Chapter 4
Derek was arrested at a motel two hours later.
He still had $4,200 in cash.
The rest had already been wired to a private lender.
That was what police told us later.
At the house, Vanessa sat on the couch with her arms crossed while officers questioned her.
She kept crying when they looked at her.
Then glaring when they looked away.
Mr. Harrison stood near the fireplace like a man whose home had changed shape around him.
Caleb and Emma sat together on the stairs.
I wanted to comfort them.
But I did not know if I had the right anymore.
I was the maid.
That was what Vanessa had counted on.
She thought my place in the house made me easier to accuse.
Close enough to blame.
Not close enough to believe.
Officer Grant photographed my cheek.
“Do you want to file a report for assault?”
Mr. Harrison closed his eyes.
Vanessa looked almost satisfied.
Like my answer would decide whether she could turn him against me again.
I swallowed.
My cheek burned.
My wrist ached.
My pride hurt worse.
“Yes,” I said.
Mr. Harrison opened his eyes.
He did not argue.
Good.
The officer wrote it down.
Vanessa’s mouth tightened.
“You’re really going to do that after everything we’ve done for you?”
I looked at her.
“What have you done for me?”
She blinked.
I continued.
“You paid me for work. That is not kindness. That is a job.”
Caleb looked up.
A tiny smile flickered through his tears.
Mr. Harrison looked down.
Like the sentence had struck him too.
May you like
Good.
Some truths need witnesses.
