Chapter 12 - STAY OFF MY PROPERTY
"She's at my house," Claire said.
Daniel was already moving. "Call the police."
Rachel, reached by phone, was even more specific. "Do not go home until officers are there. Do not speak to Vanessa through the camera. Save the video."
Claire watched the live feed.
Vanessa rang the bell again.
Then she looked directly into the camera.
"I know you're watching, Claire."
Vanessa held up the envelope.
"You wanted a war. Fine."
Vanessa bent down and slid the envelope under the doormat.
Then she walked toward Claire's front window.
"Don't," Claire whispered at the screen.
Vanessa cupped her hands around her face and peered inside.
At that moment, a patrol car turned onto the street.
Vanessa saw it and stepped back.
Officer Ramirez got out.
Claire heard their conversation through the doorbell microphone.
"Ma'am, why are you here?"
"To serve documents."
"You are not a process server."
"I'm allowed to leave an envelope."
"You were advised last night not to contact Claire or the child."
"I'm not contacting them."
"You just spoke into their camera."
Ramirez said, "Leave now."
Vanessa claimed Claire had threatened to "destroy her life" and had attacked without provocation.
Rachel read the papers at Claire's kitchen table.
"This is aggressive," she said. "But aggressive is not the same as strong."
Daniel paced. "How can she lie like this?"
Rachel looked at him. "Because she expects confusion to do the work for her."
Claire stared at the petition.
Her phone buzzed.
A message from Emma, the teenage sound assistant.
PLEASE CALL ME. VANESSA JUST LEFT ME A VOICEMAIL.
Claire called.
Emma answered in a whisper.
"She said if I don't delete the recording, she'll make sure I get blamed for illegally recording a private conversation."
Rachel leaned closer. "Emma, do not delete anything."
Emma said, "I won't."
Then she added, "There's something else."
May you like
"What?" Claire asked.
"She offered me money."
