Chapter 12 - THE CONFESSION VANESSA COULD NO LONGER HIDE
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Vanessa looked ten years older when I saw her again.
There was no diamond tiara.
No expensive wedding gown.
No crowd of wealthy guests waiting to praise her beauty.
She sat in a police interview room wearing simple clothes, with her attorney beside her.
Detective Reyes had arranged the meeting after Vanessa agreed to provide information.
I wasn't there to negotiate her charges.
I wasn't there to forgive her.
I only wanted the truth.
Vanessa looked up when I entered.
“Claire.”
I remained standing.
“Why did you ask for me?”
Her eyes moved toward my hands.
“You're still wearing your maid's uniform.”
I glanced down.
“Yes.”
Something flickered across her face.
For once, she didn't make a cruel remark.
Instead, she whispered, “I never thought you'd become important.”
I stared at her.
“I was important before any of this happened.”
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
Her attorney shifted uncomfortably.
Detective Reyes turned on the recorder.
“Mrs. Moretti, you indicated that you wanted to clarify the account established in Claire Bennett's name.”
Vanessa nodded.
“I helped create it.”
My breath caught.
Reyes didn't interrupt.
“Graham obtained copies of her employee records.”
“Dario told us she had seen him near Matteo's car.”
“He said if she ever talked, people needed a reason not to believe her.”
I felt cold all over.
“So you stole my identity?”
Vanessa looked at me.
“Yes.”
“Why seventy-five thousand dollars?”
“Enough to make it look like a payoff.”
I stared at her.
“You knew I was innocent.”
She nodded.
“And you let people call me a murderer.”
Tears gathered in her eyes.
“Claire, I was frightened.”
My voice trembled.
“Matteo was frightened.”
“Sofia was frightened.”
“Eddie was frightened.”
I leaned forward.
“Being afraid doesn't give you the right to destroy someone else's life.”
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Detective Reyes waited.
Then she asked about the evidence Vanessa had mentioned.
Vanessa's attorney placed a small sealed evidence pouch on the table.
Inside was an older phone.
Vanessa explained that she'd kept it after Dario told her to destroy it.
She had been afraid he would eventually blame her for everything.
So she'd preserved their messages as insurance.
Reyes arranged for the device to be examined and its contents authenticated.
Several hours later, investigators identified messages dating from the week before Matteo's death.
The language was chilling.
Dario had written that Matteo was becoming a problem.
He warned that both brothers might attend the scheduled meeting.
Vanessa had asked what would happen to the vehicle.
Dario replied that the car would never reach downtown.
Another exchange referred directly to the garage appointment with Patrick Kline.
Vanessa hadn't merely suspected something dangerous might happen.
She had helped arrange it.
And after learning what was planned, she had done nothing to warn Matteo.
When Reyes confronted her with the messages, Vanessa finally stopped trying to explain everything away.
“I knew they were going to damage the car.”
She stared at the table.
“I knew Matteo might die.”
The room became painfully quiet.
I couldn't stop imagining Sofia waiting for her husband that morning.
Checking the clock.
Calling his phone.
Wondering why he hadn't answered.
Vanessa began crying.
“I told Dario Luca wasn't going with him.”
Reyes leaned forward.
“Why?”
“Because Dario wanted both brothers gone.”
I felt my stomach twist.
“But I needed Luca alive.”
“For what?”
Vanessa looked ashamed.
“The marriage.”
She explained that after the initial plan failed to kill Luca, Dario pressured her to continue building a relationship with him.
They believed a marriage would give Vanessa access to financial arrangements, private documents, and influence over Luca's decisions.
Then, through fraudulent agreements and a manufactured claim that Luca was unfit to manage the company, they intended to seize control.
Matteo had discovered the first part of their scheme.
And Vanessa had chosen to help silence him.
“You were going to take everything from Luca,” I whispered.
Vanessa nodded.
“And you were willing to let his brother die first.”
She couldn't look at me.
For a moment, I remembered her standing in the ballroom, ordering Sofia to sit down.
She hadn't simply wanted to ruin a toast.
She'd wanted the entire room to forget Matteo existed.
Because every memory of him threatened to expose her.
Reyes asked Vanessa one final question.
“Where is Dario now?”
Vanessa hesitated.
Then she gave an address.
An old freight warehouse near the river.
Dario had used the property for years to store business records and equipment outside the company's usual facilities.
“He keeps emergency money there,” she whispered.
“And passports.”
Reyes immediately contacted the officers searching for him.
But before they could act, her phone rang.
She listened without speaking.
Then her expression changed.
“What time did he leave?”
A pause.
“Has anyone contacted him?”
Another pause.
Reyes ended the call.
“Gabriel Torres is missing.”
I stood.
“What?”
“He went to inspect an old company facility after receiving a maintenance alert.”
My heart pounded.
“Which facility?”
Reyes looked at Vanessa.
“The warehouse she just identified.”
At that moment, another officer entered the room.
He was carrying a phone.
“Detective, this was sent to Mr. Moretti.”
He placed the screen on the table.
A photograph appeared.
Gabriel sat tied to a chair inside a warehouse.
Beside him were three terrified freight employees.
A metal container stood behind them.
And on the concrete floor, I could see several dark liquid stains.
Dario's message was short.
Bring me the original evidence, Luca, or I'll burn everything you care about.
Vanessa made a frightened sound.
“That's him.”
Reyes lifted the phone.
“Are you sure?”
She nodded.
“Dario.”
Then another message arrived.
This one contained a photograph of a gasoline can beside Gabriel's chair.
May you like
And a final sentence.
You have until midnight.
