Chapter 6 - The Woman Behind the Smile
Emma's lungs forgot how to work.
Vivian knew her name.
Not the fake name on the catering schedule.
Her real name.
"How long?" Emma asked.
"Long enough."
Rain tapped the metal awning over them.
The gun did not move.
Emma kept her hands visible.
"If you knew who I was, why let me stay in the house?"
"Because people searching for evidence eventually lead you to the evidence."
"So tonight was bait."
"Partly."
"And Lauren?"
Vivian's smile disappeared. "Lauren talks too much."
Emma thought about the SUV.
"Where is she?"
"Not your problem."
"My mother was your problem too, wasn't she?"
For the first time, Vivian's eyes changed.
Not guilt.
Something colder.
Recognition.
"Your mother made a bad decision," she said.
Emma's stomach twisted. "Which one? Finding your stolen money?"
"Believing Adrian would protect her."
A voice came from the dark behind Vivian.
"Put the gun down."
Adrian stepped into the loading dock with both hands raised.
Vivian turned her head slightly.
"Go back inside."
"You knew who she was?"
"Adrian."
"You knew her mother?"
Vivian's jaw tightened.
Adrian looked at Emma. "Nora Reed?"
Emma nodded.
He went pale.
"Your mother saved my father's company during the 2008 crash. She was the most honest person in the building."
Emma's eyes burned, but she forced the emotion down.
"She thought your wife was stealing from the trust."
Adrian looked at Vivian.
"Tell me she's lying."
Vivian fired.
The bullet struck the metal door beside Emma's shoulder.
Adrian lunged.
Emma dropped to the ground.
Vivian swung the pistol toward him, but Adrian hit her arm. The gun skidded across the wet concrete.
Emma grabbed it.
Vivian stared at her.
"Do it," she said.
Emma pointed the gun at the floor instead.
"No. You're going to answer questions."
Sirens sounded in the distance.
Vivian smiled again.
"Then ask the first one."
Emma stepped closer.
"Did you kill my mother?"
Vivian looked past her toward the driveway.
"No."
A black SUV rolled slowly back through the open east gate.
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"But the man who did just came back."
Police sirens grew louder, but Emma no longer believed that sirens meant safety. Her mother had gone to the police once. Somebody had made part of that report disappear.
