Chapter 8: The Missing Twenty-Five Minutes
Officer Bennett returned to the kitchen after Victor was taken outside.
“Mr. Reed, I need to ask you something.””
I was still staring at the photograph.
“What?””
“Do you know what happened to your wife's personal belongings after the accident?””
“Her purse was returned to me. Her phone too, I think.””
“Who to the kitchen after Victor was taken outside.
“Mr. Reed, I need to ask you something.””
I was still staring at the photograph.
“What?””
“Do you know what happened to your wife's personal belongings after the accident?””
“Her purse was returned to me. Her phone too, I think.””
“Who collected them?””
I looked at Vanessa.
She was standing beside the counter, gripping the edge so tightly her knuckles had turned white.
“She handled most of the arrangements,” I said.
Officer Bennett made a note.
“Did she also communicate with the funeral home?””
“Yes.””
“Did you see the original police collected them?””
I looked at Vanessa.
She was standing beside the counter, gripping the edge so tightly her knuckles had turned white.
“She handled most of the arrangements,” I said.
Officer Bennett made a note.
“Did she also communicate with the funeral home?””
“Yes.””
“Did you see the original police report?””
“I saw a summary.””
“Did you see the medical records?””
“No.””
Vanessa interrupted.
“This is going nowhere. You're asking him about things that happened six years ago.””
Officer Lewis turned toward report?””
“I saw a summary.””
“Did you see the medical records?””
“No.””
Vanessa interrupted.
“This is going nowhere. You're asking him about things that happened six years ago.””
Officer Lewis turned toward her.
“Ma'am, we'll ask the questions.””
Vanessa stared at me.
“You're letting strangers tear apart our family.””
I looked at her.
“You did that when you made our her.
“Ma'am, we'll ask the questions.””
Vanessa stared at me.
“You're letting strangers tear apart our family.””
I looked at her.
“You did that when you made our child afraid to eat.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“Don't pretend this is about Noah anymore. You've always wanted a reason to make me look bad.””
I almost answered.
Then I stopped.
There was no point arguing with someone who could look at a frightened child and call his hunger manipulation.
Officer Bennett asked child afraid to eat.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“Don't pretend this is about Noah anymore. You've always wanted a reason to make me look bad.””
I almost answered.
Then I stopped.
There was no point arguing with someone who could look at a frightened child and call his hunger manipulation.
Officer Bennett asked me to sit.
“Mr. Reed, do you remember what time you were told about the accident?””
I thought carefully.
“Shortly after nine.””
“Who called you?””
“Vanessa.””
He checked the notes.
“And what did she tell you?””
“That Claire had been in a crash. That the paramedics couldn't save me to sit.
“Mr. Reed, do you remember what time you were told about the accident?””
I thought carefully.
“Shortly after nine.””
“Who called you?””
“Vanessa.””
He checked the notes.
“And what did she tell you?””
“That Claire had been in a crash. That the paramedics couldn't save her.””
“Did she say anything about arriving at the scene?””
“No.””
“Did she say anything about speaking to Claire?””
“No.””
Officer Bennett exchanged a glance with his colleague.
Then he showed me a copy of the emergency call record Victor had provided.
The initial report listed a call at 8:42 p.m.
The caller was identified as a passing her.””
“Did she say anything about arriving at the scene?””
“No.””
“Did she say anything about speaking to Claire?””
“No.””
Officer Bennett exchanged a glance with his colleague.
Then he showed me a copy of the emergency call record Victor had provided.
The initial report listed a call at 8:42 p.m.
The caller was identified as a passing motorist.
A second call had been made at 9:07 p.m.
The caller was listed as an unnamed female.
I looked at the time.
“That's Vanessa?””
“We don't know yet. But the call originated from a number registered to her.””
Vanessa immediately shook her head.
“I made the call because I was driving home motorist.
A second call had been made at 9:07 p.m.
The caller was listed as an unnamed female.
I looked at the time.
“That's Vanessa?””
“We don't know yet. But the call originated from a number registered to her.””
Vanessa immediately shook her head.
“I made the call because I was driving home.””
Officer Bennett remained calm.
“Your vehicle was recorded at the accident location before that call.””
“I stopped because I saw the crash.””
“And you didn't call immediately?””
“I was frightened.””
“Were you injured?””
“No.””
“Was Claire conscious?””
Vanessa looked at the floor.
“I don't remember.””
I stared.””
Officer Bennett remained calm.
“Your vehicle was recorded at the accident location before that call.””
“I stopped because I saw the crash.””
“And you didn't call immediately?””
“I was frightened.””
“Were you injured?””
“No.””
“Was Claire conscious?””
Vanessa looked at the floor.
“I don't remember.””
I stared at her.
“You told me she died immediately.””
“I was upset.””
“You said the paramedics arrived too late.””
“I don't remember exactly what I said.””
Officer Bennett closed his notebook.
“We'll need to verify the timeline.””
Then he asked whether I had any security cameras in the house.
I told him about the old recording device at her.
“You told me she died immediately.””
“I was upset.””
“You said the paramedics arrived too late.””
“I don't remember exactly what I said.””
Officer Bennett closed his notebook.
“We'll need to verify the timeline.””
Then he asked whether I had any security cameras in the house.
I told him about the old recording device in Noah's bedroom and the prepaid phone.
He photographed both.
When he finished, he spoke quietly.
“Mr. Reed, I want to be clear about something. We haven't established in Noah's bedroom and the prepaid phone.
He photographed both.
When he finished, he spoke quietly.
“Mr. Reed, I want to be clear about something. We haven't established that the delay caused your wife's death.
That will require medical records and further investigation. But the inconsistencies in the timeline are significant.””
I nodded.
“Find out what happened.””
He looked at Vanessa.
“We intend to.””
After the officers left, I remained in the kitchen.
Vanessa sat at the island.
For several minutes, neither of us spoke.
Finally, she said, “You should have listened to me that the delay caused your wife's death. That will require medical records and further investigation. But the inconsistencies in the timeline are significant.””
I nodded.
“Find out what happened.””
He looked at Vanessa.
“We intend to.””
After the officers left, I remained in the kitchen.
Vanessa sat at the island.
For several minutes, neither of us spoke.
Finally, she said, “You should have listened to me.””
I turned.
“What?””
“You've made this much worse than it needed to be.””
I laughed once, without humor.
“Worse?””
“You could have handled this privately.””
“You mean the way you handled Claire's accident privately?””
She looked up sharply.
“Don't.””
“Tell me where.””
I turned.
“What?””
“You've made this much worse than it needed to be.””
I laughed once, without humor.
“Worse?””
“You could have handled this privately.””
“You mean the way you handled Claire's accident privately?””
She looked up sharply.
“Don't.””
“Tell me where the bag is.””
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
“Victor said you took it.””
“He's lying.””
“Then why did you go pale when he mentioned it?””
She stood.
“You don't understand the situation.””
“Explain it to me.””
Vanessa walked toward the living room.
I followed.
She stopped beside the old family the bag is.””
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
“Victor said you took it.””
“He's lying.””
“Then why did you go pale when he mentioned it?””
She stood.
“You don't understand the situation.””
“Explain it to me.””
Vanessa walked toward the living room.
I followed.
She stopped beside the old family photograph.
“Claire was obsessed with money,” she said.
I stared at her.
“That's what you're going with?””
“She couldn't accept that the trust wasn't entirely under her control.””
“Claire created the trust for Noah.””
“She wanted photograph.
“Claire was obsessed with money,” she said.
I stared at her.
“That's what you're going with?””
“She couldn't accept that the trust wasn't entirely under her control.””
“Claire created the trust for Noah.””
“She wanted to control everything even after she died.””
“Stop.””
Vanessa turned.
“You don't know what she was like.””
“I knew her for years.””
“And you didn't know everything.””
For a moment, I remembered our life together.
Claire singing in the kitchen.
Her habit of leaving little notes inside to control everything even after she died.””
“Stop.””
Vanessa turned.
“You don't know what she was like.””
“I knew her for years.””
“And you didn't know everything.””
For a moment, I remembered our life together.
Claire singing in the kitchen.
Her habit of leaving little notes inside Noah's lunchbox.
The way she'd smile whenever he managed to hit a baseball with the plastic bat in the backyard.
I remembered holding her hand in the hospital.
And I remembered the first time Vanessa had entered our lives.
She'd been introduced by Victor at a charity dinner, a few months after Claire's death. She had been kind, understanding, Noah's lunchbox.
The way she'd smile whenever he managed to hit a baseball with the plastic bat in the backyard.
I remembered holding her hand in the hospital.
And I remembered the first time Vanessa had entered our lives.
She'd been introduced by Victor at a charity dinner, a few months after Claire's death. She had been kind, understanding, and remarkably patient with a grieving father.
Now every memory seemed to carry a shadow.
“Why did you marry me?”” I asked.
Vanessa looked almost offended.
“Because I loved you.””
“Did you?””
She didn't answer.
“Or and remarkably patient with a grieving father.
Now every memory seemed to carry a shadow.
“Why did you marry me?”” I asked.
Vanessa looked almost offended.
“Because I loved you.””
“Did you?””
She didn't answer.
“Or did you know Claire had left money behind?””
Her expression hardened.
“That's disgusting.””
“Then answer me.””
She looked toward the stairs.
“I'm not doing this.””
She walked away.
I followed her into the study.
“Where is the bag?””
Vanessa stopped beside the desk.
Then she opened a drawer.
Inside was a stack of old documents, did you know Claire had left money behind?””
Her expression hardened.
“That's disgusting.””
“Then answer me.””
She looked toward the stairs.
“I'm not doing this.””
She walked away.
I followed her into the study.
“Where is the bag?””
Vanessa stopped beside the desk.
Then she opened a drawer.
Inside was a stack of old documents, photographs, and a small velvet pouch.
She removed a key.
I recognized it immediately.
It belonged to the locked cabinet in the garage.
The cabinet I had never been able to open because Vanessa claimed she'd lost the spare key.
“What does that open?””
“Nothing.””
“Give it to me.””
She closed her fist.
“Marcus, photographs, and a small velvet pouch.
She removed a key.
I recognized it immediately.
It belonged to the locked cabinet in the garage.
The cabinet I had never been able to open because Vanessa claimed she'd lost the spare key.
“What does that open?””
“Nothing.””
“Give it to me.””
She closed her fist.
“Marcus, don't.””
I reached for it.
She pulled away.
“There's nothing in there that concerns you.””
“It's in my house.””
“It's my property!””
I stared at her.
“Then why are you afraid to show me?””
She finally dropped the key onto the desk.
I took it.
The don't.””
I reached for it.
She pulled away.
“There's nothing in there that concerns you.””
“It's in my house.””
“It's my property!””
I stared at her.
“Then why are you afraid to show me?””
She finally dropped the key onto the desk.
I took it.
The garage cabinet was old, with a combination lock and a narrow brass keyhole. The key opened a small panel at the bottom.
Inside were three folders and a sealed envelope.
I pulled them out.
The first folder contained bank statements.
The second contained correspondence between Vanessa and Victor.
The third contained copies of Claire's medical records.
My hands began to shake.
I opened the garage cabinet was old, with a combination lock and a narrow brass keyhole. The key opened a small panel at the bottom.
Inside were three folders and a sealed envelope.
I pulled them out.
The first folder contained bank statements.
The second contained correspondence between Vanessa and Victor.
The third contained copies of Claire's medical records.
My hands began to shake.
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
The paper was creased, and the ink had faded slightly.
But the handwriting was unmistakable.
Claire's.
Marcus,
If you've found this, it means I wasn't able to tell you everything myself.
I need you to know that the person you trust to care for Noah may not be the person she claims to be.
*I discovered envelope.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
The paper was creased, and the ink had faded slightly.
But the handwriting was unmistakable.
Claire's.
Marcus,
If you've found this, it means I wasn't able to tell you everything myself.
I need you to know that the person you trust to care for Noah may not be the person she claims to be.
I discovered that money was being removed from his account. At first, I believed it was Victor acting alone. Then I found messages proving Vanessa was involved.
I tried to speak to you, but every time I called, she told me you were unavailable.
I don't know how much she's told you about her past. But there that money was being removed from his account. At first, I believed it was Victor acting alone. Then I found messages proving Vanessa was involved.
I tried to speak to you, but every time I called, she told me you were unavailable.
I don't know how much she's told you about her past. But there is one thing you must understand.
Vanessa didn't enter our lives by accident.
I stopped reading.
The room seemed to spin.
I turned toward Vanessa.
“You knew Claire before I met you.””
She stared at the letter.
“Yes.””
“How is one thing you must understand.*
Vanessa didn't enter our lives by accident.
I stopped reading.
The room seemed to spin.
I turned toward Vanessa.
“You knew Claire before I met you.””
She stared at the letter.
“Yes.””
“How?””
She said nothing.
I held up the paper.
“Answer me!””
She finally whispered, “Victor introduced us.””
“Why?””
“Because Claire needed help.””
“With what?””
“Her finances.””
I lowered the letter.
“That's how you met my wife?””
Vanessa nodded.
I felt something cold settle in my stomach.
“You were?””
She said nothing.
I held up the paper.
“Answer me!””
She finally whispered, “Victor introduced us.””
“Why?””
“Because Claire needed help.””
“With what?””
“Her finances.””
I lowered the letter.
“That's how you met my wife?””
Vanessa nodded.
I felt something cold settle in my stomach.
“You were managing her finances?””
“No. I was helping her organize paperwork.””
“And then you married me.””
Vanessa's eyes filled.
“You're making it sound calculated.””
“What else am I supposed to call it?””
She stepped closer.
“I did love managing her finances?””
“No. I was helping her organize paperwork.””
“And then you married me.””
Vanessa's eyes filled.
“You're making it sound calculated.””
“What else am I supposed to call it?””
She stepped closer.
“I did love you, Marcus.””
“You knew exactly who I was before I knew who you were.””
“I was trying to give Noah a stable home!””
“You were trying to get control of his money.””
“That money you, Marcus.””
“You knew exactly who I was before I knew who you were.””
“I was trying to give Noah a stable home!””
“You were trying to get control of his money.””
“That money was sitting there doing nothing!””
“It belonged to my son!””
She slapped the table.
“You always cared more about Claire's child than the family you built with me!””
I stared at her.
“Noah is my family.””
Vanessa let out a bitter laugh.
“Then why don't you ask him what he remembers was sitting there doing nothing!””
“It belonged to my son!””
She slapped the table.
“You always cared more about Claire's child than the family you built with me!””
I stared at her.
“Noah is my family.””
Vanessa let out a bitter laugh.
“Then why don't you ask him what he remembers?””
I froze.
“What?””
She wiped her face.
“He remembers more than you think.””
“About what?””
“Ask him what he heard the night you told him his mother was gone.””
I felt my heart pound.
Noah had been too young to understand much about the accident.
At least, that's what I'd always?””
I froze.
“What?””
She wiped her face.
“He remembers more than you think.””
“About what?””
“Ask him what he heard the night you told him his mother was gone.””
I felt my heart pound.
Noah had been too young to understand much about the accident.
At least, that's what I'd always believed.
Vanessa picked up her phone.
“I'm leaving.””
“Not until you tell me what happened.””
She walked toward the door.
“You won't believe me anyway.””
I stepped aside, refusing to touch her.
“Where are you going?””
“To Brielle.””
“She's safe with us until we understand believed.
Vanessa picked up her phone.
“I'm leaving.””
“Not until you tell me what happened.””
She walked toward the door.
“You won't believe me anyway.””
I stepped aside, refusing to touch her.
“Where are you going?””
“To Brielle.””
“She's safe with us until we understand what's happening.””
Vanessa stopped.
Then she turned around.
“You think Brielle is innocent?””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
She gave me a strange look.
“Ask her why she gave Noah that phone.””
Before I could respond, she walked out.
I immediately called Brielle.
She answered on the first ring.
“Marcus?””
“Where are you?””
“With what's happening.””
Vanessa stopped.
Then she turned around.
“You think Brielle is innocent?””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
She gave me a strange look.
“Ask her why she gave Noah that phone.””
Before I could respond, she walked out.
I immediately called Brielle.
She answered on the first ring.
“Marcus?””
“Where are you?””
“With Aunt Rebecca.””
“Did you give Noah that phone?””
There was silence.
Then she whispered, “Yes.””
I closed my eyes.
“Why?””
“Because Mom told me to get rid of it.””
“Why would she tell you that?””
“Because she knew Noah had heard something.””
“What?””
Brielle began crying.
“She told me that if I ever wanted her to Aunt Rebecca.””
“Did you give Noah that phone?””
There was silence.
Then she whispered, “Yes.””
I closed my eyes.
“Why?””
“Because Mom told me to get rid of it.””
“Why would she tell you that?””
“Because she knew Noah had heard something.””
“What?””
Brielle began crying.
“She told me that if I ever wanted her to stay out of trouble, I had to take the phone away from him.””
“Brielle, did you listen to the recordings?””
“No. But I heard one thing.””
“What?””
She took a shaky breath.
“I heard Mom telling Victor that Claire was still alive when they found her.””
I gripped the phone.
“And?””
B stay out of trouble, I had to take the phone away from him.””
“Brielle, did you listen to the recordings?””
“No. But I heard one thing.””
“What?””
She took a shaky breath.
“I heard Mom telling Victor that Claire was still alive when they found her.””
I gripped the phone.
“And?””
Brielle's voice dropped to a whisper.
“She said they had to find out what Claire told Noah before the hospital called you.””
My blood ran cold.
“What did Noah hear?””
Brielle didn't answer immediately.
Then she said, “He remembers something from the night of the accident.””
I sat down.
“Tell me.””
“He remembersrielle's voice dropped to a whisper.
“She said they had to find out what Claire told Noah before the hospital called you.””
My blood ran cold.
“What did Noah hear?””
Brielle didn't answer immediately.
Then she said, “He remembers something from the night of the accident.””
I sat down.
“Tell me.””
“He remembers a woman standing beside his mother's car.””
I swallowed.
“What woman?””
Brielle whispered:
“Vanessa.””
a woman standing beside his mother's car.””
I swallowed.
“What woman?””
May you like
Brielle whispered:
“Vanessa.””
