Chapter 7 - Vanessa says Lily misunderstood
Vanessa asked to speak with me.
My lawyer said no.
I said yes.
Then my lawyer said:
“At least let me be in the room.”
So we met at her office.
Not our house.
Vanessa wore no engagement ring.
I noticed immediately.
She placed it on the table.
“I didn’t try to kill you.”
I said nothing.
She continued:
“I need you to believe that.”
“What did you put in the glass?”
She looked at her attorney.
He said:
“You do not have to answer that.”
Vanessa cried.
Not theatrically.
Actual tears.
“I did something stupid.”
“What?”
No answer.
I leaned forward.
“Lily saw you.”
“She thinks everything bad is poison.”
“Then explain the compound.”
Her attorney interrupted.
I held up one hand.
“This meeting was your request.”
Vanessa said:
“I wanted you to get sick.”
There.
My body went cold.
“Why?”
“Not die.”
“Why?”
“I needed you off the stage.”
I stared.
“What was going to happen onstage?”
“You were going to announce the audit.”
I had not planned to announce an audit.
That was interesting.
“What audit?”
Vanessa stopped crying.
Too late.
Her attorney closed his eyes.
I said:
“What audit, Vanessa?”
She whispered:
“Nora’s.”
Nora had told me nothing about an audit.
Not yet.
May you like
Suddenly the gala was no longer one story.
It was at least two.
