Chapter 8 - THE WOMAN WHO WANTED THE INHERITANCE
Vanessa Whitford had once planned to marry Daniel Mercer.
That was the first surprise.
The second was that she had married Gerald Whitford shortly after Daniel chose Naomi Barrett instead.
The third was far more dangerous.
Vanessa had been involved in Mercer Aerospace's internal legal operations for more than a decade.
And according to the archived correspondence, she'd had access to some of Daniel's most sensitive records.
Lorraine stared at her photograph.
"Why would she attend Naomi's funeral?"
Samuel looked grim.
"That's something investigators should ask."
Rebecca closed the folder.
"Vanessa and Gerald have been acting as a team for years."
Imani looked up from her airplane.
"Who are they?"
Lorraine softened her voice.
"People who knew your daddy."
"Are they nice?"
Lorraine hesitated.
"I don't think they've treated people very kindly."
Imani frowned.
"Like the man on the airplane?"
"Yes, sweetheart."
The little girl considered that.
Then returned to her drawing.
Lorraine watched her.
How could anyone see this child as a threat?
That evening, the law firm's investigators discovered something disturbing.
Vanessa had recently contacted a private adoption agency.
She had requested information about emergency guardianship procedures involving children with substantial inherited assets.
Lorraine felt sick.
"She wanted Imani?"
Samuel answered carefully.
"The inquiry suggests she was exploring ways to influence the child's guardianship. We need to determine her intentions."
Lorraine gripped her chair.
"She isn't taking my little girl."
Rebecca spoke firmly.
"Nobody is removing Imani from your care without lawful cause."
The next morning, Lorraine received a phone call.
An unfamiliar woman introduced herself as Vanessa Whitford.
"Ms. Parker?"
Lorraine stiffened.
"Yes?"
"My name is Vanessa. I believe we should discuss Imani's future."
Lorraine's voice hardened.
"Speak with our attorney."
Vanessa laughed softly.
"I'm trying to avoid unpleasantness."
"Then stay away from us."
A pause.
Then Vanessa said something Lorraine hadn't expected.
"Do you know why Naomi Barrett died?"
Lorraine stopped breathing.
Naomi had died after a highway collision.
Police had ruled it an accident.
"What are you suggesting?"
Vanessa lowered her voice.
"Your friend knew too much."
Lorraine's heart pounded.
"About what?"
"About Daniel's company."
Lorraine gripped the phone.
"If you have information about Naomi's death, tell the police."
Vanessa laughed again.
"You think the police can protect you?"
Lorraine felt cold.
Then Vanessa spoke the words that turned her fear into something much worse.
"Ask yourself why Naomi's car suddenly lost control on an empty highway."
The call ended.
Lorraine stood frozen.
For four years, she had accepted the accident report.
Now she remembered something.
Naomi had called her the evening before she died.
She sounded frightened.
"Lorraine, if anything happens to me, take care of Imani."
Lorraine had laughed nervously.
"Don't talk like that."
Naomi hadn't laughed.
She'd only whispered:
"Promise me."
Lorraine had promised.
Now, standing in Daniel Mercer's beautiful townhouse, she realized the promise might have saved Imani's life.
Then Samuel's phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
And went completely still.
"What happened?" Rebecca demanded.
He lowered the phone.
"Investigators recovered Naomi's damaged vehicle from long-term evidence storage."
Lorraine stopped breathing.
Samuel continued.
"They found indications that the braking system may have been deliberately altered."
Rebecca covered her mouth.
May you like
Then Samuel revealed the detail that made everyone silent.
"The last person recorded accessing Naomi's car before the crash was Vanessa Whitford."
