Chapter 10 - BEFORE THE MARRIAGE
Vanessa stopped denying everything.
She changed strategy.
"I met Owen's clients. So what?"
Adrian placed the photograph on the interrogation table.
"You were watching Claire."
"I was working for my brother."
"Doing what?"
"Research."
"On my wife?"
Vanessa looked away.
Torres leaned forward.
"Did you have anything to do with Claire's accident?"
Vanessa snapped, "No."
For the first time, fear sounded real.
"Then why did Claire write your brother's name three days before she died?"
Vanessa stared at the photograph.
"Because Owen was trying to buy shares. Claire refused."
"And then she died."
"I didn't kill her."
Adrian's voice shook.
"Did Owen?"
Vanessa said nothing.
Her lawyer ended the interview.
Police reopened Claire's accident file.
The original report called it a mechanical failure.
A brake hose ruptured on a mountain road.
No criminal investigation followed.
But the evidence warehouse still had the vehicle inspection photographs.
Torres found one note nobody had pursued.
HOSE DAMAGE INCONSISTENT WITH NORMAL WEAR.
Adrian felt the past move under his feet.
That night, he sat with Noah in the library.
"Was Mom scared before she died?"
Adrian hated the question.
"Maybe. I didn't know."
Noah looked angry.
"Why didn't she tell you?"
"Maybe she was trying to protect me."
Noah shook his head.
"Adults say protect when they mean hide."
Adrian looked at him.
Nine years old.
And already tired of secrets.
"You're right."
Noah blinked.
"I am?"
"Yes."
Adrian promised him there would be no more hidden truth if he could help it.
Then Torres called.
Owen had been located.
Not at an airport.
May you like
At an abandoned repair shop forty miles outside the city.
The same shop that serviced Claire's car the week she died.
