Chapter 2 - The Woman Daniel Had Trusted First
Vanessa recovered quickly.
“That bracelet disappeared yesterday.”
Her voice was steady again.
“I thought Grace took it.”
Grace stared at her.
“You planted it.”
“Prove it.”
Lisa immediately pointed upstairs again.
Vanessa looked down at the child.
That tiny glance told Daniel more than her words did.
“Lisa,” he said gently.
His daughter looked at him.
“Show me.”
Vanessa stepped forward.
“This is ridiculous.”
Daniel raised a hand.
“Don't.”
It was the first time since entering the room that his anger was aimed in the right direction.
He took Margaret upstairs himself, pushing her wheelchair carefully while Lisa walked beside them. Grace followed at a distance.
Vanessa came last.
Margaret’s bedroom occupied the southeast corner of the mansion she had owned for twenty-nine years in Leawood, Kansas. Daniel and Vanessa had moved in after Margaret’s stroke eighteen months earlier, supposedly to make her recovery easier.
Grace had worked for Margaret for seventeen years.
She knew where every sweater, medication organizer, family photograph, and spare key belonged.
Daniel opened the half-packed suitcase sitting on the bench beside Margaret’s bed.
At first, he saw nothing unusual.
Cardigans.
Slacks.
A toiletry bag.
Then Lisa tugged his sleeve.
She pointed beneath the folded clothes.
Daniel lifted them.
At the bottom was a velvet jewelry pouch.
Inside were two more pieces of Vanessa’s jewelry.
A pair of emerald earrings.
And a gold necklace.
Daniel looked at Grace.
“I never touched those.”
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Exactly what someone who stole them would say.”
Grace’s expression changed.
Not anger.
Disappointment.
“You were going to blame me for this too.”
Daniel heard one word.
Too.
He turned.
“What does that mean?”
Grace hesitated.
Margaret tapped frantically against the arm of her wheelchair.
Grace looked at her.
Then at Daniel.
“Your mother has been trying to tell you something for weeks.”
Daniel swallowed.
“About Vanessa?”
Grace did not answer immediately.
That was answer enough.
Vanessa stepped toward the doorway.
“This family is turning insane.”
Daniel blocked her path.
“No one's leaving yet.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“You don't get to hold me here.”
She was right.
Daniel stepped aside.
Vanessa walked out.
At the doorway she stopped.
“You just assaulted an employee because she lied to you.”
Daniel looked at Grace’s reddening cheek.
Shame hit him hard.
Vanessa continued.
“And when you discover I'm telling the truth, don't expect me to forget what you just accused me of.”
She left.
Daniel remained beside Margaret’s suitcase.
Grace finally spoke.
“She’s been trying to get me out of this house for almost two months.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Why?”
May you like
Grace’s eyes moved toward Margaret.
“I think your mother knows.”
