CHAPTER 2: THE WOMAN WHO CRIED FIRST
Sirens arrived seven minutes later.
Vanessa’s face changed the moment she heard them.
“What is that?” she asked.
Mrs. Howard looked toward the front door. “Police?”
The mansion doors burst open.
Detective Rafael Ruiz entered with two officers and a female paramedic behind him.
Vanessa instantly pointed at Elena.
“She fell because she attacked me,” she said quickly. “Ask Mrs. Howard. She saw everything.”
Detective Ruiz did not look surprised.
He simply walked past Vanessa and knelt beside Elena.
“Elena,” he said quietly. “You did well.”
Vanessa froze.
Mrs. Howard’s mouth fell open.
Elena slowly opened her eyes.
The paramedic checked her pulse and belly while Ruiz stood.
Vanessa’s voice cracked. “What is going on?”
Ruiz turned to her.
“What’s going on,” he said, “is that Elena Delgado has been helping us investigate you for three weeks.”
Vanessa took one step back.
“That’s insane.”
Ruiz lifted a small evidence bag.
Inside was a tiny black recording device.
“We have audio from the study. The kitchen. The nursery. And the staircase hallway.”
Vanessa’s tears stopped instantly.
Mrs. Howard slowly pulled away from her.
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For the first time, no one was comforting Vanessa.
And she hated it.
