Chapter 10 - The Woman Who Signed Rachel’s Death
Rachel had never been legally declared dead immediately.
The river incident led to missing-person status.
Later presumption petition required affidavits.
One affidavit was signed by Vanessa.
Daniel hadn't known.
Vanessa had testified privately that Rachel told Richard days earlier she intended leave Daniel and “disappear somewhere nobody would look.”
That statement supported voluntary disappearance theory before eventual death presumption.
Was it true?
Vanessa admitted Rachel said something similar.
Exact words:
“If I can't stop Richard, I may have to disappear from every account he can see.”
She meant financial visibility.
Vanessa presented it as physical disappearance.
Why?
Richard pressured her.
So Vanessa helped create narrative Rachel intentionally vanished.
Then why “signed her death”?
Because affidavit became part of legal chain allowing estate to treat Rachel as deceased.
The hidden woman knew.
Could be Rachel.
Could be someone with case file.
Then Daniel ordered Vanessa out of mansion pending investigation.
She didn't resist.
Before leaving, she crouched near Lily.
Daniel stayed close.
Vanessa apologized.
Not “sorry you were upset.”
“I had no right to frighten you or pull you away like that.”
Lily did not forgive on command.
Good.
Then she asked:
“Is the lady bad?”
Vanessa looked toward vent.
“No.”
Daniel caught answer.
“You know who she is.”
“I know who I think she is.”
“Rachel?”
Vanessa shook head.
That surprised him.
“Then who?”
“Someone who should be dead.”
Again dangerous fake death. Could mean legally presumed dead? Better someone Richard said died, not actual. Maybe Rachel's former paralegal Claire Mason reportedly died? Avoid sprawl. Could be Rachel herself should be dead? Vanessa says no. Need new relevant person: Rachel's mother? Too old/dead. Let's use Sarah Bell, Orchard House records custodian believed killed in accident? Too much.
Better Vanessa thinks it's “Marianne Holt,” Rachel's private investigator who was reported missing, not dead. Hmm.
Could be Emily? But verified Oregon live. Someone impersonating Emily? Not.
Let's simplify: Vanessa thinks woman is Rachel’s former attorney, Julia Price, whom Richard told Vanessa had died. Records show Julia actually entered witness protection? Too complex.
Maybe hidden woman is Rachel, but Vanessa refuses because voice doesn't match due illness/injury? User central asks whether mother truly there. Could hold.
Vanessa: “I don't think it can be Rachel.” Why? She personally saw something after river. She saw Rachel at private safe house? Hmm.
Then revelation: Vanessa saw Rachel alive after disappearance! She helped Richard relocate her under false pretenses, then lost contact. Good.
Vanessa admits 48 hours after river, Richard took her to motel. Rachel alive, injured? Non-graphic, exhausted. Rachel believed Daniel's financial accounts compromised and wanted temporary hiding. Vanessa delivered clothes. Then Richard told her Rachel left voluntarily. Vanessa never saw again.
So Vanessa knew Rachel survived river incident.
Huge, but still not prove vent woman.
Daniel furious.
“Two years.”
Vanessa cried.
“I thought she chose to leave.”
“Then why help declare her dead?”
“Richard told me she died later.”
“How?”
“He showed me a death certificate.”
Fake.
Investigators examined.
Certificate belonged to woman named Rebecca Lane, altered.
Richard lied.
Then Daniel asked why Vanessa feared vent.
“Because if Rachel is alive, she knows I helped Richard erase her.”
Then Lily whispered:
“She told me she didn't leave Daddy.”
Daniel turned.
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“What else?”
May you like
Lily looked toward vent.
“She said somebody made Daddy think she did.”
