Chapter 2 - The Voice on the Phone

"Turn that off," Vanessa said.

Olivia didn't move.

The recording showed Vanessa standing in the side hallway three nights earlier, talking on speakerphone. A man's voice answered through the phone.

"What if the wife doesn't take the blame?" he asked.

"Adrian always believes me," Vanessa said. "He'll do the rest."

Clara's eyes shut. She had warned Adrian for weeks that his sister was turning him against her. He had called it jealousy.

"Who is that man?" Adrian asked.

Vanessa reached for the remote. Olivia moved it out of reach.

"I asked you a question."

"I was talking about work," Vanessa said. "Olivia took it out of context."

"Which part of pushing Emma toward the stairs was work?" Clara asked.

Emma started crying harder. Adrian held his hands toward her, but Clara spoke first.

"Give me my daughter."

For once, Vanessa obeyed. Clara took Emma and pressed her lips to the baby's hair.

"I'm taking her to the hospital."

"I'll drive," Adrian said.

"No. You had your chance to protect us."

He looked at the red mark spreading across her cheek and said nothing.

Olivia dialed 911. She gave their address and explained that an infant had almost gone down a staircase, that a woman had been struck, and that she had video of both events.

Vanessa's phone buzzed. She checked the screen and went pale.

"Who called you?" Adrian demanded.

"Nobody."

Olivia raised her phone again. "The man's name is Evan Kline. He manages the Harbor House renovation contracts. I saw his number on the recording."

Adrian knew Evan. His company had paid Evan's crews for nearly two years.

Vanessa tried to walk toward the study. Adrian stepped into her path.

"Stay here until the police arrive."

"You're choosing her over your own sister?"

"I'm choosing what I watched."

Olivia looked at her father without warmth.

"You watched something happen today," she said. "You still chose wrong."

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Before he could answer, Clara's phone lit up with a message from an unknown number.

IF YOU TAKE THE BABY TO THE HOSPITAL, THE NEXT RECORDING GOES PUBLIC.