Chapter 15 - The Runway
I put Ryan on speaker while Ortiz signaled for everyone to stay quiet.
"You copied the porch video," I said.
A pause.
"I preserved evidence."
"You burned the original."
"Because Vanessa attacked you and I panicked."
"Send the copy to police."
"Unlock the transfer first."
"Four point eight million dollars?"
"It was always mine."
"Was I yours too?"
"Don't do this."
"Was our daughter?"
His silence answered more than words.
Ortiz scribbled: KEEP HIM TALKING.
"Ryan, did you know Vanessa was going to push me?"
"No."
"Did you tell her to take my phone?"
"I told her to stop you from destroying our family."
"By force?"
"I said do what she had to do. I didn't tell her to throw you down stairs."
Ortiz looked up sharply.
He had just admitted the instruction.
Sirens sounded faintly through his end of the call.
Ryan heard them too.
"You set me up."
"No, Ryan. You finally heard yourself."
He hung up.
At the private airfield, state police found him running toward a charter hangar.
He was arrested before he reached the plane.
Inside his coat was the silver flash drive.
The video showed exactly what I remembered.
Vanessa blocked me.
I tried to leave.
She grabbed my shoulder.
I pulled away.
She shoved me.
And after I disappeared down the steps, Ryan came into frame from the hallway.
He had been watching from twelve feet away.
He did not move until Vanessa turned and looked at him.
Then he nodded once.
I stared at that tiny movement until my vision blurred.
"What does the nod mean?" Maya whispered.
I didn't know.
But the audio answered for us.
Vanessa's voice came through the recording.
"I told you she'd fight me."
May you like
Ryan replied softly.
"Get her phone before somebody comes."
