Chapter 14 - PETER HALE TALKS
Peter Hale asked for immunity before giving a full statement.
He did not get immunity.
He got a lawyer.
Then he talked anyway.
Sixteen months earlier, Vanessa approached him after Isabella brought her SUV in for routine service.
Vanessa wanted information.
Where Isabella drove.
Whether Adrian rode with her.
What safety systems the vehicle had.
Peter claimed he thought Vanessa was a private investigator.
Then she offered him money to "create a problem that looked natural."
He damaged a brake line.
He expected a warning light to appear before the brakes failed completely.
He said he never meant to kill anyone.
Adrian nearly left the interview room when he heard that.
Detectives stopped him.
Peter continued.
After the crash, Vanessa paid him to replace the inspection note.
Then she disappeared from his life.
Until three nights before the pool incident.
Why meet again?
Because Vanessa was scared Peter would talk.
She paid him another $25,000 for the old original invoice.
He gave her a metal box containing copies.
She thought she had everything.
She didn't.
Peter had kept one copy at home.
The same copy police found.
Adrian sat outside the station afterward, staring at nothing.
Maria sat beside him.
He whispered, "She killed Isabella."
Maria did not correct him.
Vanessa may not have touched the car herself.
But if Peter was telling the truth, she had started the chain.
Adrian covered his face.
"And I invited her into Oliver's nursery."
Maria said quietly, "You didn't know."
"I should have."
"You should have listened sooner. That's different."
He looked at her.
For the first time, he seemed less like the wealthy owner of a villa and more like a tired father.
Then Detective Ruiz came outside.
"We found the metal box."
Adrian stood.
"Where?"
Ruiz looked toward Maria.
"In Ms. Santos's locker at the villa."
May you like
Maria went cold.
Someone had planted it there.
