Chapter 5: The Bride Called the Police
Two police officers stood near the Magnolia Grand's main entrance when I returned.
Vanessa was beside them.
Her eyes were red.
Her makeup had been carefully smudged, and one sleeve of her expensive wedding gown was torn near the elbow.
She looked like a woman who had just escaped an attack.
I knew immediately that she was performing.
“That's him,” she said.
The taller officer turned toward me.
“Mr. Hayes?””
“Yes.””
“Could we speak privately?””
James Porter stepped beside me.
“I'm his attorney. Anything you need to ask can be directed through me.””
The officer nodded.
“Your fiancée has reported that you took private documents from her belongings and threatened her.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She lowered her eyes.
“I didn't want to involve the police,” she whispered.
“But I'm frightened.””
I almost laughed.
Instead, I said, “I took photographs of documents concerning my daughter's guardianship. I also found photographs of my seven-year-old daughter sleeping in her bedroom.””
The officer frowned.
Vanessa immediately interrupted.
“He's making things up.””
James raised one hand.
“Officer, we have evidence of unauthorized surveillance involving a minor, potentially falsified medical records, and documents relating to an attempt to alter the child's guardianship arrangements.””
Vanessa's head snapped toward him.
“What?””
James continued calmly.
“We would like to make a formal report.””
The officer looked between us.
“Let's slow down.””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“Marcus has been under tremendous emotional stress. His first wife died, and he has never accepted that our marriage would create a new family.””
I stared at her.
“Stop.””
She shook her head as if I had hurt her feelings.
“I've tried to be patient. But Lily is out of control. She screams whenever I correct her.
She refuses to listen. Marcus encourages it.””
One officer glanced toward the hotel.
“Where is the child now?””
“With my mother.””
“Is she injured?””
“Her hair was cut without her permission. She is frightened, but physically safe.””
Vanessa let out a dramatic breath.
“I only trimmed it.””
I looked at her.
“You cut off a thick section while she begged you to stop.””
“She moved!””
“Because she was crying.””
“Exactly! She wouldn't sit still!””
The officer raised his hand.
“Ma'am, please.””
Vanessa looked away.
James handed him a folder.
“These are photographs of the documents found in the bridal suite. We also have a witness who worked for Ms. Whitmore and has provided electronic communications and audio recordings.””
Vanessa's expression changed.
For a fraction of a second, the mask slipped.
Then she smiled.
“That's ridiculous. Caroline Brooks is a disgruntled former employee.””
I watched her.
She knew.
She knew Caroline had spoken to me.
The officer examined the first few pages.
“Mr. Hayes, we'll need to review these documents. We may also need to speak with the child.””
“Of course.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No. Absolutely not.””
The officer looked at her.
“Why?””
“She is already distressed. Marcus is manipulating her.””
James replied, “My client is willing to cooperate with any appropriate child-protection professional.””
Vanessa turned toward me.
“You're destroying everything.””
I didn't answer.
She stepped closer.
“You think you can just cancel a wedding and take my future away?””
I stared at her.
“Your future?””
“Yes!””
Her voice rose.
“I spent eleven months preparing for this! I gave up my apartment. I changed my entire life.
I moved into your house. I supported you through everything.””
I glanced at her torn sleeve.
“Did you also photograph my daughter while she slept?””
Her face tightened.
“Stop saying that!””
“Did you hire someone to investigate her?””
“No!””
“Did you arrange for a medical report in my name without examining me?””
Vanessa went silent.
James handed the officer another document.
The taller officer looked at the signature.
“Ma'am, do you know anything about this?””
Vanessa glanced at the page.
Then she looked away.
“It's private family paperwork.””
“Is the signature Mr. Hayes's?””
“Yes.””
I stepped forward.
“It's not.””
The officer looked at me.
“I never signed it.””
Vanessa laughed nervously.
“He signed so many documents. He probably forgot.””
James shook his head.
“We have original signatures available for comparison. We also have the name of the attorney who prepared this report.””
The officer closed the folder.
“Ms. Whitmore, we'll need you to come to the station to provide a statement.””
Vanessa stared at him.
“Are you serious?””
“Yes.””
She turned to me.
“Marcus, tell them this is a misunderstanding.””
I said nothing.
“Marcus!””
I looked at her.
“You should have stopped when Lily begged you to stop.””
Her face twisted.
“You're choosing her over me?””
I held her gaze.
“She never asked me to choose.””
Then I walked away.
But Vanessa wasn't finished.
As I entered the hotel, she shouted after me.
“You'll regret this! You have no idea what you're losing!””
I didn't turn around.
James followed me toward the elevator.
“Marcus, we need to discuss the legal situation.””
“I know.””
“The forged medical report is serious. So are the photographs. But we need to preserve the evidence and establish how they were obtained.””
“I'll give you everything.””
“And don't communicate with Vanessa privately.””
“I won't.””
We reached the lounge.
My mother was sitting beside Lily, who was coloring a picture.
When she saw me, she stood.
“Daddy!””
I knelt.
“Hey, princess.””
She held up the paper.
It showed three people beneath a yellow sun.
A tall man.
A little girl.
And a woman with brown hair.
I smiled gently.
“Who's that?””
“Grandma.””
I nodded.
“That's a beautiful picture.””
Lily hesitated.
“Can I ask you something?””
“Anything.””
“Are we still going to live in our house?””
I looked at my mother.
Then back at Lily.
“Yes, sweetheart.””
“Will Vanessa come back?””
“No.””
She looked down at the picture.
“Good.””
I brushed a curl away from her face.
“Why, baby?””
She hesitated for a long moment.
Then she whispered:
“Because I heard her talking on the phone last night.””
My entire body went still.
“What did you hear?””
Lily looked toward Grandma.
My mother gently squeezed her shoulder.
“It's okay, sweetheart. Daddy is listening.””
Lily took a shaky breath.
“She said after the wedding, she was going to make me disappear for a little while.””
I felt my stomach drop.
“What exactly did she say?””
Lily looked at me with frightened eyes.
“She said nobody would look for me because you would think I was at Grandma's.””
I couldn't move.
My mother covered her mouth.
James slowly closed the folder in his hands.
“Lily,” I said carefully, “did she say where you would go?””
My daughter nodded.
“She said there was a lady who would take me somewhere far away.””
“Did you hear her name?””
Lily looked toward the hotel entrance.
Then she whispered:
“Mrs. Carter.””
James and I exchanged a look.
“Who is Mrs. Carter?”” I asked.
Lily shook her head.
“I don't know. But Vanessa said she would come after the wedding.””
My phone rang.
It was Daniel.
I answered.
“Marcus, you need to get back to the bridal suite.””
“Why?””
“Security found someone trying to remove a box from the room.””
“Who?””
“A woman. She said Vanessa asked her to collect it.””
“Did you stop her?””
“Yes. But Marcus…”
He paused.
“What?””
“The box contains documents about Lily.””
I looked at my daughter.
“What documents?””
Daniel's voice dropped.
“A signed agreement from a private residential placement agency. And there's a photograph attached.””
“Of Lily?””
“Yes.””
I closed my eyes.
Then Daniel said the words that made the entire situation worse.
“Marcus, the agreement is dated six weeks ago.””
Six weeks.
Long before the wedding.
Long before Vanessa had raised the scissors against my daughter's hair.
I looked at James.
He had heard enough to understand.
“Don't touch anything,” he told Daniel.
“Secure the room. We're coming.””
I kissed Lily's forehead.
“Stay with Grandma.””
She grabbed my hand.
“Daddy?””
“Yes?””
“Please don't let them take me.””
I bent down and held her tightly.
“Never, sweetheart. I promise.””
But as I walked back toward the bridal suite, I couldn't stop thinking about one thing.
Vanessa hadn't simply lost control that morning.
She had been preparing to take my daughter away for six weeks.
May you like
And now I was beginning to understand that the wedding hadn't been her real goal.
It had only been the beginning of her plan.
