Chapter 6 - THE SIRENS
Vanessa stared at Vincent’s phone, her chest heaving.
“You’re lying,” she breathed. “You didn't know about those accounts. You couldn't have.”
“I didn't,” Vincent admitted. “But my mother did. And she left the true instructions with the one person in this house she trusted completely.”
Vincent looked down at Rose.
Rose slowly stood up, helping Lily to her feet. The elderly housekeeper dusted off her modest dress with remarkable dignity.
“Mrs. Moretti knew Dominic would eventually send someone to claim the money,” Rose said gently. “She told me to let them find the drawing. She told me to let them initiate the transfer. Because the moment those routing numbers were used, it would trigger an alert to the FBI.”
The reversal was absolute.
Rose hadn't been a passive victim tonight. She hadn't brought Lily to this dinner just to beg for a scholarship.
She had come to finish a promise she made to Vincent’s mother years ago. She had come to spring the trap.
In the distance, the faint, high-pitched wail of sirens began to echo through the hills surrounding the estate.
“They’re coming for you, Vanessa,” Vincent said. “Wire fraud, embezzlement, and conspiracy. You’re going to spend the rest of your life in a federal prison.”
Vanessa looked wildly around the room. Her guards were down. The doors were locked from the inside. There was no escape.
She looked at Rebecca.
“Rebecca!” Vanessa screamed. “Grab the ledger! We can use it to bargain!”
But Rebecca didn't move.
The young girl looked at the mother who had hidden her, lied to her, and used her as a pawn in a criminal scheme.
“No,” Rebecca whispered.
She reached over and picked up the envelope containing her fraudulent twenty-five-thousand-dollar scholarship award.
With shaking hands, Rebecca tore the letter in half. Then she tore it again, dropping the pieces onto the spilled wine on the tablecloth.
“I don't want your money,” Rebecca cried. “I never wanted any of this.”
Vanessa let out a guttural scream of rage. She lunged forward, grabbing a steak knife from a nearby plate, aiming it directly at Rose’s chest.
“You ruined everything!” Vanessa shrieked.
I was too far away to stop her. Vincent was blocked by the heavy table.
But as Vanessa thrust the knife forward, someone stepped into her path.
May you like
It was Arthur Vance.
The elderly treasurer threw himself in front of Rose.
