Chapter 6 - THE FIRST CRACK IN VANESSA
Ashley said the number was a coincidence.
No one believed her.
“It’s a recycled number,” she insisted.
Robert picked up his phone and dialed.
Ashley’s phone rang in her hand.
Silence swallowed the kitchen.
Vanessa stared at her daughter.
“Ashley.”
“I didn’t pawn anything.”
“Then why is your number on the receipt?”
“I don’t know.”
Robert asked, “Who does?”
Ashley’s eyes moved toward Emily.
Emily laughed bitterly.
“Don’t even try.”
Ashley lifted her chin.
“You could have used my number.”
“Why would I use your number with my own stolen ID?”
“To frame me.”
The speed of the answer impressed Emily.
Ashley always had another version ready.
Robert did not argue.
He simply asked David to obtain whatever records were legally available.
By afternoon, the pawnshop owner confirmed that the item had been brought in by a young man named Noah Pierce.
Vanessa looked confused.
Emily did not know him.
Ashley did.
Her face betrayed that before she spoke.
“He’s someone I used to date.”
Robert stared.
“When?”
“Last year.”
“Did you give him the pendant?”
“No.”
“Did you give him Emily’s ID?”
“No.”
“Did you give him your phone number?”
“He already had it.”
Vanessa reached for Ashley’s hand.
Emily noticed her hesitation before their fingers touched.
The first crack.
That evening, Noah agreed to speak with Robert and David.
He came to the house nervous and apologetic.
Ashley refused to come downstairs.
Noah sat on the edge of the sofa where Emily had been slapped.
“I didn’t know it was stolen.”
Robert asked, “Where did you get it?”
Noah swallowed.
“Ashley.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
He explained that Ashley had told him the pendant belonged to her stepsister, who had given permission to sell it because she needed quick cash and did not want her father knowing.
“Why use Emily’s ID?”
“Ashley sent me the picture. She said the shop might ask who owned it.”
Emily looked at Vanessa.
Vanessa’s face had gone gray.
Noah continued.
“I gave Ashley the money.”
“How much?” David asked.
“Four thousand.”
“What did she need it for?”
Noah hesitated.
Ashley suddenly appeared on the staircase.
“Don’t.”
Everyone looked at her.
Noah stared back.
“You told me it was for tuition.”
Ashley’s voice sharpened.
“Leave.”
Robert stood.
“No. He stays.”
Noah looked at Vanessa.
“She owed money.”
Vanessa frowned.
“To who?”
“A credit card company. And some app loans.”
Ashley rushed down the remaining stairs.
“You don’t know anything.”
Noah stood.
“I know you were twenty-six thousand dollars in debt.”
Vanessa’s mouth opened.
Ashley looked at her mother.
For the first time, she looked eighteen.
Scared.
Vanessa whispered, “I paid your tuition.”
Ashley said nothing.
“I paid it in full.”
Noah looked uncomfortable.
“She withdrew from two classes and got refunds.”
Vanessa stared.
“What did you do with the money?”
Ashley’s fear disappeared.
In its place came anger.
“You really want to know?”
“Yes.”
Ashley walked to the coffee table, opened her phone, and played an audio recording.
Vanessa’s own voice filled the room.
“Once Emily turns twenty-one and controls half this house, we will never feel secure here.”
Robert slowly turned toward his wife.
Vanessa went white.
May you like
Ashley stopped the recording.
Then she said, “Ask Mom what she planned to do about that.”
