Chapter 9 - The Confession
Evelyn spun around, her face draining of color.
Detective Marcus Cole of the State Police walked in through the front doors, accompanied by two uniformed officers and Clara Montgomery’s high-powered attorney, Arthur Vance. Behind them, two officers held a man in handcuffs—a man with greasy hair and a scarred neck.
Vanessa dropped her mimosa. The crystal shattered on the hardwood floor, dark red liquid splashing across the rugs like fresh blood.
"Tyler?" Vanessa gasped, staring at the handcuffed man.
"Tyler made a full confession an hour ago," Detective Cole said, stepping forward and pulling a pair of steel handcuffs from his utility belt. "Not just regarding the embezzlement of Mara Vance’s four-million-dollar inheritance, but regarding an incident eight months ago."
The detective looked at me, his eyes full of solemn professional sympathy. "Mara, on the night of November 14th, Tyler was paid thirty-five thousand dollars out of your grandfather's trust fund to rent a stolen SUV and run down a pedestrian crossing Oak Street. You."
A strangled scream tore out of Vanessa's throat. "He’s lying! He's a criminal! Mom, do something!"
"Shut up, Vanessa!" Evelyn screamed, her aristocratic composure completely shattering into pure hysteria. She turned to Detective Cole, her eyes wild. "I didn't know about that! Vanessa acted alone! I only handled the trust! I never told her to hit Mara with a car! You can't touch me!"
May you like
"You're turning on me?!" Vanessa shrieked, lunging at our mother like a rabid animal. "You told me to get rid of her! You said Grandfather's will was an insult to you! You told me if Mara was crippled, we could keep every single cent!"
The two women began clawing at each other in the foyer, their designer clothes ripping, their screams echoing off the vaulted ceilings as the police officers struggled to pull them apart.
