Chapter 19 - Five Minutes With Vanessa
Vanessa sat behind a glass partition in a federal interview room. Without diamonds or makeup, she looked younger and more dangerous. She smiled when Grace entered.
“You survived,” Vanessa said. “Again.”
“You're not getting another performance.”
“I don't need one. I need you to know your mother is no saint.”
Grace sat without speaking.
Vanessa leaned forward. “Clara helped design the record system before she turned against it. Your precious ledger has her signature on the early transactions. If you turn it over, she'll be investigated too.”
“She told me she kept accounts. She also tried to stop you.”
“People love a redemption story.”
“People also love a villain who thinks cruelty is intelligence.”
Vanessa's smile cracked. “You think Vincent is different? His money bought the mansion, your paycheck, those expensive flowers he sent. He doesn't get to wash the blood off just because he likes you.”
“I'm not asking him to.” Grace stood. “And he knows it.”
Vanessa slapped the table. “Your father Richard will come for you!”
Grace leaned close to the glass. “Daniel Bennett was my father. Richard Vale is the man who helped make me. There's a difference.”
The five minutes were over. As Grace turned away, Vanessa spoke again, suddenly frantic. “The music box isn't in Harold's office anymore. Richard took it to the vault. He'll destroy it tonight.”
Agent Chen was listening. Within an hour, a federal team surrounded the old bank building. Vincent provided vault access codes, company records, and the names of guards who might be armed. He entered with the agents but carried no weapon.
They found Richard in the underground vault, standing before an industrial shredder with the blue wooden bird in his hand. Grace saw the chipped wing and nearly stopped walking.
“Put it down,” Chen ordered.
Richard's eyes found Grace. “You owe me your life.”
“No,” she said. “I owe you nothing.”
Richard shoved the music box toward the shredder. Grace lunged, slid under the descending security gate, and caught the little bird an inch from the blades. Alarms screamed. Agents pulled Richard away in cuffs.
Grace tapped the wing three times. A hidden latch released. Inside was a miniature cassette spool and a folded sheet covered in numbers. When she turned the hand crank backward, the music mechanism revealed a second compartment, no larger than a matchbox.
Inside lay a tiny memory card.
May you like
On its label, in Daniel's handwriting, were four words:
PLAY THIS FOR GRACE.
