Chapter 5 - THE BUSINESS OF MARRIAGE
Michael's recording lasted eighteen minutes.
By the end, nobody in the room spoke.
Michael described a pattern he had uncovered during the final month of his life.
Vanessa did not simply marry wealthy men.
She entered their lives with help.
A network identified vulnerable targets.
Widowers.
Divorced executives.
Men with strained family relationships.
Men whose companies held large insurance policies or transferable assets.
Someone arranged introductions.
Someone manipulated finances.
Someone created emergencies.
And Vanessa created intimacy.
Michael believed he had not been the first.
He had found references to two other men.
Thomas Avery.
Derek Sloan.
Both wealthy.
Both dead.
Both deaths originally considered natural.
Sarah remembered Michael's last sentence.
“If anything happens to me, don't trust the story they tell at the funeral.”
Daniel pressed his fingers against his temples.
“How long did you know this?”
“I didn't.”
Sarah shook her head.
“I knew he was scared.”
“I knew he suspected Vanessa.”
“I didn't know there were others.”
Detective Reed wrote down both names.
“We'll reopen everything we can.”
Daniel walked to the far side of the room.
His anger was changing.
At first it had been emotional.
Now it was cold.
“What was Vanessa supposed to receive if I died?”
He already knew the answer.
Margaret had persuaded him to update several estate documents after his engagement.
Daniel had ignored her.
Three weeks ago, Vanessa convinced him to sign a new marital trust.
If Daniel died, she would temporarily control voting rights over a portion of Bennett Development.
Not ownership.
Control.
Enough to influence a board vote.
Daniel looked at Reed.
“This isn't about my money.”
Sarah understood.
“It's about your company.”
Daniel nodded.
Bennett Development owned valuable waterfront property downtown.
A massive acquisition offer had recently been rejected.
The buyer had been represented by Richard Hales.
If Daniel died, Vanessa could support the sale.
Sarah looked at Michael's statements.
“Larkwell Consulting.”
Daniel's expression darkened.
“They were advising the buyer.”
The pieces locked together.
Michael had discovered financial transfers.
Richard had connections to Vanessa.
Vanessa had connections to Lucas.
And Daniel had been scheduled to sign final wedding-related documents the following morning.
Reed's phone rang.
He answered.
His expression hardened.
“What hospital?”
Everyone stared at him.
When he hung up, Sarah asked, “What happened?”
Reed looked toward Daniel.
“The bartender who was supposed to work your wedding was found unconscious in his apartment.”
Daniel went still.
“Is he alive?”
“Yes.”
“Can he talk?”
“Not yet.”
Sarah looked at the clock.
It was almost three in the morning.
Vanessa had been missing for five hours.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Vanessa's voice came through.
“Daniel.”
He closed his eyes.
“Where are you?”
“You should have listened when I told you Sarah was dangerous.”
Sarah stood beside him.
Daniel put the call on speaker.
Vanessa continued.
“She has been obsessed with me for years.”
Sarah said nothing.
Daniel asked, “Did you put something in my drink?”
Silence.
Then Vanessa laughed softly.
“You're asking the wrong question.”
“What question should I ask?”
Vanessa's answer chilled the room.
“You should ask why Sarah was invited to your wedding when nobody invited her.”
The line went dead.
May you like
Daniel slowly turned toward Sarah.
And Sarah realized Vanessa had finally found the one truth she had been afraid to explain.
