Chapter 6
I had never known Vanessa knew Laura.
When I confronted her during the first jail interview, she smiled.
Not wide.
Just enough.
“You really thought Laura was a saint.”
Nora sat beside me.
Detective Brooks watched from the corner.
I said, “How did you know my wife?”
Vanessa leaned back.
“We worked together briefly.”
“At the hospital?”
She shrugged.
Laura had been a pediatric nurse.
Gentle.
Exhausted.
Loved by everyone.
Vanessa had told me she worked in event planning.
Another lie.
Detective Brooks placed the photo on the table.
“Try again.”
Vanessa’s smile faded.
“I volunteered there.”
Nora slid another paper forward.
“You were fired for accessing patient files.”
Vanessa’s eyes flashed.
I felt cold move through me.
Laura died after a sudden allergic reaction during a charity retreat.
It had been ruled accidental exposure.
A mislabeled dessert.
A tragedy.
I had never questioned it.
Grief does not investigate when everyone around you says accident.
Detective Brooks said, “Vanessa accessed Laura Hale’s allergy records three weeks before her death.”
My hands curled into fists.
Vanessa looked at me.
“Careful, Daniel. You already hit me emotionally tonight.”
Nora put a hand on my arm.
I forced myself still.
“You knew about Laura’s allergy.”
Vanessa said nothing.
The detective continued.
“We are reopening that investigation.”
For the first time, Vanessa looked afraid.
Only a flicker.
But enough.
I left the room before rage made me useful to her defense.
Outside, I called Grace.
“How is Noah?”
“Sleeping.”
“Stay with him.”
“What happened?”
I closed my eyes.
“Vanessa may have known Laura before she died.”
Grace went silent.
Then whispered, “Daniel, what did she do?”
May you like
I looked through the glass at Vanessa.
“I’m going to find out.”
