Chapter 5: The Sister Who Knew Too Much
Vanessa Carter arrived at Adrian's office at 3:15 p.m.
She carried a white designer handbag and a cup of iced coffee.
Adrian was pacing behind his desk.
"Did you speak to the school?"" he asked.
Vanessa placed her handbag on the chair.
"Yes.""
"And?""
"They were hesitant, but I explained the situation.""
Adrian stopped pacing.
"What exactly did you tell them?""
Vanessa looked annoyed.
"That Naomi has been emotionally unstable.""
"Did you use those exact words?""
"Adrian, please. I know how to talk to people.""
He rubbed his face.
"Did they remove her from the pickup list?""
"No.""
Adrian's expression hardened.
"What do you mean, no?""
"The director said she couldn't make that decision without proper documentation.""
He slammed his phone onto the desk.
"Then what was the point of going there?""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"Don't take your frustration out on me. I'm the only person helping you.""
Adrian stared at her.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Vanessa leaned forward.
"Did you get the documents?""
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"What documents?""
"Don't play games. The refinancing papers. The originals.""
Adrian looked toward the office door.
"Lower your voice.""
Vanessa laughed without humor.
"So she really took them?""
"She has copies. I don't know if she has the originals.""
Vanessa's expression changed.
"Copies?""
"Yes.""
"Adrian, you told me everything was handled.""
"It was handled.""
"No, it wasn't. You told me she signed the authorization.""
Adrian walked around the desk.
"She was supposed to sign it.""
Vanessa stared at him.
"Supposed to?""
He didn't answer.
She placed her coffee on the desk.
"Are you telling me Naomi never signed that document?""
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"She would have signed if she understood what I was doing.""
Vanessa stepped backward.
"That's not what you told me.""
"Don't start.""
"You said she knew about the refinancing.""
Adrian pointed toward the door.
"Get out.""
Vanessa didn't move.
"You told me she agreed to everything.""
"Vanessa!""
She picked up her handbag.
"Fine. But if this comes back on me, I'm not protecting you.""
She walked out.
Adrian remained standing.
His phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered immediately.
"Hello?""
A man's voice responded.
"Mr. Carter, this is Daniel Brooks, representing Naomi Carter.""
Adrian closed his eyes.
"Of course. What does she want now?""
"All further communication regarding the disputed financial documents and your daughter should be directed through my office.""
Adrian laughed.
"Your client has taken my child.""
"Your daughter is safe. We have also received information concerning a disputed refinancing authorization bearing your wife's signature.""
The laughter disappeared.
"Who gave you that?""
"That's not something I intend to discuss over the telephone.""
Adrian gripped the desk.
"Listen to me. That's a family matter.""
"No, Mr. Carter. A disputed financial authorization is a legal matter.""
Daniel continued.
"We are requesting preservation of all relevant records, including communications with the financial institution and any documents submitted in your wife's name.""
Adrian's voice became colder.
"Tell Naomi she needs to come home.""
Daniel paused.
"She is not required to return home to discuss these matters.""
Adrian ended the call.
He stood motionless for several seconds.
Then he opened his contacts and called Vanessa.
She didn't answer.
Across town, Naomi was sitting in a quiet restaurant with Simone.
It was the first time she had agreed to leave the attorney's office since arriving.
She wore a cream-colored blouse, tailored trousers, and understated gold earrings.
Her curls fell over one shoulder.
A glass of water sat in front of her.
She hadn't touched the food.
Simone closed her laptop.
"You need to eat something.""
Naomi looked at the plate.
"I'm not hungry.""
"You've had coffee and half a biscuit since this morning.""
Naomi smiled faintly.
"You're starting to sound like my mother.""
"Good. Somebody needs to.""
Naomi laughed.
It was small, almost unfamiliar.
Then her phone rang.
Her new number displayed an unknown caller.
She ignored it.
A message appeared.
Naomi, it's Vanessa. Please answer me.
Naomi stared at the screen.
Simone noticed.
"Is that her?""
Naomi nodded.
"She wants to talk.""
"Do you want to?""
Naomi considered it.
Then she typed.
If you have something important to say, communicate through my attorney.
Vanessa replied immediately.
You don't understand what's happening. Adrian is making mistakes.
Naomi's fingers stopped moving.
Another message arrived.
I never wanted things to go this far.
Naomi read it twice.
Then she forwarded the messages to Daniel.
Simone watched her.
"Do you think she's changing sides?""
Naomi shook her head.
"I think she's scared.""
"Of Adrian?""
Naomi looked out the window.
"Or of what she helped him do.""
At 5:40 p.m., Naomi returned to the temporary residence where she and Zuri were staying.
Zuri ran toward her from the living room.
"Mama!""
Naomi dropped her handbag and opened her arms.
"There's my girl!""
Zuri wrapped both arms around her waist.
"I made you something!""
She held up a drawing.
Three figures stood beneath a large yellow sun.
One was tall.
One was small.
The third was also tall.
Naomi crouched.
"Who are these beautiful people?""
"That's me. That's you. And that's Daddy.""
Naomi smiled.
"That's lovely, sweetheart.""
Zuri pointed to the figures.
"Daddy is far away because he has work.""
Naomi's smile weakened.
"Sometimes grown-ups have things they need to work out.""
"Is Daddy mad?""
Naomi gently tucked a curl behind her daughter's ear.
"I don't know, baby.""
"Did I do something bad?""
Naomi's heart broke.
She pulled Zuri into her arms.
"No. Never. You didn't do anything wrong.""
Zuri rested her head against Naomi's shoulder.
"Can we all have dinner together again?""
Naomi closed her eyes.
"I know you miss that.""
"Yes.""
Naomi kissed her forehead.
"Your feelings matter, sweetheart. You can always tell me when you miss Daddy.""
Zuri nodded.
Then she ran toward her toys.
Naomi remained crouched for several seconds.
Simone approached quietly.
"She's a sweet little girl.""
Naomi nodded.
"She's the reason I stayed as long as I did.""
Simone sat beside her.
"Do you regret leaving?""
Naomi looked at the drawing.
"No.""
She paused.
"I regret believing I had to stay to give her a family.""
At 8:12 p.m., Daniel called.
"Naomi, I need you to look at something.""
He emailed her a document.
It was an internal bank record obtained through a preliminary preservation request.
Several months earlier, Adrian had contacted the bank regarding the refinancing.
But the most important section wasn't the transaction itself.
It was the authorization history.
The system showed that Naomi's signature had been submitted through an account associated with a device registered to Adrian.
Naomi sat down.
"Can they prove who submitted it?""
"Not from this record alone," Daniel explained.
"But it gives us a clear avenue for investigation.""
Naomi stared at the screen.
Then she noticed another name.
Vanessa Carter.
She appeared in the correspondence as a secondary contact.
Naomi's breathing changed.
"Why is Vanessa listed here?""
Daniel went quiet.
"That's precisely what I'm trying to determine.""
Naomi scrolled down.
There was an email from Vanessa to Adrian.
The subject line read:
*SHE WON'T CHECK THE PAPERWORK.*
Naomi felt cold.
She opened it.
Just tell her it's routine. She trusts you enough not to read every page. Once it's processed, she'll have no reason to question anything.
Naomi covered her mouth.
Simone moved closer.
"What happened?""
Naomi turned the screen toward her.
Simone read the email.
Her expression hardened.
"She knew.""
Naomi nodded.
Her eyes filled, but she didn't cry.
Not this time.
She opened a message to Daniel.
Please preserve every record connected to Vanessa.
Then she looked at Simone.
"I want to know everything she touched.""
Simone nodded.
"I'll organize the records.""
Naomi glanced toward the hallway, where Zuri was getting ready for bed.
Then she looked back at the email.
Three years of marriage.
A thousand private conversations.
And now she was discovering that the people she had trusted had been discussing her behind her back.
Her phone vibrated.
Vanessa again.
Please don't let Adrian destroy everything. There's something I haven't told you.
Naomi stared at the message.
Then another appeared.
He didn't start the financial transfers. I did.
Naomi's blood ran cold.
May you like
Before she could respond, Vanessa sent one final message.
And I have the original recording of the night he planned to use your signature.
