Chapter 3 - GRANDMA’S HOUSE
Melissa’s mother, Carol Vance, lived twelve blocks away in a brick townhouse with white curtains and a brass knocker shaped like a lion.
Carol opened it wearing a robe and an expression of outrage.
“This is insane,” she said. “Melissa is a wonderful mother.”
Officer Ramirez held up the warrant. “We need access to the property.”
Carol looked past her and saw Daniel standing on the sidewalk.
“You did this.”
Daniel didn’t answer.
He hadn’t wanted to come. Ramirez had asked him to identify items that might belong to Melissa or Lily. He felt sick walking into the home where Lily had spent dozens of weekends.
They found the second phone inside an old sewing cabinet.
It was wrapped in a dish towel.
“So you knew,” he said.
“Knew what?”
“That phone was there.”
Carol folded her arms. “My daughter keeps things here. That doesn’t make me a criminal.”
A detective powered the phone on.
There were hundreds of videos.
Daniel saw thumbnails of Lily sitting at the kitchen table, Lily lying on a couch, Lily crying in a bathroom, Lily being ordered to repeat lines.
He turned away.
“I can’t watch this.”
“You don’t have to,” Ramirez said.
Then the detective said, “Wait.”
Everyone looked at him.
He opened a folder labeled CAMPAIGNS.
Inside were spreadsheets.
Donation totals.
Brand sponsorships.
Invoices from clinics Daniel had never heard of.
And a list of bank transfers to a company called Vance Family Media LLC.
Carol sat down hard on the stairs.
Daniel looked at her. “What is Vance Family Media?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why did my wife send it almost three hundred thousand dollars?”
Carol’s mouth opened, but no words came out.
The detective scrolled farther.
A message thread appeared between Melissa and someone saved only as G.
The last message had been sent that afternoon.
Melissa: HE’S GETTING SUSPICIOUS. WE NEED TO MOVE THE MONEY BEFORE FRIDAY.
G: WHAT ABOUT THE GIRL?
Melissa: SHE’LL DO WHAT SHE’S TOLD.
Daniel felt the air leave his lungs.
Then another message appeared beneath it.
G: AND IF DANIEL FINDS OUT?
May you like
Melissa had replied with four words.
HE WON’T BE AROUND.
