CHAPTER 3: THE WOMAN WHO ANSWERED THE PHONE
CHAPTER 3: THE WOMAN WHO ANSWERED THE PHONE
The funeral was two days later.
Snow covered the cemetery in quiet white.
Lucas's tiny casket rested beneath a blanket of blue flowers.
Captain the elephant lay beside him.
Just as Meredith had promised.
Garrett stood through the service with lowered eyes.
He cried at the right moments.
Held Meredith's hand whenever someone looked their way.
Played the grieving father perfectly.
Richard watched every second.
After the burial, he made one phone call.
"I need everything."
The voice on the other end answered calmly.
"How far back?"
"Six months."
By the following afternoon, a leather folder sat on Richard's desk.
Hotel invoices.
Restaurant receipts.
Private security footage.
Credit card statements.
One receipt stopped him cold.
December 14th.
Grand Lexington Hotel.
Suite 1807.
Check-in: 7:12 p.m.
Lucas entered cardiac arrest at 8:51.
Attached was surveillance footage from the lobby.
Garrett entered laughing.
His arm wrapped around a woman in a crimson dress.
At 9:04 p.m., Meredith's first missed call appeared on Garrett's phone.
The camera clearly captured him looking at the screen.
He smiled.
Pressed decline.
Then kissed the woman beside him.
Richard closed his eyes.
Not because he doubted the evidence.
Because he wished he did.
The investigator quietly added one final document.
"The woman's name is Vanessa Cole."
Richard frowned.
"Married?"
"No."
May you like
The investigator hesitated.
"She's Garrett's executive assistant."
