Chapter 8: The Wife Who Played the Victim
The police station was crowded when Darius arrived with Marcus.
Vanessa sat in the waiting area wearing a cream-colored dress.
Her platinum hair was perfectly styled.
A small bandage covered her wrist.
Patricia Moore sat beside her, holding a leather handbag.
When Vanessa spotted Darius, she immediately lowered her head and began crying.
“Please don't let him near me.””
Darius stopped walking.
Marcus touched his shoulder.
“Don't say anything. Let me handle this.””
A police officer approached.
“Mr. Williams?””
“Yes.””
“Your wife has made an allegation of assault. We need to ask you some questions.””
Marcus handed over a folder.
“My client has evidence directly relevant to the allegation.””
Patricia stood.
“That's not necessary. Vanessa has already provided her statement.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Then she won't mind if the police review the complete security footage.””
Vanessa's crying stopped.
Only for a second.
But Darius noticed.
Patricia adjusted her coat.
“We're not discussing private household recordings without proper authorization.””
Marcus smiled faintly.
“Interesting. Because the recordings were obtained from cameras installed and maintained by my client at his property.””
The officer took the folder.
“We'll review everything.””
Vanessa suddenly stood.
“Darius, why are you doing this to me?””
He looked at her.
“You know exactly why.””
“I made one mistake!””
“You filed a false complaint.””
“I was scared!””
“You weren't scared when you held a clipper against my daughter's head.””
Vanessa looked around.
Several people were watching.
She lowered her voice.
“Please. We can fix this privately.””
Darius shook his head.
“No more private agreements.””
Patricia stepped between them.
“That's enough.””
Marcus immediately addressed the officer.
“We also have evidence of financial misconduct involving the complainant and her business associates.””
Patricia's expression tightened.
“That's a separate matter.””
“Not anymore.””
The officer took another document from Marcus.
It was the financial transfer record connecting Nathan Cole to Patricia's company.
Vanessa looked at the page.
Her lips parted.
“Where did you get that?””
Marcus answered calmly.
“From the records you failed to destroy.””
Patricia grabbed Vanessa's arm.
“Don't say another word.””
Darius noticed the exchange.
He also noticed something else.
Vanessa wasn't looking at him anymore.
She was looking at Patricia with fear.
For the first time, he wondered whether Vanessa was afraid of losing him—or afraid of what her mother might do if she talked.
An hour later, the police confirmed that the available footage contradicted Vanessa's account of the incident.
The matter required further investigation, but Darius was free to leave.
Outside the station, Marcus received a call.
He listened, then looked at Darius.
“Nathan has disappeared.””
Darius frowned.
“What?””
“He didn't arrive at his office this morning. His apartment has been cleared.””
“Where would he go?””
Marcus lowered his voice.
“There's one place Patricia has connections. A private property outside the city.””
Darius stared at him.
“Are you suggesting they're running?””
“I'm suggesting we don't wait for them to make their next move.””
Meanwhile, Vanessa was sitting in Patricia's car.
Her mother drove without speaking.
Finally, Vanessa broke the silence.
“You told me everything was under control.””
Patricia kept her eyes on the road.
“It was.””
“No, it wasn't! Darius has the recordings!””
Patricia tightened her grip on the steering wheel.
“Lower your voice.””
“He knows about Nathan. He knows about the trust. He knows everything!””
Patricia pulled into a quiet parking lot.
Then she turned toward her daughter.
“Listen to me carefully. You will tell the police that Nathan manipulated you. You will say you knew nothing about the financial arrangements.””
Vanessa stared at her.
“You said this was going to make me wealthy.””
“And it will, if you follow instructions.””
“I'm not going to prison for you!””
Patricia slapped her hand against the dashboard.
“Do you think you can walk away now?””
Vanessa flinched.
“You were the one who introduced me to Darius. You told me to make him trust me. You told me to get close to Amara.””
Patricia leaned toward her.
“And you failed at the easiest part.””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“I didn't know you wanted the little girl hurt.””
Patricia laughed coldly.
“You shaved her head because you couldn't control your jealousy. Don't pretend you suddenly care about her.””
Vanessa looked away.
For the first time, she seemed ashamed.
Then Patricia opened the glove compartment and removed a small envelope.
“Here's what you're going to do.””
Vanessa looked at it.
“What is that?””
“A document transferring your remaining interest in the family property to me.””
Vanessa frowned.
“You said I would own the house.””
“You won't be needing it.””
Patricia pushed the envelope toward her.
“Sign it.””
Vanessa stared at the document.
Then she slowly shook her head.
“No.””
Patricia's expression turned icy.
“Excuse me?””
“I want a lawyer.””
“You have a lawyer.””
“I want one who isn't you.””
Patricia slapped the envelope against the dashboard.
“You ungrateful little fool.””
Vanessa opened the car door.
But before she could step out, her phone rang.
It was Nathan.
She answered immediately.
“Where are you?””
Nathan's voice sounded desperate.
“Listen to me. Patricia is going to blame everything on us.””
Vanessa looked toward her mother.
“What?””
“I found something. Danielle left another document. It proves Patricia arranged the entire scheme before she even met Darius.””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Where is it?””
“I'm sending you the location.””
“Why should I trust you?””
Nathan laughed bitterly.
“Because I'm the only person who knows what really happened the night Danielle died.””
The call ended.
A message appeared.
It contained an address and a photograph.
The photograph showed a damaged vehicle parked in an old storage garage.
Vanessa recognized it immediately.
It was Danielle's car.
Her hands began shaking.
Patricia noticed.
“Who was that?””
Vanessa locked her phone.
“Nobody.””
Patricia reached for it.
“Give me your phone.””
Vanessa pulled away.
“No!””
Patricia's face changed.
“Vanessa. Give it to me.””
But Vanessa was already stepping out of the car.
She ran across the parking lot.
And for the first time in her life, she wasn't running away from Darius.
She was running away from her own mother.
Back at the Williams residence, Darius was helping Amara choose a bedtime story.
The little girl sat against his chest, wearing her purple pajamas.
“Daddy?””
“Yes?””
“Will Grandma stay with us forever?””
Darius smiled.
“If she wants to.””
“Good. I like when she's here.””
He kissed the top of her head.
Then his phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
*I KNOW WHO WAS DRIVING THE CAR THAT NIGHT. MEET ME ALONE IF YOU WANT THE TRUTH.*
There was no name.
Only an attached photograph.
Darius opened it.
His face went completely still.
The photograph showed Danielle's car moments before the crash.
And standing beside the driver's door was someone he recognized.
May you like
Someone who had been sitting in his house that very morning.
His mother.
