Chapter 6 - Three Hours
Evelyn called a forensic accountant.
I called no one.
That was harder.
Every instinct in me wanted to phone relatives.
Tell neighbors.
Expose Vanessa.
But Daniel kept saying the same thing.
“Mom, if she knows, she’ll destroy the trail.”
The noon transfer required two approvals.
One from Thomas.
One from me.
Except the system showed my approval already entered.
Fake.
Timestamped at 6:12 that morning.
While I was asleep above a laundromat.
Evelyn immediately contacted the bank’s fraud unit.
They froze the transaction temporarily.
Then something unexpected happened.
Vanessa called me.
My phone rang on the table.
Daniel went pale.
“Don’t answer.”
Evelyn said:
“Answer.”
I put it on speaker.
“Hello?”
Vanessa’s voice was syrup.
“Rose, are you okay?”
I almost laughed.
“You threw me out in the rain.”
“Daniel did.”
“He said you wanted me gone.”
Silence.
Good.
Let her wonder.
Then Vanessa sighed.
“Rose, your son is under stress. I think he needs space.”
“From me?”
“From everyone.”
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
Vanessa continued.
“I’m worried about you too.”
“How kind.”
“You seemed confused last night.”
I stared at the guardianship petition on Evelyn’s desk.
“I was wet.”
“Exactly.”
I nearly smiled.
Then Vanessa said:
“Where are you?”
Daniel’s eyes sharpened.
“Why?”
“So I can send someone to bring you somewhere safe.”
“No.”
Her tone changed for half a second.
“Rose.”
There she was.
The real Vanessa.
I softened my voice.
“I’m tired. I’ll call later.”
Before hanging up, she said:
“If Daniel contacts you, tell me.”
I looked straight at my son.
“Of course.”
The call ended.
Evelyn checked the phone trace.
Vanessa had not been calling from the mansion.
She was at Thomas Bell’s downtown office.
Then Daniel received a text.
From Vanessa.
COME HOME. WE NEED TO TALK.
Attached was a photo.
His study.
May you like
His hidden safe was open.
She knew he had found the folder.
