Emily.””
I sat down.
“Did you find the man?””
“Not yet.””
He placed several photographs on the table.
“We'd like you to identify anyone you recognize.””
The first photograph showed Michael Bennett.
I nodded.
“I know him.””
“Have you seen him recently?””
“At Vanessa's engagement party. He was standing near the bar.””
Thomas wrote something down.
Then he showed me another photograph.
A man with dark hair and a narrow face.
I stared at it.
My stomach tightened.
“That's him.””
Thomas leaned forward.
“Are you certain?””
“Yes.””
“Where have you seen him?””
“Outside my apartment. The day before the accident.””
Thomas placed the photograph beside the first.
“His name is Ethan Cole. He worked for a private security contractor connected to Michael Bennett.””
Daniel shifted in his chair.
“Why would a security contractor be following Emily?””
Thomas didn't answer immediately.
“That's what we're trying to establish.””
He opened a folder.
“We've recovered partial tracking data from the vehicle. It shows the car traveled through several locations before the collision.””
He turned the page.
One address was familiar.
My physical therapy clinic.
I stared at it.
“He was following me there?””
Thomas nodded.
“The vehicle appeared near the clinic on three separate occasions.””
I felt sick.
I remembered sitting in the waiting room, struggling to lift my arm while Vanessa complained that the appointment was taking too long.
Had someone been watching me then?
Thomas continued.
“We also recovered a message from the vehicle's driver to Michael Bennett.””
He slid a printed page toward us.
The message was short.
She's alone. Same route as yesterday.
I read it twice.
“Who's she's?””
Thomas looked at me.
“We believe they're referring to you.””
Daniel stood.
“This is insane.””
Thomas raised a hand.
“Please sit down, Mr. Mercer. We're still establishing the full circumstances.””
I looked at the message.
“Why would anyone follow me?””
Thomas turned another page.
There was a photograph of a document.
It showed a copy of Grandma's trust agreement.
My name was highlighted.
Beside it was a handwritten note.
Distribution review — November.
I felt my throat tighten.
The date matched the review mentioned in Vanessa's emails.
Thomas studied my expression.
“Do you recognize this document?””
“Yes. It's my grandmother's trust.””
“Do you know who accessed it?””
“No.””
He nodded.
“Then we need to establish how this copy came into Michael Bennett's possession.””
Daniel leaned forward.
“Could Vanessa have given it to him?””
Thomas didn't answer.
“That's something we will investigate.””
After the interview, I stood outside the station, trying to breathe.
Olivia wrapped her coat around my shoulders.
“Are you okay?””
I shook my head.
“No.””
She nodded.
“That's fair.””
Daniel approached us.
“I need to make a call.””
He stepped away.
I watched him walk toward the parking lot.
For the first time, I wondered whether his relationship with Vanessa had been built on a completely different story from the one he believed.
He returned several minutes later.
“Vanessa is at the hotel.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
“She says she wants to talk.””
I shook my head.
“I don't want to see her.””
“Neither do I. But she's asking to meet all of us.””
Olivia crossed her arms.
“Sounds like a trap.””
Daniel looked at me.
“I won't let her near you without security.””
I hesitated.
Part of me wanted to avoid her forever.
Another part wanted to look her in the eyes and ask one question.
Why?
“Okay,” I said.
“But I'm not going alone.””
The hotel conference room smelled of fresh coffee and polished wood.
Vanessa stood near the windows wearing a cream-colored blouse and black trousers.
Her hair was tied back.
She looked exhausted.
But when she saw me, her expression changed.
“Oh, Emily.””
She walked forward with her arms open.
I stepped back.
“Don't.””
Her hands dropped.
“Fine.””
Daniel stood beside me.
“Say what you wanted to say.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“I want to explain everything.””
“Then explain.””
She took a deep breath.
“Michael was supposed to help me with an investment. He said there was a way to use the trust as security until the distribution review.””
I stared at her.
“You mean my money?””
“Our money.””
“No. My share.””
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
“Here we go again.””
Daniel's voice sharpened.
“Don't.””
She turned toward him.
“Daniel, I was trying to build our future.””
“By forging Emily's signature?””
“I didn't forge anything.””
I felt my hands tremble.
“Whose handwriting is on that document?””
Vanessa looked away.
“Richard said it was just a preliminary form.””
“That isn't an answer.””
She sighed.
“Mom told me you had agreed.””
I stared at her.
“Mom never asked me.””
“She said she did.””
“And you believed her?””
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“I needed the money.””
The admission landed between us.
Daniel stared at her.
“How much did you borrow from Michael?””
Vanessa's eyes widened.
“I didn't borrow anything.””
“Then why was he promising you two hundred and fifty thousand dollars?””
She looked at the floor.
For the first time, I saw genuine fear in her face.
“He said it would be paid after the wedding.””
“Paid for what?”” Daniel demanded.
Vanessa shook her head.
“You wouldn't understand.””
“Try me.””
She pressed her fingers against her forehead.
“Michael was investing in a property development. He needed temporary collateral. He said the trust was large enough to cover the risk.””
I looked at her.
“And if the investment failed?””
She didn't answer.
Daniel stepped closer.
“Vanessa, how much money do you owe him?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“It's not that simple.””
“How much?””
She whispered a number.
“Eighty thousand.””
Daniel stared at her.
“What?””
“I borrowed eighty thousand from him.””
“For the wedding?””
“No.””
“Then what?””
Vanessa began crying.
“I had other expenses.””
I looked at her.
“You spent money you didn't have, and then you tried to take mine.””
She shook her head.
“You don't understand what it's like being me.””
I almost laughed.
“Then explain it.””
Vanessa looked up.
“Everyone expects me to be perfect. Mom expects me to succeed. Daniel's family expects me to fit into their world. You get to be the poor little injured sister, and everyone rushes to help you.””
I stared at her.
“I was injured because I was in a car accident.””
“Exactly! And suddenly everybody forgot about my wedding.””
Daniel took a step back.
His expression was one of disbelief.
“You pushed her into a pool because people were paying attention to her?””
Vanessa's face reddened.
“I didn't think she'd fall that badly.””
“But you knew she couldn't use her arm.””
“She was being dramatic!””
I felt tears burn behind my eyes.
“Vanessa, I couldn't get myself out of the water.””
For one brief moment, she looked uncomfortable.
Then she said:
“You should have stayed away from the edge.””
Daniel turned away.
“I'm done.””
Vanessa grabbed his arm.
“Daniel, wait!””
He removed her hand.
“Don't touch me.””
She began crying harder.
“You can't just throw away everything because of one mistake.””
“One mistake?””
He looked at her.
“You forged a document, lied about Emily, used my family's money, and put her in danger.””
Vanessa stared at him.
Then she turned toward me.
“This is your fault.””
I didn't move.
She pointed at me.
“You've always wanted to take everything from me.””
I looked directly at her.
“I never wanted your life.””
Her mouth opened.
But before she could answer, the conference room door swung open.
A hotel employee entered, followed by a security officer.
“Miss Vanessa?””
She turned.
“Yes?””
The officer held up a photograph.
“We need you to come with us. There's been a development concerning the vehicle involved in your sister's accident.””
Vanessa went completely still.
Daniel looked at the photograph.
Then he looked at her.
“Vanessa, what have you done?””
She didn't answer.
Instead, she looked at me.
May you like
And whispered:
“Emily, you need to tell them you don't remember anything.””
