Chapter 8 - Rosa's Secret

The anonymous sender chose a laundromat on the edge of town.

"That's either very smart or very stupid," Mia said as she parked.

Rachel adjusted the baseball cap hiding most of her face. "Probably both."

Jason had gone with Detective Castillo to challenge the emergency petition. Rachel had promised she would remain at home.

She had not promised very well.

Inside the laundromat, dryers turned behind scratched glass. An old woman folded towels. A college student slept with headphones on.

Then Rosa Alvarez stepped out from behind a row of machines.

Rachel knew her immediately.

Rosa had worked for Vanessa for sixteen years before quitting without explanation three months earlier.

"Mrs. Hawthorne," Rosa said.

"Rachel. Please."

Rosa looked at Mia. "You shouldn't have come."

Mia gave a tired smile. "People keep telling me that."

Rosa handed Rachel a small digital recorder.

"I cleaned Vanessa's office. I heard things. At first I told myself it was family business. Then I heard your name."

Rachel's fingers tightened around the recorder.

"What things?"

"Your appointments. Your records. A woman named Gwen. Mr. Bell."

"Plan A?"

Rosa's eyes flicked toward the windows.

"The false chart was Plan A. They wanted you frightened, isolated, and easy to discredit. Vanessa said if Jason believed you were unstable, he would sign anything to protect the baby."

Rachel felt as if the floor had moved.

"And if he didn't?"

Rosa looked at her belly.

"Then she said she would make you leave him."

Mia whispered, "How?"

Rosa shook her head. "I don't know. I quit."

Rachel pressed play.

Vanessa's voice crackled through the tiny speaker.

"Plan A was the chart. If she won't leave Jason, use the pool. I don't care how. Just make it look like she can't be trusted around the baby."

A man's voice answered.

Grant.

"This is getting out of control."

"Then control it."

Rachel stopped the recording.

Mia's eyes were wet.

"She planned it."

Rosa suddenly grabbed Rachel's arm.

"Don't turn around."

Rachel went still.

"Why?"

"Black SUV across the street. It followed me here."

Mia looked toward the reflection in a dryer door.

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The SUV's engine started.

Rosa whispered, "We need to leave through the back. Now."