Chapter 8 - The Woman Before Me|
Her name was Vanessa Cole.
She had worked as an executive assistant at Mercer Financial five years earlier.
According to company records, Vanessa resigned after being accused of mishandling valuable documents.
But Owen told a different story.
“She discovered irregularities in the lending records.”
Nadine leaned forward.
“What happened?”
“Her supervisor accused her of stealing financial information.”
“Was she charged?”
“No.”
“Then why did she disappear?”
Owen looked down.
“She lost her job, her professional reputation, and her marriage. Last I heard, she moved to Wisconsin.”
I felt sick.
In my first life, I had believed my arrest was a terrible mistake.
A perfect storm of misunderstandings.
Now it seemed like part of a pattern.
People who discovered financial wrongdoing were accused of being criminals themselves.
And somehow, the accusations always protected the same executives.
I looked at Nadine.
“We need to find Vanessa.”
She nodded.
“I'll try.”
That evening, I returned home to find Colin waiting in the living room.
He was sitting on the sofa with a glass of whiskey.
The blue velvet jewelry box lay on the table.
Empty.
“June.”
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
“Where's the necklace?”
“With Tessa.”
“I told you I wanted it returned.”
“And I told you she could wear it.”
He set down his glass.
“Why are you being so difficult?”
I folded my arms.
“Because it's mine.”
His expression changed.
“Excuse me?”
“You gave it to me.”
“Yes.”
“As a gift.”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you acting like I stole it?”
Silence.
A muscle moved in his jaw.
Then he smiled.
“Sweetheart, you're overreacting.”
The familiar phrase.
In my first life, those words had always made me question myself.
Now they simply made me angry.
“Maybe.”
I turned toward the stairs.
He spoke again.
“Have you been talking to Marlene Shaw?”
I stopped.
My heart began pounding.
“Why would I?”
Colin stood.
“June.”
I looked over my shoulder.
“Yes?”
His smile had disappeared.
“If someone from the Shaw family contacts you about that necklace, you tell me immediately.”
I studied him.
“Why?”
“Because the Shaws are dangerous people.”
I almost laughed.
Coming from Colin, that warning was extraordinary.
He stepped closer.
“Promise me.”
I looked directly into his eyes.
“I'll think about it.”
Then I walked upstairs.
My phone vibrated before I reached the bedroom.
It was Nadine.
We found Vanessa Cole.
I opened the next message.
She's willing to speak, but she says there's something you need to know about your husband.
A third message appeared.
Vanessa claims Colin helped destroy her career five years ago.
I stared at the screen.
May you like
Then another message arrived.
And she has proof.
