Chapter 12 - THE SECOND STAIRCASE
Emma caught the metal railing with both hands.
Her body swung over the first step.
Vanessa grabbed the back of her dress and tried to tear her fingers free.
Emma kicked backward.
Her heel struck Vanessa’s knee.
Vanessa staggered.
Emma pulled herself upright and pressed her back against the wall.
“You cannot keep blaming everyone else,” Emma said.
Vanessa’s face twisted with rage.
“You destroyed my life.”
“You stole from your own foundation.”
“My mother built that foundation.”
“Your father did.”
“He was weak.”
“He tried to expose you.”
Vanessa raised the blade.
Emma did not move.
The hidden microphone beneath her collar continued transmitting every word.
“What happened at Blackwood Bridge?” Emma asked.
Vanessa’s eyes narrowed.
“You already know.”
“I know you followed Claire’s husband.”
“He stole our files.”
“You hit his car.”
“He should have pulled over.”
Vanessa stepped closer.
“The road was wet.”
“So you forced him off the bridge.”
“I only wanted the documents.”
“And when he survived?”
“My mother handled it.”
The confession traveled directly to Detective Ruiz.
Emma heard Ruiz’s voice through the earpiece.
“Keep her talking.”
Emma glanced toward the stairwell door.
Vanessa noticed.
She ripped the earpiece away.
“You think they can reach you in time?”
A door slammed somewhere below.
Vanessa seized Emma’s wrist.
Emma twisted sharply and struck Vanessa’s hand against the railing.
The blade fell through the stairwell.
Vanessa lunged.
Emma moved sideways.
Vanessa crashed shoulder-first into the wall.
Ethan burst through the door.
“Vanessa, stop.”
His sister stared at him.
“You brought her into our family.”
“I loved her.”
“You ruined us for her.”
“No.”
Ethan moved between Vanessa and Emma.
“You ruined us years before I met her.”
Vanessa reached behind her back.
She pulled out a second blade.
Ethan raised both hands.
“Put it down.”
Vanessa charged.
A gunshot cracked through the stairwell.
The blade struck the floor.
Vanessa collapsed against the railing, clutching her wounded shoulder.
Detective Ruiz appeared at the lower landing with her weapon raised.
Vanessa screamed as officers surrounded her.
Emma leaned against Ethan.
For one brief moment, she thought it was over.
Then Ruiz’s radio came alive.
“Detective, Eleanor Hawthorne has left the building.”
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Security footage showed Eleanor entering a black sedan.
Maria was unconscious in the back seat.
