Chapter 11 - Owen's Version
Owen Hale sat across from Ortiz in a small interview room, tapping a paper cup against his knee. Daniel watched from the adjoining office with Simone. He hadn't asked to be there when Owen confessed; he had asked to be there when the lies finally stopped.
"Harbor was supposed to be a real business," Owen said. "Vanessa said Daniel wanted discreet care arrangements. I set up invoices. She told me he'd approved them."
"Did you know the claims were false?" Ortiz asked.
"By the third payment. Yes."
His honesty arrived late, but it arrived.
Owen admitted he'd installed the additional recording hub because Vanessa wanted copies of everything that happened in the hallway. She called it insurance. He had suspected she was collecting material for a custody dispute, not preparing to threaten a baby.
"Why go to Maria's building?"
"Vanessa was scared of her notes. She told me Maria would ruin us unless I got them. I didn't go inside."
Ortiz laid down a photograph of the iron. "What did your sister tell you about this?"
Owen looked away. "She called it a demonstration. Said she could show how careless Maria was without anyone getting hurt."
"Explain 'demonstration.'"
"She wanted Maria fired. After that, she could convince Daniel he couldn't cope alone."
"And the hot iron?"
"I told her not to do anything stupid."
Ortiz leaned forward. "That's not an answer."
Owen whispered something Daniel couldn't hear. Ortiz asked him to repeat it.
"She said a little mark would make people listen."
Daniel put his hand against the wall to steady himself. He had watched Noah's fingers open and close in sleep that morning, each nail no bigger than a grain of rice.
May you like
His phone buzzed. A message from Vanessa appeared, simple and almost affectionate.
DANIEL, I WANT TO COME HOME. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT OUR SON.
