Chapter 10 - The Garage
We called the police.
Not because I knew what "final incident" meant, but because I had finally stopped assuming uncertainty was a reason to wait.
Two officers met me at the house with Laura. Ella stayed at the hospital with Maria, who had arrived before sunrise and cried the moment she saw her.
Vanessa opened the front door wearing jeans and a cashmere sweater, looking like a woman interrupted during breakfast.
"This is absurd," she said when she saw the officers.
I did not answer.
We went straight to the garage.
My SUV sat in its usual bay.
At first, nothing looked wrong.
Then Officer Mills crouched near the driver's side and called his partner over.
A small clear bag was taped behind the front wheel well.
Inside were three miniature liquor bottles, empty.
Vanessa laughed from the doorway. "Ethan drinks. This proves nothing."
I stared at her.
"I haven't had alcohol in eleven years."
Her smile vanished.
Most people in my business knew I did not drink. Vanessa knew why. My father had been an alcoholic. I had made the choice at twenty-three never to become him.
Officer Mills photographed the bottles.
Then his partner opened the rear passenger door.
Under Ella's booster seat was another bag.
This one contained prescription pills in an unmarked container.
They were not mine.
Laura whispered, "She was staging evidence."
Vanessa shouted, "He could have put those there himself!"
Officer Mills turned. "Ma'am, please step back."
I looked at the garage camera.
A tiny red light glowed.
Unlike the kitchen cameras, this one was still recording.
The officer accessed the local storage.
At 3:08 that morning, the video showed Vanessa entering the garage.
May you like
She was not alone.
Lucas Vale walked in behind her.
