Chapter 4 - THE LETTER FROM RACHEL
Adrian hadn’t heard Rachel’s name spoken like that in years.
His wife had died four years earlier after a sudden brain aneurysm.
One morning she had been laughing over breakfast.
By dinner, Adrian was sitting in an intensive care waiting room.
By midnight, she was gone.
He had raised Olivia alone until Emma was born from a later relationship that ended almost immediately.
Vanessa had entered his life eight months ago.
Beautiful.
Confident.
Helpful.
Too helpful, Adrian realized now.
“What letter?” he demanded.
Vanessa shrugged.
“Ask your precious Clara.”
Adrian grabbed his phone.
He called.
No answer.
He called again.
Straight to voicemail.
“Clara, it’s Adrian. Please call me.”
Vanessa laughed.
“She won’t.”
Adrian ignored her.
Olivia whispered, “Dad?”
He turned.
She looked scared.
“Mom wrote you a letter?”
“I don’t know.”
“I do.”
They both looked at Vanessa.
“She wrote several,” Vanessa said.
“How do you know?”
Vanessa’s smile disappeared.
“Because Rachel and I knew each other.”
Adrian felt the floor shift beneath him.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“You never met her.”
“That’s what I told you.”
“Why?”
“Because you wouldn’t have let me into your life if you knew.”
Olivia stepped backward.
“Dad, she’s crazy.”
Vanessa pointed at her.
“Your mother wasn’t a saint, Olivia.”
Adrian slammed his palm against the desk.
“Enough!”
Vanessa jumped.
“Get out.”
“What?”
“You are leaving this house right now.”
“And where am I supposed to go?”
“I don’t care.”
“You can’t throw me out!”
“Watch me.”
Adrian called the police.
Vanessa’s confidence cracked.
“You’re calling them?”
“You pushed my baby down a staircase.”
“She didn’t fall!”
“You stole $175,000.”
Vanessa’s face hardened.
“You’ll regret this.”
“No. I regret letting you through my front door.”
Ten minutes later, flashing lights painted the windows blue and red.
Officers viewed Olivia’s video.
One officer took Adrian aside.
“Sir, based on the footage and the financial allegations, we need formal statements.”
Vanessa was led outside.
As she passed Adrian, she leaned toward him.
“Rachel knew what kind of man you were.”
Adrian froze.
Vanessa smiled.
“And that letter will prove it.”
The police car pulled away.
Olivia stood next to her father.
“You don’t believe her, do you?”
Adrian stared at the disappearing lights.
“I don’t know what I believe anymore.”
Then his phone rang.
Clara.
He answered immediately.
“Clara?”
Her breathing was fast.
“Mr. Hayes, are you alone?”
“No. Olivia is with me.”
“Listen carefully.”
Her voice trembled.
“Do not open your bedroom safe.”
Adrian frowned.
“Why?”
A crash sounded on Clara’s end.
Then a man’s voice.
“Give me the phone.”
Clara screamed.
May you like
The call went dead.
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