Chapter 11 - Mother's Version
Jason moved in front of Rachel.
"How did you get in?"
Vanessa glanced at him. "It's my house."
"Not after what you did."
"What I did?" She laughed softly. "You've heard one recording from a bitter housekeeper and decided I'm a monster."
Rachel stepped around Jason.
"You pushed me into a pool."
"I pushed you away from me. You lost your balance."
"Mia saw you."
Vanessa looked at her daughter.
"Mia sees whatever makes her feel important."
Mia flinched, but did not back down.
Jason held up David's notebook.
"Dad thought you were stealing from the foundation."
For the first time, Vanessa's face changed.
Only a little.
"Your father was sick."
"He wrote that you wanted him declared incompetent."
"Because he was becoming reckless."
"And then he died."
The words landed hard.
Vanessa stared at her son.
"Be very careful."
Rachel heard the threat beneath the calm.
"Did you know Grant had records about David?" she asked.
Vanessa turned to her. "You have no idea what kind of man my husband was."
"Then tell us."
Silence.
Vanessa walked to the desk.
"David discovered accounting transfers. He assumed theft. They were not theft. They were payments protecting this family from a lawsuit that would have ruined thousands of employees."
Jason frowned. "What lawsuit?"
"One your father was too proud to settle quietly."
Mia crossed her arms. "Convenient."
"Truth usually is inconvenient."
Vanessa reached for the notebook.
Jason pulled it away.
Her eyes hardened.
"Give me that."
"No."
"Jason."
"No."
A door slammed downstairs.
Vanessa smiled.
Rachel's stomach tightened.
"Who came with you?"
Vanessa said nothing.
Then the lights went out.
Mia screamed.
Glass shattered somewhere below.
Jason grabbed Rachel's hand.
In the darkness, Vanessa's voice came from very close.
"This is what happens when you force ugly things into the light."
May you like
When the emergency lights flickered on, Vanessa was gone.
So was David's notebook.
