Chapter 8: The Sister Behind the Wedding
"Cancel the ceremony.""
Daniel's voice was firm.
The hotel meeting room fell silent.
Harris looked at him.
"That's your decision, Mr. Hayes. But before you make it, I suggest we establish whether the decision, Mr.
Hayes. But before you make it, I suggest we establish whether the assistant coordinator has actually done anything wrong assistant coordinator has actually done anything wrong.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Her sister has been stealing from us, forging documents, and planning to sabotage the wedding. I'm not taking chances.""
I looked at.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Her sister has been stealing from us, forging documents, and planning to sabotage the wedding. I'm not taking chances.""
I looked at the detective.
the detective.
"Can Jessica access the ceremony room?""
Harris nodded.
"According to the venue's staffing records, yes.""
"Can she change the seating arrangements?""
"Yes.""
"Can she access the sound system?""
The venue manager, Richard, who had just joined us, looked uncomfortable.
"Technically, she can.""
I closed my eyes.
Vanessa had been planning this for weeks.
Maybe months.
She had controlled the rooms, the rings, the dress, the flowers, and the communications.
Her"Can Jessica access the ceremony room?""
Harris nodded.
"According to the venue's staffing records, yes.""
"Can she change the seating arrangements?""
"Yes.""
"Can she access the sound system?""
The venue manager, Richard, who had just joined us, looked uncomfortable.
"Technically, she can.""
I closed my eyes.
Vanessa had been planning this for weeks.
Maybe months.
She had controlled the rooms, the rings, the dress, the flowers, and the communications.
Her sister had access to the venue.
The only thing she hadn't managed to control was Daniel.
And apparently, she still believed she could.
"Where is Jessica now?"" I asked.
Richard checked his phone.
"She was scheduled to arrive at eight.""
"Has she?""
"Not yet.""
Harris nodded toward one of the officers.
"Please contact her. Ask her to come in voluntarily for a discussion sister had access to the venue.
The only thing she hadn't managed to control was Daniel.
And apparently, she still believed she could.
"Where is Jessica now?"" I asked.
Richard checked his phone.
"She was scheduled to arrive at eight.""
"Has she?""
"Not yet.""
Harris nodded toward one of the officers.
"Please contact her. Ask her to come in voluntarily for a discussion.""
Daniel turned to Richard.
"I want every ceremony instruction changed.""
Richard nodded.
"Of course.""
"Only you and Patricia can authorize changes. Nobody else.""
"Understood.""
"And the rings?""
Michael stepped forward.
"They're with me.""
Daniel looked at him.
"Keep them on you. Don't put them down.""
Michael.""
Daniel turned to Richard.
"I want every ceremony instruction changed.""
Richard nodded.
"Of course.""
"Only you and Patricia can authorize changes. Nobody else.""
"Understood.""
"And the rings?""
Michael stepped forward.
"They're with me.""
Daniel looked at him.
"Keep them on you. Don't put them down.""
Michael tapped his jacket pocket.
"Already there.""
I looked at Patricia.
"What about the dress?""
She nodded.
"It's being tapped his jacket pocket.
"Already there.""
I looked at Patricia.
"What about the dress?""
She nodded.
"It's being moved to a secure room. Only you and I will have access.""
I almost smiled.
"Thank you.""
Patricia squeezed my moved to a secure room. Only you and I will have access.""
I almost smiled.
"Thank you.""
Patricia squeezed my hand.
"Emma, I should never have given Vanessa access to anything.""
"Neither should I.""
She shook her head.
"You trusted a hand.
"Emma, I should never have given Vanessa access to anything.""
"Neither should I.""
She shook her head.
"You trusted a friend. That's not your fault.""
I wanted to believe her.
At 9:14 a.m., Jessica Reed arrived at friend. That's not your fault.""
I wanted to believe her.
At 9:14 a.m., Jessica Reed arrived at the hotel.
She looked nothing like Vanessa.
Her hair was shorter, her clothes were plain, and she wore glasses with thin the hotel.
She looked nothing like Vanessa.
Her hair was shorter, her clothes were plain, and she wore glasses with thin black frames.
She appeared nervous when she entered the meeting room.
"Detective Harris?""
He stood.
"Jessica. Thank you for coming.""
She black frames.
She appeared nervous when she entered the meeting room.
"Detective Harris?""
He stood.
"Jessica. Thank you for coming.""
She looked at me.
Then at Daniel.
Her expression changed.
"Emma?""
I said nothing.
She sat down.
Harris placed the bank authorization record on the table.
" looked at me.
Then at Daniel.
Her expression changed.
"Emma?""
I said nothing.
She sat down.
Harris placed the bank authorization record on the table.
"Do you recognize this?""
Jessica glanced at it.
"Yes.""
"Did you collect this statement from the bank?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
"WhoDo you recognize this?""
Jessica glanced at it.
"Yes.""
"Did you collect this statement from the bank?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
"Who asked you to?""
"My sister.""
"Vanessa?""
"Yes.""
"Did you believe you were authorized to collect it?""
Jessica hesitated.
" asked you to?""
"My sister.""
"Vanessa?""
"Yes.""
"Did you believe you were authorized to collect it?""
Jessica hesitated.
"She told me Emma had asked her to arrange it.""
She told me Emma had asked her to arrange it.""
I stared at her.
"Why would I ask Vanessa to collect my father's bank statementsI stared at her.
"Why would I ask Vanessa to collect my father's bank statements?""
Jessica looked uncomfortable.
"She said you were having trouble dealing with the paperwork.""
"Did you see an authorization letter?""
"Yes.""
"?""
Jessica looked uncomfortable.
"She said you were having trouble dealing with the paperwork.""
"Did you see an authorization letter?""
"Yes.""
"Did you check the signature?""
"No.""
Harris placed another document on the table.
"Did you witness this?""
JessicaDid you check the signature?""
"No.""
Harris placed another document on the table.
"Did you witness this?""
Jessica's face went pale.
"Where did you get that?""
"That's not an answer.""
She swallowed.
"Yes.""
I leaned forward.
"Did you know my father was dead when you signed it?""
Jessica looked down.
"Yes.""
The room became very quiet.
Harris folded his hands.
"Then why did you witness a document claiming he had personally authorized a transaction?""
Jessica's eyes filled.
"My sister said it was just paperwork.""
"Paperwork involving a deceased person's signature?""
"She told me the signature had already been verified.""
I shook my head.
"By whom?""
"I don't know.""
"Jessica, you knew he's face went pale.
"Where did you get that?""
"That's not an answer.""
She swallowed.
"Yes.""
I leaned forward.
"Did you know my father was dead when you signed it?""
Jessica looked down.
"Yes.""
The room became very quiet.
Harris folded his hands.
"Then why did you witness a document claiming he had personally authorized a transaction?""
Jessica's eyes filled.
"My sister said it was just paperwork.""
"Paperwork involving a deceased person's signature?""
"She told me the signature had already been verified.""
I shook my head.
"By whom?""
"I don't know.""
"Jessica, you knew he was dead.""
She covered her face.
"I didn't know what she was doing.""
I stood.
"Then why did you help her?""
Jessica began crying.
"Because she's my sister.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was staring at her with disbelief.
Harris waited until Jessica had calmed down.
Then he asked another question.
"Did you assist Vanessa with the wedding arrangements?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
"Did you know she intended to interfere with the ceremony?""
Jessica didn't answer.
Harris was dead.""
She covered her face.
"I didn't know what she was doing.""
I stood.
"Then why did you help her?""
Jessica began crying.
"Because she's my sister.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was staring at her with disbelief.
Harris waited until Jessica had calmed down.
Then he asked another question.
"Did you assist Vanessa with the wedding arrangements?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
"Did you know she intended to interfere with the ceremony?""
Jessica didn't answer.
Harris repeated the question.
"Did you know?""
She looked at me.
"I didn't know everything.""
"That's not what I asked.""
Jessica lowered her head.
"Yes.""
My repeated the question.
"Did you know?""
She looked at me.
"I didn't know everything.""
"That's not what I asked.""
Jessica lowered her head.
"Yes.""
My stomach tightened.
"What did you know?""
She wiped her cheeks.
"She said the wedding wasn't going to happen.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"How stomach tightened.
"What did you know?""
She wiped her cheeks.
"She said the wedding wasn't going to happen.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"How?""
"She said Emma would be exposed before the vows.""
"Exposed for what?""
Jessica looked at me.
"She said your father's financial records would be shown to everyone?""
"She said Emma would be exposed before the vows.""
"Exposed for what?""
Jessica looked at me.
"She said your father's financial records would be shown to everyone.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"How?""
Jessica hesitated.
Then she whispered:
"During the ceremony.""
The room went silent.
Harris leaned forward.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"How?""
Jessica hesitated.
Then she whispered:
"During the ceremony.""
The room went silent.
Harris leaned forward.
"Explain.""
Jessica looked at Richard, the venue manager.
.
"Explain.""
Jessica looked at Richard, the venue manager.
"The projector was supposed to display the wedding slideshow. Vanessa wanted to replace it with the documents.""
I felt cold.
"All of them?""
Jessica nodded.
"The bank statement. The transfer records. The contract"The projector was supposed to display the wedding slideshow. Vanessa wanted to replace it with the documents.""
I felt cold.
"All of them?""
Jessica nodded.
"The bank statement. The transfer records. The contract with your father's signature.""
"Why?""
"She said Daniel would see the truth.""
Daniel stood.
"What truth?""
Jessica started crying harder with your father's signature.""
"Why?""
"She said Daniel would see the truth.""
Daniel stood.
"What truth?""
Jessica started crying harder.
"She said your father stole money from her family and Emma inherited it.""
Daniel slammed his hand against the table.
"That's a lie!""
Jessica fl.
"She said your father stole money from her family and Emma inherited it.""
Daniel slammed his hand against the table.
"That's a lie!""
Jessica flinched.
Harris raised one hand.
"Mr. Hayes, please.""
Daniel stepped back.
I looked at Jessica.
"Did Vanessa tell youinched.
Harris raised one hand.
"Mr. Hayes, please.""
Daniel stepped back.
I looked at Jessica.
"Did Vanessa tell you what would happen after the presentation?""
Jessica nodded slowly.
"She said Daniel would stop the wedding.""
"And then?""
Jessica what would happen after the presentation?""
Jessica nodded slowly.
"She said Daniel would stop the wedding.""
"And then?""
Jessica didn't answer.
"Tell me.""
"She said he'd leave with Vanessa.""
I looked at Daniel.
He shook his head in didn't answer.
"Tell me.""
"She said he'd leave with Vanessa.""
I looked at Daniel.
He shook his head in disbelief.
Jessica continued.
"She said she'd have everything ready. The second dress, the flowers, the hotel room. She said once everyone knew about disbelief.
Jessica continued.
"She said she'd have everything ready. The second dress, the flowers, the hotel room. She said once everyone knew about the money, Daniel would understand that Vanessa had been protecting him.""
I felt sick.
"Did she actually believe that?""
Jessica looked at me.
"She believes the money, Daniel would understand that Vanessa had been protecting him.""
I felt sick.
"Did she actually believe that?""
Jessica looked at me.
"She believes you're the reason her life went wrong.""
I sat down.
There it was.
The resentment beneath every you're the reason her life went wrong.""
I sat down.
There it was.
The resentment beneath every smile.
The jealousy beneath every compliment.
The reason Vanessa had spent months positioning herself between Daniel and me.
But smile.
The jealousy beneath every compliment.
The reason Vanessa had spent months positioning herself between Daniel and me.
But I still didn't understand why she thought she deserved him.
"What did I ever do to her?"" I I still didn't understand why she thought she deserved him.
"What did I ever do to her?"" I asked.
Jessica stared at the table.
"Nothing.""
"Then why?""
"She said you always got everything.""
I laughed bitterly.
" asked.
Jessica stared at the table.
"Nothing.""
"Then why?""
"She said you always got everything.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Everything?""
Jessica nodded.
"She said you had a loving family, a good job, a nice apartment, and a man who worshipEverything?""
Jessica nodded.
"She said you had a loving family, a good job, a nice apartment, and a man who worshipped you.""
I stared at her.
"Those are things I worked forped you.""
I stared at her.
"Those are things I worked for.""
"I know.""
"Then why did she think she could take them?""
Jessica began crying again.
"Because she thinks she was supposed to have them.""
Harris closed his folder.
"Jessica, I need you to understand that this is serious. We will need a full statement and access to the communications you have with Vanessa.""
Jessica nodded.
"I'll cooperate.""
"Do you have the original documents?""
She looked up.""
"I know.""
"Then why did she think she could take them?""
Jessica began crying again.
"Because she thinks she was supposed to have them.""
Harris closed his folder.
"Jessica, I need you to understand that this is serious. We will need a full statement and access to the communications you have with Vanessa.""
Jessica nodded.
"I'll cooperate.""
"Do you have the original documents?""
She looked up.
"Some.""
"Where?""
"In my car.""
"Can you retrieve them?""
She nodded.
An officer escorted her outside.
I watched through the glass as.
"Some.""
"Where?""
"In my car.""
"Can you retrieve them?""
She nodded.
An officer escorted her outside.
I watched through the glass as she walked toward the parking area.
Daniel came beside me.
"Emma, we can still cancel everything.""
I looked at him.
"Do she walked toward the parking area.
Daniel came beside me.
"Emma, we can still cancel everything.""
I looked at him.
"Do you want to?""
"No.""
"Then why are you suggesting it?""
"Because I don't want you to feel you want to?""
"No.""
"Then why are you suggesting it?""
"Because I don't want you to feel trapped into going through with something this traumatic.""
I took his hand.
"Daniel, I've spent the last seven years rebuilding my life after losing my father. I won't let Vanessa turn my wedding into another funeral.""
He looked at me.
I continued.
"I still want to marry you.""
His eyes filled.
"Even after all this?""
"Especially after all this.""
He kissed my forehead.
Then Harris returned.
Jessica had handed over a folder containing printed emails and a flash drive.
He placed the folder on the table.
"We've found the original trapped into going through with something this traumatic.""
I took his hand.
"Daniel, I've spent the last seven years rebuilding my life after losing my father. I won't let Vanessa turn my wedding into another funeral.""
He looked at me.
I continued.
"I still want to marry you.""
His eyes filled.
"Even after all this?""
"Especially after all this.""
He kissed my forehead.
Then Harris returned.
Jessica had handed over a folder containing printed emails and a flash drive.
He placed the folder on the table.
"We've found the original ceremony presentation.""
My stomach tightened.
"What's on it?""
Harris opened his laptop.
A slide appeared.
It showed a photograph of my father.
Underneath it was a headline.
**THE MAN WHO ceremony presentation.""
My stomach tightened.
"What's on it?""
Harris opened his laptop.
A slide appeared.
It showed a photograph of my father.
Underneath it was a headline.
*THE MAN WHO STOLE $248,000 FROM THE HAYES FAMILY.*
I felt Daniel's fingers STOLE $248,000 FROM THE HAYES FAMILY.**
I felt Daniel's fingers tighten around mine.
The next slide showed my face.
A photograph from our engagement party.
The headline read:
*THE WOMAN WHO INHERITED THE MONEY.*
I stared tighten around mine.
The next slide showed my face.
A photograph from our engagement party.
The headline read:
*THE WOMAN WHO INHERITED THE MONEY.*
I stared at the screen.
Then another slide appeared.
It showed a bank transfer.
And beneath it at the screen.
Then another slide appeared.
It showed a bank transfer.
And beneath it was a photograph of Vanessa.
She was standing beside Daniel's father.
Robert.
They were shaking hands outside was a photograph of Vanessa.
She was standing beside Daniel's father.
Robert.
They were shaking hands outside a bank.
The date was seven years old.
I looked at Daniel.
He went pale.
"Why is Vanessa standing with my father?""
Harris enlarged the photograph.
Then he noticed something a bank.
The date was seven years old.
I looked at Daniel.
He went pale.
"Why is Vanessa standing with my father?""
Harris enlarged the photograph.
Then he noticed something in the background.
A third person.
A woman holding a document folder.
Jessica.
I looked back at the screen.
There was no longer any doubt that both sisters had been involved.
But the most disturbing discovery was still ahead.
Harris opened the final slide.
It contained a photograph of a signed document.
At the bottom were three names.
Richard Reed.
Robert Hayes.
And my father, Thomas Collins.
Except my father's signature had been forged.
And beside it was a handwritten note:
*If the bride refuses to cooperate, show her what happened to her father.*
I felt Daniel pull in the background.
A third person.
A woman holding a document folder.
Jessica.
I looked back at the screen.
There was no longer any doubt that both sisters had been involved.
But the most disturbing discovery was still ahead.
Harris opened the final slide.
It contained a photograph of a signed document.
At the bottom were three names.
Richard Reed.
Robert Hayes.
And my father, Thomas Collins.
Except my father's signature had been forged.
And beside it was a handwritten note:
*If the bride refuses to cooperate, show her what happened to her father.*
I felt Daniel pull me closer.
"What does that mean?"" he whispered.
Before Harris could answer, the meeting room door opened.
An officer stepped inside.
"Detective, Vanessa Reed is asking to me closer.
"What does that mean?"" he whispered.
Before Harris could answer, the meeting room door opened.
An officer stepped inside.
"Detective, Vanessa Reed is asking to speak with Emma Collins.""
Harris looked at me.
"Do you want to hear what she has to say?""
I stared speak with Emma Collins.""
Harris looked at me.
"Do you want to hear what she has to say?""
I stared at the screen.
Then I nodded.
"Yes.""
But when Vanessa entered the room, she wasn't smiling.
She was carrying a small black at the screen.
Then I nodded.
"Yes.""
But when Vanessa entered the room, she wasn't smiling.
She was carrying a small black folder.
She placed it on the table.
Then she looked directly at Daniel.
"Before you marry her," she said, "you should know folder.
She placed it on the table.
May you like
Then she looked directly at Daniel.
"Before you marry her," she said, "you should know what your father paid me to keep quiet.""
