Chapter 9 - The Empty Safe
Diane disappeared for thirty-six hours.
Her phone was off.
Her credit cards weren’t being used.
Her car was found at a commuter train station.
Thomas looked twenty years older when we arrived at his house.
“I should have known.”
Ryan sat across from him.
“Knew what?”
“That the money didn’t make sense.”
Thomas rubbed both hands over his face.
He had spent most of their marriage allowing Diane to manage family finances.
She had always been organized.
Always confident.
Always prepared with an explanation.
Vanessa’s photography business was growing.
Chloe was booking small campaigns.
Diane claimed she was helping.
Thomas never looked deeper.
Now he opened an old desk drawer.
Inside was a notebook.
“I found this behind the safe.”
Monica turned the pages.
Dates.
Dollar amounts.
Initials.
One name appeared repeatedly.
M.V.
Martin Vale.
Jonah believed the notebook tracked cash commissions.
Then we found an entry dated two days before Lily’s haircut.
E.B. - $50K advance if L unavailable.
EverBelle.
Fifty thousand dollars.
Vanessa hadn’t cut Lily’s hair in a moment of jealousy.
Someone had paid an advance connected to Lily becoming unavailable.
Monica immediately contacted EverBelle’s legal department.
Their response came within the hour.
They denied authorizing any payment.
But they confirmed they had been negotiating for Lily.
More importantly, they said they had withdrawn consideration of Chloe months earlier.
That meant the fifty thousand dollars had come from somewhere else.
Ryan stared at the notebook.
“Martin.”
Jonah nodded.
“Most likely.”
“Why?”
“We need him to tell us.”
The police were already looking.
Then Chloe walked into the room.
She had been staying with Eric while Vanessa’s custody situation was reviewed.
She saw the notebook.
Her face changed.
“I’ve seen that.”
Every adult in the room became silent.
“Where?”
“Grandma’s kitchen.”
“When?”
Chloe hesitated.
“The night Mom was crying.”
“What was she crying about?”
“Mr. Martin.”
I crouched beside her.
“You’re not in trouble.”
She nodded.
“Mom said he lied.”
“About what?”
“That Chloe would get Lily’s job.”
My skin prickled.
Then Chloe added something else.
“Grandma said if Mom didn’t do what he wanted, he’d show everyone the old videos.”
Monica looked at Jonah.
“What old videos?”
Chloe shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Then Thomas whispered.
“I might.”
We turned toward him.
He looked sick.
“Vanessa worked for Martin before Chloe was born.”
Ryan frowned.
“What kind of work?”
Thomas took a long breath.
“Beauty competitions.”
May you like
“And Martin was her manager.”
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