Chapter 13
They found Daniel Marsh in Nevada.
Not in a hospital.
Not in a prison.
In a private rehabilitation facility under another name.
He had suffered a traumatic brain injury.
He had memory loss.
He had no legal control over his own care.
Marianne Cross had arranged the guardianship.
Vanessa had signed the first intake form as his wife, even after their separation.
Rebecca flew out immediately.
I went with her.
Not because she asked.
Because Daniel’s truth had helped save Sophie.
I owed him witness.
The facility smelled like bleach and old sorrow.
Daniel sat near a window, thinner than in the video, hair streaked with gray.
Rebecca stopped in the doorway.
“Danny?”
He turned.
His eyes searched her face.
Something moved there.
Not full memory.
But recognition.
“Becca?”
She broke.
I stepped back and let them have the moment.
Later, Daniel looked at me.
“You’re Ethan.”
I nodded.
“You warned me.”
He frowned.
“I tried.”
“You did.”
His hands trembled.
“She hurt the little girl?”
“My daughter. Sophie.”
His eyes closed.
“I’m sorry.”
“You saved her.”
He shook his head.
“No. I was too late for yours.”
I froze.
“What do you mean?”
Daniel stared at the window.
“Laura.”
My heart stopped.
“You knew Laura?”
“Not knew. Saw.”
He struggled for words.
“Vanessa followed her. Rain. Parking lot. Red hair.”
I leaned forward.
“Did Vanessa cause the crash?”
His face twisted with effort.
“She put something in coffee. Laura drove. Vanessa followed.”
The room tilted.
Rebecca grabbed my arm.
Daniel whispered, “I tried to call police. Then Vanessa came to my motel.”
His eyes filled with terror.
“She said no one believes damaged men.”
That night, I called Aaron.
Then Claire.
Then Agent Keller.
Daniel’s statement changed everything.
Laura had not died in an accident.
May you like
She had been hunted.
And Vanessa had almost gotten away with doing it twice.
