Chapter 2 - The Red Dress
While Sarah Vance stayed at the hospital with Noah and Maisie under 24-hour police protection, Daniel rode in the passenger seat of Detective Miller’s unmarked cruiser back to the suburban house he had shared with Vanessa.
Rain lashed against the windshield, blurring the streetlights into streaks of yellow and red. Detective Miller, a seasoned investigator with graying hair and a sharp, calculating gaze, glanced at Daniel.
"We need to move carefully," Miller cautioned. "If Vanessa realizes we know about Rachel's death being a homicide, she might run or destroy evidence. We are serving a search warrant based on the documented physical abuse of Noah first. Once we get inside, my team will secure the premises."
"She kept Rachel’s old things locked in the basement storage room," Daniel said, his fingers gripping the dashboard. "She told me she was organizing them to give to charity. I never looked closely."
They pulled up to the two-story house. The lights in the master bedroom were on. Vanessa’s silver sedan was parked in the driveway.
Miller signaled his team. Four uniformed officers quietly moved up the front porch while Miller and Daniel stepped up to the front door. Daniel used his key to unlock it, pushing the door open silently.
Vanessa was in the kitchen, pouring a glass of white wine. She looked immaculate—her blonde hair perfectly styled, wearing a silk robe. When she saw Daniel walk in accompanied by armed police officers, her calm expression flickered for a fraction of a second before morphing into a warm, concerned smile.
"Daniel? Honey, what’s going on?" she asked, putting her wine glass down and walking toward him. "Where are the kids? You said you were just taking Noah to get his back checked after he tripped at the park."
"Save it, Vanessa," Miller said, stepping between her and Daniel while displaying his badge and the signed search warrant. "Vanessa Croft, we have a warrant to search this property in connection with an ongoing child endangerment and felony assault investigation."
Vanessa’s eyes flashed with anger, the sweet facade vanishing instantly. "Child endangerment? Are you out of your mind? I’ve taken care of those ungrateful brats for over a year! Noah is clumsy, Daniel knows that!"
Daniel looked at her, seeing the monster behind the mask for the very first time. "Noah didn't trip, Vanessa. The doctor found the healed fractures from months ago. And Maisie talked to the child advocate tonight."
At the mention of Maisie, Vanessa’s skin turned chalk white.
"Search the house," Miller ordered his officers.
Daniel led Detective Miller straight past the living room and down the narrow wooden stairs to the basement. At the back of the dark room stood a heavy cedar wardrobe, secured with a combination padlock that hadn't been there when Rachel was alive.
"She kept the key on her main ring," Daniel said, his voice deadly calm.
Miller summoned an officer with a heavy pair of bolt cutters. With a sharp crunch, the steel shackle snapped and fell to the floor.
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Miller pulled open the heavy wardrobe doors. Inside hung several expensive coats, but behind them, wrapped in a clear plastic garment bag, was a vivid crimson-red evening dress.
Miller carefully unzipped the bag using gloved hands. On the hem of the dress were tiny, faded dark spots. Tucked into the bottom of the bag was a sealed velvet box. Daniel reached forward, his heart dropping into his stomach. Inside the box lay Rachel’s diamond wedding ring—which had been missing from her finger when her body was found—and three tiny, sharp shards of dark green crystal glass.
