Chapter 17 - THE NIGHT VANESSA DISAPPEARED|
Vanessa disappeared on a Thursday.
She failed to attend a scheduled interview, stopped answering her attorney's calls, and did not return to the house.
By evening, investigators had confirmed that she had withdrawn money from an account and booked a one-way flight under her legal name.
Detective Ruiz called me at 8:12 p.m.
“We're trying to establish her whereabouts,” he said. “If she contacts you, do not respond. Notify us immediately.”
“Do you think she'll come here?”
“We have no evidence that she intends to approach your residence, but please remain alert.”
I checked the locks.
I checked Ava's bedroom.
Then I sat on the floor beside her bed until she fell asleep.
The following morning, my attorney informed me that Vanessa's departure could complicate the investigation, but it would not automatically end it.
Investigators had already collected relevant records and were working with prosecutors to determine what charges, if any, were supported by the evidence.
Meanwhile, Ethan agreed to suspend his request for expanded visitation until the professionals involved believed it was appropriate.
He also began attending counseling.
I did not praise him for doing what he should have done months earlier.
But I acknowledged the effort.
“Keep going,” I told him during a supervised conversation. “Ava deserves consistency, not grand gestures.”
He nodded.
“I understand.”
That afternoon, Lydia called.
Emma had been asking questions about Rebecca.
She wanted to know why her mother had disappeared and whether she would ever see her again.
Lydia had promised not to invent answers.
“We're going to tell her what we know when the investigators say it's appropriate,” she said.
“That's the right thing to do.”
“I keep thinking about how long she waited.”
“So do I.”
After we hung up, I found Ava sitting on the living room floor, arranging her stuffed animals in a circle.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Having a meeting.”
“About what?”
“Which toys are allowed to be scared.”
I sat beside her.
“And what did you decide?”
“All of them.”
I smiled sadly.
“That sounds fair.”
She handed me a small bear.
“He was scared because nobody listened to him.”
I held the toy.
“Did he tell anyone?”
“He tried.”
“What happened?”
Ava looked at me.
“Some people didn't believe him.”
I had no answer that could make the world seem simpler.
So I asked whether the bear needed a blanket.
She nodded.
We wrapped him in one.
That night, Detective Ruiz called again.
Vanessa had been located at a hotel in another state. Authorities were coordinating with the appropriate agencies to determine the next steps.
He couldn't discuss operational details.
But he did say the investigation had identified discrepancies between Vanessa's statements and the financial records.
“Does that mean she's guilty?” I asked.
“No. It means there are inconsistencies we're examining. Any legal conclusions will depend on the evidence and the proper process.”
I appreciated his honesty.
Then he added, “There's another development. The former associate who contacted you has provided a statement.”
“What did they say?”
“They claim Vanessa had been looking for a document Rebecca created before she disappeared.”
“The blue notebook?”
“Possibly. But they mentioned another item.”
“What item?”
“A letter addressed to Emma.”
I sat down.
“Where is it?”
“We don't know.”
The room seemed to go quiet.
Vanessa had been searching for something.
Rebecca had hidden something.
And a little girl had been told to remember a blue notebook.
May you like
The story still had a missing page.
And I had a feeling that page was addressed to the child everyone had tried to keep silent.
