Chapter 6 - Vanessa Steps Back Into the Story
The apartment fell into complete silence.
Only the rain outside continued tapping softly against the windows.
Emma looked at Mark.
Then at the front door.
Then back at Mark again.
"Who's Vanessa?" she asked quietly.
Mark didn't answer.
The doorbell rang again.
Longer this time.
"I know you're inside," Vanessa called through the door. "Your car is downstairs."
Rachel looked toward me.
"Would you like me to answer?"
I nodded.
The security officer unlocked the door while remaining between everyone in the apartment.
A tall brunette entered without hesitation.
She wore a dark green coat, carried an expensive leather handbag, and radiated the kind of confidence that only came from someone who had spent years negotiating with powerful people.
The moment she saw Emma, she stopped walking.
"So," she said calmly. "You must be the replacement."
Emma's cheeks flushed.
"And you are?"
"Vanessa Cole."
Emma's eyes widened.
"The businesswoman?"
"The former one."
She turned toward Mark.
"I warned you not to involve innocent people."
Mark rubbed his forehead.
"This isn't the time."
"No," Vanessa replied. "Actually, this is exactly the time."
She placed a thick envelope on the dining table.
"I came because the bank contacted me this afternoon."
Mark immediately reached for it.
Vanessa pulled it away.
"Not yet."
Rachel stepped closer.
"May I ask what this concerns?"
Vanessa looked at her.
"Mr. Dawson guaranteed several business loans using assets he claimed he still controlled."
Rachel frowned.
"He no longer owns this apartment."
"I know."
Vanessa looked directly at me.
"I discovered that yesterday."
My heartbeat slowed instead of speeding up.
Everything was beginning to make sense.
Mark hadn't returned because he missed the apartment.
He hadn't returned because he regretted the divorce.
He had returned because he was desperate.
Vanessa opened the envelope.
Inside were several official-looking documents.
"He owes more than eight hundred thousand dollars."
Emma gasped.
Mark slammed his fist against the table.
"Stop exaggerating."
Vanessa ignored him.
"The creditors have already frozen two accounts."
Emma stared at him.
"You told me your company was expanding."
"It is."
Vanessa laughed.
"It expanded directly into bankruptcy."
Nobody smiled.
Mark looked around the room as if searching for an ally.
He found none.
Even Emma slowly stepped away from him.
"You lied to me," she whispered.
He shook his head desperately.
"I simplified things."
Vanessa smiled coldly.
"That is the most creative definition of fraud I've ever heard."
Rachel carefully examined the loan documents.
Then she looked toward me.
"Laura..."
"Yes?"
May you like
"I think tonight is about to become much more interesting."
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