Chapter 6: The Third Person in the House
Julian replayed the recording.
“That isn’t Victor.”
Daniel leaned toward the speaker.
“Turn it up.”
The man’s reply crackled through the room.
“Just make certain he signs the insurance forms before Friday.”
Maya looked at Daniel.
“Who knew about those forms?”
“Only Vanessa, our accountant, and me.”
The doorbell rang again.
Ruth stood on the porch, holding a thick envelope against her chest.
“Where is my daughter?” she asked.
“With Victor,” Daniel said.
“Did you know he was back?”
Ruth entered without removing her coat.
“Vanessa told me he was pressuring her.
She said he had photographs that could break the family apart.”
“She paid him with Maya’s money.”
Ruth closed her eyes.
“I gave Vanessa five thousand dollars last month.
She said it would make him disappear.”
“It made him hungry,” Julian said.
Ruth placed the envelope on the table.
“Then you need to see what he sent me.”
Inside were printed emails between Vanessa and Martin Cole, the family accountant.
They discussed Daniel’s passwords, the home-equity application, and moving money through Victor’s account.
Maya read one line aloud.
“‘Victor will take the blame.
Once I leave with the money, Martin will meet me in Toronto.’”
Daniel looked at Ruth.
“How did you get these?”
“Victor sent them this morning.
He discovered Vanessa was leaving him too.”
Julian gave a bitter laugh.
“They were all betraying one another.”
The side door opened.
Vanessa entered with Martin behind her.
Daniel moved in front of the table.
“You no longer live here.”
“I came for my belongings,” Vanessa said.
“Martin is here as a witness.”
Martin’s eyes settled on the envelope.
“Those are private financial records.”
Ruth covered them with her hand.
“They are evidence.”
Vanessa glared at her mother.
“You chose them over me?”
“I chose the grandchildren you harmed.”
“I did everything for Julian.”
Julian faced her.
“Then why were you leaving without me?”
Vanessa’s mouth tightened.
“Victor misunderstood the plan.”
“Your email did not.”
Martin stepped toward the table.
“Give me those papers, Ruth.”
Daniel blocked him.
“Take one more step and I call the authorities.”
Vanessa softened her voice.
“Daniel, we can make a deal.
Keep the house.
Keep the children.
I only want enough money to start over.”
“You already took enough.”
“If you report this, Maya’s account will be examined.
Her summer earnings were deposited incorrectly.
The university could question her financial-aid forms.”
Maya went pale.
“You would do that to me?”
“I’m warning your father about consequences.”
Julian held up his phone.
“And I’m recording your warning.”
Vanessa snatched for it.
Julian pulled back, and Ruth stepped between them.
“Do not touch him,” Ruth said.
Martin grabbed the envelope and ran toward the patio.
Mr.
Mercer, still standing near his car, shut the gate before Martin reached it.
“You might want to put that down,” the salesman said.
Martin tore the envelope in half.
Daniel lifted his phone.
“Those are copies.”
Vanessa spun toward the security hub beside the kitchen door and ripped its cable free.
“The footage is stored online,” Julian said.
“I already sent it to Dad’s lawyer.”
Vanessa’s face emptied.
A firm knock came from the front hall.
Two investigators stood outside with a uniformed officer.
“Vanessa Brooks?” the first investigator asked.
“We need to speak with you about an unauthorized transfer and a forged lending application.”
Vanessa pointed at Daniel.
“The accounts are in his name.
If anyone committed a crjme, it was him.”
May you like
The investigator looked down at the document in his hand.
“Then perhaps you can explain why the application came from Martin Cole’s office—and why your voice is on the bank’s verification call.”
