Chapter 14 - The LawyerDetective Ruiz moved faster this time.
Peter Lawson was still practicing family law in downtown Chicago.
He was also very good at protecting himself.
His bank records, however, weren't perfect.
Three years earlier, a consulting company called North Lake Strategies had paid Peter four times.
Total: $47,000.
North Lake Strategies no longer existed.
Its registered agent?
Vanessa Cole.
Daniel stared at the records.
“He sold information about me.”
Ruiz nodded.
“Potentially.”
“Stop saying potentially.”
“I'll stop when a court lets me.”
Daniel leaned back.
“What did he give her?”
“We're working on that.”
Peter denied everything.
He claimed North Lake hired him for legitimate consultation.
No surviving contract.
No clear invoices.
Convenient.
But pressure changed people.
Three days later, Peter asked for an attorney.
Two days after that, he asked for a deal.
Ruiz called Daniel.
“He admits sharing information with Vanessa.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“What information?”
“Your temporary address. Court dates. Copies of communications between you and Megan.”
“My attorney gave another woman confidential information.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Money.”
Daniel laughed without humor.
“Was he involved in the crash?”
“He says no.”
“Do you believe him?”
“Parts of his story are corroborated.”
Daniel looked toward Sophie in the backyard.
Her short hair moved in the wind while she played with Kate's dog.
“What did Vanessa ask him for on the day Megan died?”
Ruiz paused.
“That part matters.”
Daniel waited.
“She contacted him at 7:54 p.m.”
“For what?”
“To confirm you were at your apartment.”
Daniel's throat tightened.
“She wanted to know I was there before sending Megan the message.”
“Yes.”
“So she planned it.”
“She planned contact.”
“Ruiz.”
“I know.”
The detective's voice softened.
“But planning to lure Megan somewhere is not automatically proof she planned to kill her.”
Daniel hated the law at that moment.
“Did Peter tell her I wouldn't see Megan?”
“Yes.”
Daniel froze.
“What?”
“He says he told Vanessa you had instructed him to tell Megan not to contact you.”
Daniel's stomach dropped.
“So Vanessa knew Megan wasn't welcome.”
“Yes.”
“And she told Megan I wanted her to come anyway.”
“Yes.”
Daniel stood.
There was no innocent explanation left.
Vanessa hadn't tried to reconcile them.
She had created a reason for Megan to drive.
Ruiz continued.
“Peter gave us something else.”
“What?”
“An email Vanessa sent him the next morning.”
Daniel waited.
“She wrote: ‘Thank you. Everything worked out.’”
Daniel covered his face.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Then Ruiz said:
“We still need the mechanical link.”
“You'll find it.”
“I hope so.”
That evening Sophie sat beside Daniel on the porch.
“Is Vanessa going to jail?”
Daniel looked at her.
“I don't know yet.”
“She should.”
“Yes.”
Sophie touched her hair.
“She said nobody would believe me because kids lie.”
Daniel's chest tightened.
“She was wrong.”
Sophie leaned against him.
“Did Mom know she was bad?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't Mom stop her?”
Daniel swallowed.
“She tried.”
“Did you believe Mom?”
The question hurt more than any accusation.
“No.”
Sophie looked up.
“Why?”
“Because I made a mistake.”
“A big one?”
“The biggest.”
She was quiet.
Then:
“Did Mom hate you?”
Daniel looked toward the darkening yard.
“I don't know.”
Sophie thought about that.
“I don't think she did.”
“Why?”
“She kept your picture.”
Daniel turned.
“What picture?”
“In her secret place.”
“What secret place?”
“The stars.”
“We found the flash drive.”
“No.”
Sophie shook her head.
“Another one.”
Daniel's pulse jumped.
“What other one?”
She stood.
“Mom said there were two star places.”
Daniel stared at her.
“Where is the second?”
Sophie pointed toward his house.
“Our attic.”
Daniel was on his feet before she finished.
The attic was packed with boxes.
He searched until midnight.
Nothing.
Then Sophie climbed halfway up the ladder.
“Daddy.”
He looked down.
She pointed toward an old wooden toy chest.
Stars had been painted across its lid.
Daniel pulled it open.
Stuffed animals.
Baby clothes.
A blanket.
At the bottom, beneath a false wooden panel, he found an envelope.
Inside was a photograph of Daniel and Megan on their wedding day.
Behind it was a handwritten note.
Daniel—
If you found the first drive, you know about Vee.
If you found this too, then I didn't get the chance to tell you what I discovered about your car.
Daniel stopped breathing.
His car.
Not Megan's.
He unfolded the next page.
May you like
Vanessa wasn't trying to kill me first.
She was trying to kill you.
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