Chapter 13 - THE MECHANIC
Peter Hale had retired eight months earlier.
He lived alone outside Austin.
Police reached his house before sunset.
He was gone.
His truck remained in the driveway.
His phone was on the kitchen counter.
The back door stood open.
Inside a desk drawer, detectives found old invoices from the repair shop that had serviced Isabella's vehicle two days before the crash.
One invoice listed a brake inspection.
Signed by Peter Hale.
The official crash report said the brakes were functioning.
Then investigators found a second copy.
Same date.
Same vehicle.
Different note:
REAR BRAKE LINE SHOWS RECENT TOOL DAMAGE. OWNER ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE.
Adrian read it twice.
"Isabella never told me this."
The original warning had never entered the police file.
Why?
Because Peter Hale had later submitted the clean version.
Police traced the envelope Vanessa gave him on the wildlife camera.
A bank search showed Peter received $25,000 cash two days later.
From Red Cedar Consulting.
The owner of Red Cedar was Vanessa's father.
Vanessa's father denied knowing anything about the payment.
He claimed Vanessa had access to the company account.
Adrian stopped speaking to both of them.
Maria returned to the villa only to pack her belongings.
In the nursery, she found Oliver awake.
He smiled when he saw her.
That nearly broke her.
She lifted him carefully.
"You're going to be okay, little man."
Adrian stood in the doorway.
"I want you to stay."
Maria did not answer.
"Not as an employee who has to prove she's innocent every time someone lies. As Oliver's nanny, with a contract, authority, and protection."
Maria looked at him.
"Protection from who?"
Before he could answer, Ramon's radio crackled.
Police had found Peter Hale.
May you like
Alive.
And he was ready to talk.
