Chapter 6 - The Woman in the Driveway
I read the note until the words blurred.
Wedding must happen first.
Emma watched me from the edge of her bed.
“Am I in trouble for taking it?”
“No.” I folded the page carefully. “You did the right thing telling me.”
“Vanessa said taking things makes me a thief.”
“Vanessa doesn’t get to decide what you are.”
I called our family attorney, Rachel Kim, and sent her a photo.
She called back in less than two minutes.
“Do not confront Vanessa about the trust clause,” she said.
“Too late.”
Rachel swore softly. “Daniel, listen to me. The interim trustee language was removed in the revised trust two years ago.”
I stared at the paper.
“Then this copy is old.”
“Very old. Before you met Vanessa.”
“How would she have it?”
“I don’t know.”
A horn sounded outside.
Marcus checked the driveway camera.
A woman in gray scrubs stood beside an old Honda, arguing with the gate intercom.
I recognized her immediately.
Tessa Lane had been Noah’s night nurse during his first month home.
She had quit without explanation.
I let her in.
The second she stepped through the front door, she saw Vanessa at the end of the hall and stopped cold.
Vanessa went white.
Tessa whispered, “You said he’d never find out.”
Every person in the foyer froze.
I looked at Vanessa. “Find out what?”
Tessa began crying.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve come sooner.”
Vanessa moved toward her. “Don’t.”
Marcus stepped between them.
Tessa reached into her purse and pulled out a small black memory card.
“I copied this before she made me delete it.”
Vanessa lunged.
Marcus caught her wrist.
“What’s on it?” I asked.
Tessa looked at me, then at Emma.
“Not the stairs.”
My heart sank.
“Then what?”
She swallowed.
“Your son’s nursery. Three months ago.”
Vanessa stopped fighting.
May you like
Tessa held the card tighter.
“She practiced before she did it for real.”
