Chapter 4 - Vanessa’s Betrayal Goes Much Deeper Than Evelyn Imagined
Vanessa was gone by morning.
So were three members of the hotel security staff.
Two of them had been found unconscious.
One had disappeared.
Matteo's people traced the vehicle Vanessa had escaped in to an underground garage.
Then the trail stopped.
For the first time since Evelyn had known her, Vanessa was nowhere.
Evelyn sat beside her father in the hospital.
He had not been physically injured.
But the shock had weakened him.
Matteo stood outside the room.
He had been there all night.
"You should go home," Evelyn told him.
"No."
"Matteo."
"No."
She sighed.
"You're impossible."
"I've been told."
She smiled despite herself.
That small smile was the first one he'd seen all night.
Then her father's eyes opened.
"Evelyn."
She turned.
"Yes?"
"Vanessa knows."
"Knows what?"
"The second part."
Matteo entered the room.
"What second part?"
Her father looked at him.
"The names on the drive are only half the evidence."
Matteo's expression hardened.
"Where is the rest?"
"With Vanessa."
Evelyn felt sick.
"How?"
"My brother left copies."
"Her father?"
"No."
"My mother?"
Her father shook his head.
"Your uncle."
Evelyn stared.
"Uncle Richard?"
"Yes."
Everything Evelyn thought she knew about her family began collapsing.
Her uncle had always been kind.
At least she thought he had.
He had paid for her first sewing machine.
He had attended holidays.
He had hugged her after her mother's funeral.
He had told her she was like a daughter.
Matteo's phone rang.
He listened.
His expression changed.
"What happened?"
One of his men was speaking.
"The Hawthorne people moved."
"Where?"
"The old theater."
Matteo looked at Evelyn.
Then at her father.
"We have a problem."
The abandoned theater sat near the river.
Evelyn had never seen it before.
The place looked dead.
Broken marquee.
Boarded windows.
Snow piled against the entrance.
Matteo's men surrounded it.
But Matteo entered with Evelyn.
"Why am I here?"
"Because Vanessa asked for you."
Evelyn's heart stopped.
"She's here?"
"Yes."
Inside, the theater smelled of dust and old wood.
Then a spotlight came on.
Vanessa stood center stage.
Her makeup was gone.
Her hair was loose.
She looked exhausted.
"Evelyn."
Evelyn stepped forward.
"You betrayed me."
Vanessa laughed.
"I did."
"Why?"
"Because I had no choice."
"There is always a choice."
Vanessa's eyes filled.
"Not when they have your child."
Evelyn froze.
"What?"
Vanessa's voice broke.
"My daughter."
Matteo's eyes narrowed.
"Who has her?"
"The Hawthornes."
Evelyn stared.
"You have a daughter?"
"Yes."
"And they took her?"
"Three weeks ago."
Vanessa dropped to her knees.
"I agreed to do what they wanted because they threatened her."
Evelyn didn't know what to say.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I was ashamed."
"You tried to ruin me."
"I know."
"You could have killed me."
"I know!"
Vanessa screamed.
Then she sobbed.
"You think I don't know what I did?"
Evelyn stood trembling.
"I hate what you did."
Vanessa looked up.
"I know."
"But I don't know if I hate you."
Vanessa cried harder.
Matteo remained still.
"Where is the girl?"
Vanessa pointed toward the backstage door.
"She was there."
Gunfire erupted.
Matteo pushed Evelyn down.
The theater exploded into chaos.
Men emerged from balconies.
Matteo's team returned fire.
Evelyn crawled behind a row of seats.
Vanessa screamed.
"My daughter!"
Matteo disappeared into the darkness.
Seconds later he returned carrying a little girl.
She was six years old.
Terrified.
Clinging to him.
Vanessa ran.
"Lucy!"
The girl reached for her.
Mother and daughter collided.
Evelyn watched.
She understood then.
Vanessa had made terrible choices.
But she had also been trapped by terror.
After the gunfire stopped, Matteo approached.
"She's safe."
Vanessa sobbed.
"I don't deserve this."
"No," Matteo said.
Vanessa looked up.
"But Evelyn gave it to you anyway."
Evelyn looked away.
Her chest hurt.
Forgiveness felt impossible.
But perhaps mercy was different.
Then Matteo's phone rang again.
He answered.
His face became unreadable.
"What?"
He listened.
Then looked at Evelyn.
"Your uncle just disappeared."
She froze.
"Richard?"
May you like
Matteo nodded.
"And he took the second half of the ledger with him."
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