Chapter 5
Arthur stared at the photograph until the room blurred.
Vanessa was younger, but there was no mistake.
She stood near Laura’s car in the parking garage where the vehicle had been recovered after the crash.
The timestamp showed the photograph was taken two hours before Laura died.
“I want Vanessa arrested,” Arthur said.
The detective shook his head.
“A photograph is not proof of murder.”
“She lied about knowing Laura.”
“That proves deception, not homicide.”
Arthur slammed his hand against the table.
Daniel pulled him aside.
“This is what they want. Every time you lose control, they gain another weapon.”
Arthur forced himself to step back.
“What happened to Laura’s car after the investigation?”
“It was destroyed,” Daniel said.
“No. The insurance company released it to me. I couldn’t look at it, so I asked the dealership to store it.”
“Is it still there?”
Arthur called the dealership.
The manager checked old records.
The damaged car had never been destroyed.
It was sitting in a private warehouse thirty miles away.
Arthur contacted the police, but before they could obtain a warrant, the warehouse caught fire.
The flames destroyed half the building.
Laura’s car was reduced to burned metal.
Vanessa called Arthur while firefighters were still at the scene.
“You should learn to let the dead rest,” she said.
Arthur recorded the call.
“Did you kill my wife?”
Vanessa laughed softly.
“You always ask the wrong question.”
“What is the right question?”
“Ask who benefited from her death.”
“You entered my life after she died.”
“So did Clara.”
The call ended.
Arthur immediately tried Clara at the station, but she was unavailable.
Daniel discovered why.
A judge had denied bail after prosecutors received an anonymous video.
The footage appeared to show Clara threatening Marcus in a parking lot.
The woman’s face was visible this time.
It looked exactly like Clara.
Daniel watched it repeatedly.
“It’s fake.”
“Can you prove it?”
“The lighting around her face is wrong. It may be an artificial replacement.”
Arthur hired a forensic video expert.
The expert needed time.
They did not have it.
That afternoon, social services returned with an emergency order.
Ethan was being temporarily removed from Arthur’s custody.
Rebecca Sloan arrived behind them, furious.
“I did not recommend this.”
The lead worker showed her the new court order.
It claimed Arthur was interfering with a homicide investigation and exposing Ethan to danger.
“Where are you taking him?” Arthur demanded.
“To an approved family placement.”
“Which family?”
Evelyn stepped out of a black car.
Ethan screamed.
Arthur lifted his son into his arms.
“No.”
Two officers moved toward him.
Rebecca lowered her voice.
“If you resist, they’ll arrest you in front of Ethan.”
Evelyn watched with satisfaction.
Arthur held Ethan tighter.
“Daddy, don’t let her take me.”
“I’m going to bring you home.”
“You said that about Clara.”
Arthur’s voice broke.
“I know.”
Evelyn approached.
Ethan kicked at her.
She caught his ankle and smiled for the watching officers.
“He’s terrified. Look what Arthur has done to him.”
“Don’t touch me!” Ethan cried.
Arthur slowly placed his son on the ground.
It was the hardest thing he had ever done.
Evelyn held out her hand.
Ethan refused it.
One of the workers guided him toward the car.
He looked back at Arthur through the rear window.
Arthur stood motionless until the vehicle disappeared.
Then Rebecca handed him her card.
“The order came from Judge Walter Penn.”
Daniel recognized the name.
“He attended Evelyn’s charity gala last month.”
Rebecca nodded.
“And Evelyn’s foundation donated to his reelection committee.”
Arthur looked at her.
“Can you prove she influenced him?”
“No, but I can help you expose the process.”
That night, Ethan was taken to Evelyn’s estate.
Vanessa waited in the entrance hall.
He tried to run outside, but the door locked behind him.
“You caused a great deal of trouble,” Vanessa said.
Evelyn dismissed the social worker and led Ethan upstairs.
His assigned bedroom had bars hidden inside the windows.
There was no tablet, no telephone, and no lock on the door.
“You will tell the court that Clara frightened you,” Evelyn said.
Ethan shook his head.
“You will say your father hit Vanessa many times.”
“He didn’t.”
Vanessa grabbed his chin.
“You already sent Clara to jail.”
Ethan’s eyes widened.
“I didn’t.”
“The video from your tablet led the police to Marcus.”
“That’s not true.”
“Marcus is dead because you wanted to play detective.”
Ethan began to cry.
Evelyn pulled Vanessa away.
“Fear is useful. Don’t waste it all at once.”
They left Ethan alone.
He waited until their footsteps faded.
Then he reached inside his shoe.
Before leaving home, he had hidden a small memory card from his tablet.
He did not know exactly what was on it.
He only knew Vanessa had tried to take it from him.
Downstairs, Vanessa poured herself a drink.
“He won’t cooperate.”
“He will,” Evelyn replied.
“And if he doesn’t?”
Evelyn looked toward the ceiling.
“Children have accidents.”
Neither woman noticed Rosa standing outside the kitchen door.
She had followed the social services car to the estate.
Her phone was recording everything.
Before she could step away, a hand covered her mouth.
A man dragged her into the darkness.
May you like
Her phone fell beneath the kitchen window.
The recording continued.
