CHAPTER 7
Mason’s death changed the case.
It changed me too.
Until then, part of me had still believed Daniel’s violence had limits.
He had slapped me.
He had helped plan what happened to Emma.
He had sent men into Eleanor’s house.
But Mason had worked for him for years.
If Daniel could erase Mason, nobody was safe.
Detective Alvarez refused to call Mason’s death a murder.
Not yet.
His body had been found beneath a bridge outside the city.
The medical examiner discovered a head injury.
It could have happened during a fall.
It could have happened before.
Alvarez hated guessing.
I hated waiting.
Three days after the break-in, Vanessa contacted me.
She used a number I didn’t recognize.
I almost ignored it.
Then I saw her message.
DANIEL KILLED MASON.
Another arrived.
HE WILL KILL ME NEXT.
I called Alvarez immediately.
She told me not to respond.
Vanessa sent another message.
I HAVE PROOF ABOUT THE POOL.
Then:
I WILL ONLY GIVE IT TO GRACE.
Alvarez cursed quietly.
“No.”
“She says she has proof.”
“She can give it to me.”
“She won’t.”
“That’s manipulation.”
“Probably.”
Alvarez looked at me.
I almost smiled.
“You taught me that word.”
She didn’t laugh.
“I don’t like it.”
Neither did I.
But Vanessa knew something.
We arranged a controlled meeting.
Alvarez chose the location.
A small motel room registered under another name.
Officers covered the parking lot.
I wore a recording device.
Vanessa wasn’t told police were nearby.
When she entered the room, I barely recognized her.
No makeup.
Hair tied back.
Dark circles under her eyes.
She locked the door behind her.
“You brought police.”
I kept my face still.
“Why would you think that?”
“Because I would.”
She looked around the room.
“Where are they?”
“You asked for me.”
“I asked for you alone.”
“I’m here.”
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“You always were.”
“What does that mean?”
She stared at me.
“Always there.”
“For your children?”
“For everything.”
I folded my arms.
“You pushed Emma into a pool.”
She flinched.
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Say it like that.”
“How should I say it?”
Tears filled her eyes.
“He made me do it.”
“No.”
Her head snapped up.
“Excuse me?”
“Daniel threatened you.”
“Yes.”
“He manipulated you.”
“Yes.”
“He planned to blame you.”
Her face changed.
“But you still put your hands on that stroller.”
She started crying.
“You don’t understand.”
“I understand exactly what Emma looked like underwater.”
Vanessa covered her mouth.
I continued.
“I understand how hard it was to open that buckle.”
“Stop.”
“I understand your daughter stopped breathing.”
“Stop!”
She collapsed onto the edge of the bed.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then she whispered, “Daniel said Lucas would be taken from me.”
“Because of Michael?”
She looked up sharply.
“You know?”
“Lucas heard you.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“Michael’s death was an accident.”
“Daniel told you otherwise.”
“He lies.”
“Did you know Daniel before Michael died?”
Silence.
“Vanessa.”
“Yes.”
My stomach turned.
“How long?”
“Four months.”
“Were you having an affair?”
She nodded.
“Did Daniel kill Michael?”
“No.”
“You’re sure?”
“I think so.”
“You think?”
“Michael found out about us.”
She wiped her face.
“He drank. He drove angry. He crashed.”
“And Daniel convinced you he had evidence you caused it?”
“He said he had messages.”
“Did you?”
“I told Michael I wished he would disappear.”
My chest tightened.
“That isn’t murder.”
“I know that now.”
“What did Daniel say?”
“That he could make it look like I tampered with Michael’s brakes.”
“Did you?”
“No!”
Her desperation looked real.
“So Daniel blackmailed you.”
“For years.”
“Then why stay?”
Vanessa laughed in a broken way.
“Because the blackmail became a marriage.”
I didn’t feel sorry enough to forgive her.
But I believed she was afraid.
“Where’s the proof?”
She opened her purse.
Inside was a small flash drive.
“Daniel made recordings.”
“Of what?”
“Everything.”
“Why?”
“Insurance.”
“Against you?”
“Against everyone.”
She held the drive tightly.
“I copied files months ago.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew eventually he would choose himself.”
“He already did.”
She looked at me.
“I know.”
“Give me the drive.”
“Not until I get a deal.”
“You called me, not a lawyer.”
“I need you to tell the police I saved Emma.”
I stared at her.
“You didn’t.”
“I tried to stop Daniel before.”
“But you pushed the stroller.”
“I hesitated.”
“You pushed again.”
Her face collapsed.
“Grace, please.”
“No.”
Anger flashed in her eyes.
“You think you’re better than me.”
“I think Emma deserved a mother who didn’t calculate whether killing her was worth the risk.”
Vanessa stood.
“You have no idea what he can do.”
“Then show me.”
She looked toward the window.
A black SUV had pulled into the motel lot.
Vanessa went white.
“He found me.”
I turned.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
She grabbed the drive.
“We have to go.”
Alvarez’s voice sounded through the tiny receiver in my ear.
“Grace, bathroom. Now.”
I moved.
The motel-room door exploded inward.
A man rushed inside.
Not Daniel.
Someone I didn’t know.
Vanessa screamed.
I grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the bathroom.
The man reached inside his jacket.
Police shouted from the hallway.
“Drop it!”
Gunfire cracked.
The bathroom mirror shattered.
Vanessa fell.
I thought she had been shot.
Then she pushed herself up.
“I’m okay.”
I dragged her behind the tub.
More shouting.
Then silence.
Alvarez opened the bathroom door.
“Grace?”
“I’m here.”
“Vanessa?”
“Here.”
Officers arrested the gunman.
He carried a suppressed pistol.
His phone contained one recent message from an encrypted contact.
RECOVER THE DRIVE. NO MISTAKES.
Vanessa stared at Alvarez.
“I told you.”
Alvarez held out a gloved hand.
“The drive.”
Vanessa looked at me.
I nodded.
“Give it to her.”
Vanessa slowly placed it in Alvarez’s palm.
Then she started crying.
Not like she had beside the pool.
Not for Daniel.
Not for herself.
“Is Lucas okay?”
“Yes,” I said.
“Does he hate me?”
I thought of him crying because he still loved her.
“No.”
That seemed to hurt Vanessa more.
Police took her into protective custody.
I thought the worst part was over.
Then Alvarez called me at four the next morning.
The drive had opened.
It contained financial records.
Security footage.
Audio files.
And a folder labeled EMMA.
Inside were six plans.
The pool was only Plan Six.
May you like
Five earlier attempts had failed.
And every single one had my name written beside it as the person who was supposed to take the blame.
