Chapter 12 - Vanessa Talks
Vanessa lasted one night in county jail before she asked for the prosecutor.
Her lawyer wanted a deal.
She claimed Ryan had designed the financial scheme. She had helped because he promised they would run the company together after he divorced me.
"Did she admit pushing me?" I asked Ortiz.
"Yes."
The room seemed to shrink.
"She says you turned away, and she grabbed your shoulder to stop you from leaving. She admits she shoved harder when you pulled free."
"And then she smiled while I was on the ground."
Ortiz didn't answer.
"What does she say about Ryan?"
"She says he told her the camera was off and ordered her to get your phone. She says he never specifically told her to push you down the stairs."
Then Ortiz slid a printed transcript toward me.
It was from Vanessa's interview.
Ryan had promised that if I were hospitalized long enough, doctors could be pressured to sign the incapacity papers. Once he controlled the board, he would approve the North Vale transfers, force a merger, and eventually file for divorce.
"What about the baby?"
Ortiz hesitated.
"Vanessa says she asked him that."
I found the line myself.
VANESSA: WHAT IF SHE LOSES THE BABY?
RYAN: THEN THE TRUST SHARES STAY LOCKED AND WE ADJUST.
I couldn't breathe for a second.
Not because he had ordered our daughter hurt.
There was no evidence he had.
Because he had already calculated what her death would mean financially.
Like she was a line in a spreadsheet.
My phone buzzed.
Dr. Patel came in before I could read it.
"Emily, we need to talk. Your blood pressure is climbing, and the contractions are back."
"Is she okay?"
"Right now, yes. But if this continues, we may need to deliver early."
The phone buzzed again.
I looked down.
The message was from Ryan.
YOU THINK VANESSA SAVED YOU BY TALKING?
May you like
Then another appeared.
SHE FORGOT WHAT SHE SIGNED.
