Chapter 8 - VIVIAN VANCE
Police searched Vivian Vance's Fifth Avenue apartment.
It had been emptied in a hurry.
Behind a family portrait, Brooks found a wall safe.
Inside were twenty years of Mercer records.
Henry's medical history.
Claire's college schedule.
Lily's birth certificate.
Photographs of Claire before she had ever met Adrian.
Then a folder labeled COURTSHIP.
Restaurants Claire liked.
Books she read.
Charities she attended.
Her father's death anniversary.
Adrian had not discovered her.
He had studied her.
Vivian's audio diary made it worse.
"Crane says the old man still refuses. Claire will be easier after grief."
Eighteen months later:
"Adrian made contact. She trusts him faster than expected."
Three months before the wedding:
"Child remains obstacle. Adrian dislikes her. It is becoming visible."
Lily heard the recording.
"He didn't like me?"
Claire pulled her close.
"That was his failure, not yours."
The final entry described the west archive as a containment room if Claire discovered the incapacity packet.
Vivian also ordered Lily removed from the reception at 9:30 p.m.
A driver was supposed to take her to Vivian's apartment.
At 9:22, Lily had run to the locked door instead.
Eight minutes separated rescue from disappearance.
Brooks's phone rang.
Vivian had been located at a private airport in Teterboro.
She was boarding a jet for the Cayman Islands.
Adrian was with her.
Federal agents stopped the plane before takeoff.
Vivian stayed calm.
Adrian did not.
Within two hours, mother and son were blaming each other.
Then Crane's recorded phone calls ended the argument.
Vivian: The bride only needs enough medication to appear unstable.
Adrian: I can handle Claire.
Vivian: And the girl?
Adrian: She'll do what she's told.
Claire left the interview room before anger became action.
When she returned, Brooks had one more piece of news.
May you like
Crane was ready to cooperate.
And he was prepared to testify about Henry's final night.
