Chapter 10 - THE ARGUMENT BEFORE THE SCREAMRichard agreed to detailed statement.
He described entering room.
Vanessa approached.
“You’re humiliating me tomorrow.”
“No. Audit.”
“You know what board will think.”
“That process failed.”
“You think I failed.”
“Yes.”
Blunt.
Richard admitted.
Vanessa said:
“You’ve been waiting to prove I don't belong.”
Richard:
“I've been waiting for Daniel to start asking questions himself.”
Harsh.
Then:
“Until then, I’ll do it.”
Vanessa:
“You want to take everything from me.”
Richard:
“I want you out of procurement until review.”
Vanessa:
“You have no idea what Daniel will do if he thinks you came after me.”
Richard claimed he stopped at that sentence.
“Is that threat?” Daniel asked.
“I thought emotional.”
“What did you say?”
“I said, ‘Don’t use my son as shield.’”
Then he turned to leave.
That matches Mason beginning: Richard turns away.
Then snap.
Richard turns:
“What are you doing?”
Staging.
If true, Vanessa had essentially warned Daniel leverage moments earlier.
No recording.
Mason heard fragments:
“tomorrow”
“ruin”
maybe “Daniel”
Could partially corroborate.
Vanessa denied wording “what Daniel will do.”
No way prove yet.
Then smart-home voice assistant logs? No audio stored. Maybe command at 7:37 by Vanessa: none.
No magic.
Then Vanessa’s Apple Watch? health data showed heart rate rising before scream. Could indicate fear or planned stress. Meaningless.
Do not overreach.
Good.
But location logs show her phone on coffee table not carried.
Not relevant.
Richard’s contemporaneous email to Martin drafted before dinner:
If V resists tomorrow, keep focus process, no personal attacks.
Shows he anticipated argument but wanted formal.
Vanessa's draft board removal likewise anticipatory.
Both prepared.
Difference:
Richard prepared audit.
Vanessa prepared his removal due “serious family circumstances.”
Suspicious.
Then friend Elise turned over message after subpoena? Could be voluntary.
Vanessa:
If he keeps pushing, I swear something is going to happen that makes Daniel finally see him.
Elise:
What does that mean?
Vanessa:
Nothing. I’m angry.
Date one day before.
Stronger but ambiguous.
Daniel felt cold.
Not confession.
But language.
When asked, Vanessa:
“I meant argument.”
Possible.
May you like
Always.
Cumulative probability.
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