Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN WHO HAD THE ORIGINAL RECORDING
The police didn't arrest Daniel.
Not yet.
They simply asked him to come downtown and answer questions.
That frightened him more.
Because people who are innocent usually want questions answered.
Daniel wanted a lawyer.
By noon, the story had changed.
My father had obtained the security footage from the highway service station near where Daniel abandoned me.
A truck driver had stopped after seeing me collapse.
He had called 911.
He had also given a statement.
The dispatcher had recorded my call.
The hospital had documented my contractions.
And Daniel's own phone had provided the final piece.
He had texted Patricia:
She'll calm down and come home.
Not:
I hope she's okay.
Not:
Find out if she's safe.
Just:
She'll calm down and come home.
As though I were a dog that had wandered off.
But there was something else.
Something nobody expected.
At 4:30 p.m., a woman walked into my hospital room.
She looked about forty.
Dark hair.
Plain clothes.
Nervous eyes.
She stood near the door.
“Are you Claire?”
“Yes.”
“My name is Vanessa.”
My heart stopped.
Daniel's Vanessa.
She swallowed.
“I know you probably hate me.”
“I don't know you.”
“You know enough.”
She pulled a chair closer.
“I need to tell you something before Daniel does.”
I stared at her.
“What?”
“I wasn't his affair.”
I almost laughed.
“The pictures say otherwise.”
“They do.”
“Then what were you?”
She looked down.
“A witness.”
“To what?”
She opened her purse.
Inside was a small digital recorder.
“I recorded every conversation.”
My heartbeat quickened.
“Why?”
“Because Patricia threatened me.”
“Why?”
“Because I found out what she was doing.”
“What was she doing?”
Vanessa looked at my stomach.
Then back at me.
“Your pregnancy wasn't supposed to happen.”
I couldn't breathe.
“What?”
“Patricia wanted you to lose the baby.”
I stared at her.
“No.”
“She believed a child would make you financially stronger.”
“That makes no sense.”
“It does if you understand what she wanted.”
Vanessa pressed the recorder into my hand.
“Listen.”
I pushed the button.
Static.
Then Patricia's voice.
Clear.
Cold.
“She won't give Daniel the property if she has a child.”
Another voice.
Daniel.
“So what do you want me to do?”
“Make her scared.”
My entire body went cold.
Daniel asked:
“How?”
Patricia replied:
“Convince her she's unstable.”
I stopped the recording.
I couldn't listen anymore.
Vanessa reached for my hand.
“There are more.”
“How many?”
“Six recordings.”
I looked at her.
“Why are you helping me?”
“Because Patricia destroyed my sister.”
I frowned.
“What?”
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“She did the same thing to her.”
“What happened?”
“My sister married Patricia's nephew.”
She took a breath.
“Patricia convinced everyone my sister was mentally unstable. She isolated her. Controlled her money. Eventually my sister disappeared.”
I whispered:
“Disappeared?”
“She died six months later.”
My blood ran cold.
“Was it an accident?”
Vanessa shook her head.
“We never proved anything.”
“But you think Patricia was involved.”
“I know she was.”
The door opened.
My father entered.
He stopped when he saw Vanessa.
“You.”
Vanessa stood.
“You know me?”
Dad nodded.
“I've been looking for you.”
She stared at him.
“Why?”
“Your sister's name was Emily.”
Vanessa froze.
“How do you know?”
Dad placed a file on the table.
“Because your sister contacted your grandmother before she died.”
Vanessa's face crumpled.
“She did?”
“Yes.”
Dad opened the file.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
The final line read:
If anything happens to me, don't trust Patricia Monroe.
Vanessa covered her mouth.
I looked at my father.
“How long have you known?”
“Not long enough.”
The door suddenly opened again.
A nurse rushed inside.
“Claire, we need to move you.”
“Why?”
“The contractions have become more frequent.”
Dr. Keller entered behind her.
“We're preparing the operating room.”
My heart stopped.
“Is my baby coming?”
He looked at me.
“Possibly.”
Then he said the words I had been praying not to hear.
“We may have to deliver tonight.”
I looked at my father.
He squeezed my hand.
And Vanessa whispered:
“Then Patricia's plan has failed.”
I turned toward her.
“What plan?”
She looked terrified.
May you like
“To make sure your baby never inherited that house.”
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