I circled around to the back of the house. The spare key was still where Grandma had always kept it, under the third stone in the garden path. I let myself in through the back door, the one that opened into the mudroom.
The house smelled different, not like dust and old books anymore. Someone had been cleaning. Someone had been staying here.
I moved through the mudroom into the kitchen. I could hear voices from the dining room: Vanessa’s voice, and a man’s voice, deeper, unfamiliar. I pulled out the burner phone Carla had given me. I started recording. Then I moved closer.
They were sitting at the dining table, the same table where my grandmother used to serve Sunday dinners. There were blueprints spread across the surface. Vanessa was pointing at something, her expression animated, excited. Sitting across from her was a man in his forties, dark hair, expensive suit, the kind of handsome that knew it was handsome.
Marcus.
I pressed myself against the wall in the hallway and listened.
Vanessa was talking.
“The conservatorship hearing is scheduled for next week. My lawyer says it’s basically a formality. Marina’s neurologist is willing to testify that she has significant cognitive impairment. Once I have legal control, we can move forward with the sale.”
Marcus leaned back in his chair.
“What about the police investigation into the accident? The mechanic reported the brake line.”
Vanessa waved a hand dismissively.
“They don’t have anything that leads back to us. You were careful, right?”
Marcus smiled. It was not a nice smile.
“I’m always careful. Besides, even if they suspect foul play, who are they going to suspect? The sister who’s been at her bedside every day? The devoted family member who’s making the hard medical decisions?”
Vanessa laughed.
“God, you’re good at this.”
Marcus reached across the table and took her hand.
“We’re good at this. And by this time next month, we’ll be three million dollars richer, and your brain-dead sister will be in a long-term care facility where she can drool away the rest of her life in peace.”
If you’re watching this and your blood is boiling the way mine was in that moment, drop a comment. Tell me you’re here, because what I did next, I never thought I’d have the courage to do.
I stepped into the doorway.
“Hi, Vanessa.”
She looked up for a second. Just a second. And her face went completely blank, like her brain couldn’t process what it was seeing. Then the color drained from her face, and she stood up so fast her chair fell backward.
“Marina, what? How are you here?”
