Chapter 5 - THE TRAP
The next morning, I did something I hadn't done in years.
I called my commanding officer.
Not for protection.
For advice.
I explained the situation without revealing sensitive details.
He listened.
Then he said:
"Lauren, don't fight them emotionally."
"I know."
"Document everything."
"I will."
"And don't underestimate desperate people."
"I won't."
By noon, the tracking device had been submitted as evidence.
The police began investigating.
But we still had a problem.
Grant didn't know we had discovered everything.
That gave me an advantage.
Michael looked at me.
"What are you thinking?"
I smiled.
"We let him think he won."
Daniel stared at me.
"You're going to bait him."
"No."
I corrected him.
"I'm going to give him exactly what he wants."
That afternoon, I called my father.
"I want to talk."
He sounded relieved.
"Of course."
"Privately."
He agreed.
We met at a quiet restaurant.
My father looked older than he had the day before.
"Lauren, I'm sorry."
I didn't answer.
"I should have told you."
"Yes."
"I was afraid."
"Of Grant?"
He nodded.
"Your grandfather."
I stared at him.
"He threatened you?"
"He threatened everyone."
My father told me that after Eleanor died, my grandfather forced Daniel into hiding.
He then arranged for me to be adopted into the Bennett family.
Grant had already been adopted by the family several years earlier.
Two children.
One household.
One secret.
My father claimed he had protected me.
But I wasn't ready to forgive him.
"Why did you favor Grant?"
His eyes filled with tears.
"I thought I was keeping peace."
"You sacrificed me to do it."
He lowered his head.
"Yes."
I stood.
"I need you to tell Grant that I know nothing."
He looked up.
"What?"
"Tell him the trust doesn't exist."
My father understood immediately.
"You want me to lie."
"I want to see what he does when he thinks he's safe."
Three days later, Grant called.
His voice was unusually friendly.
"Hey, sis."
I almost laughed.
"Hi."
"How are you doing?"
"Fine."
"About the barbecue..."
"It's over."
"I'm sorry Vanessa lost control."
"I know."
There was a pause.
Then he asked:
"Did Dad tell you about the family trust?"
I deliberately hesitated.
"No."
"Good."
"Why?"
"Because there's nothing to worry about."
I smiled.
"I believe you."
He sounded relieved.
Then he said:
"Maybe we should all get together next weekend."
I agreed.
After the call ended, Michael looked at me.
"He's taking the bait."
"No."
I looked at the recording on my phone.
"He's setting the next trap."
Daniel nodded.
"Then let him."
The next weekend, we arrived at my parents' house.
This time, every camera was working.
Every phone was recording.
The police were nearby.
And Daniel was waiting in a vehicle across the street.
Grant welcomed us.
Vanessa smiled.
She looked almost innocent.
"I'm glad we're all moving past this."
I smiled.
"So am I."
Dinner began.
For forty minutes, nothing happened.
Then Vanessa placed a glass of wine beside me.
"Lauren."
"Yes?"
"I've been thinking."
"That's dangerous."
She laughed.
Everyone else did too.
Then she said:
"I owe you an apology."
I looked at her.
"I accept."
She blinked.
She had expected resistance.
Then Grant stood.
"I also want to apologize."
I nodded.
"Thank you."
My father looked relieved.
My mother began crying.
For one brief moment, I almost believed this could become normal.
Then Grant said:
"But I need something from you."
There it was.
"What?"
He slid a document across the table.
"Sign this."
I looked down.
It was a medical authorization.
It stated that I voluntarily surrendered temporary management of any inherited assets due to "emotional instability following a traumatic family incident."
I looked up.
"Why would I sign this?"
Grant smiled.
"Because you're overwhelmed."
I laughed.
"No."
His face changed.
I pushed the document back.
"Try again."
Vanessa stood.
"You've always been selfish."
My mother gasped.
Grant's voice hardened.
"You're making a mistake."
I looked directly at him.
"No."
I leaned forward.
"You're making a mistake."
I pressed a button on my phone.
The room filled with audio.
Grant's own voice.
"Once Lauren's reputation is destroyed, nobody will believe her."
Vanessa went white.
Then another recording played.
"She doesn't know what Dad did."
Then:
"The adoption records are the key."
Silence.
Grant stared at me.
"Where did you get that?"
I smiled.
"From your own mouth."
The front door opened.
Two detectives walked inside.
Grant stood frozen.
One detective said:
"Grant Bennett, we'd like to ask you some questions."
Vanessa began screaming.
My father covered his face.
And my mother whispered:
"Oh God."
But the biggest shock was still coming.
Because the detective wasn't there only for Grant.
He looked at Vanessa.
Then at me.
"Mrs. Bennett, we've also identified the person who planted the tracker on your daughter's backpack."
I looked at Vanessa.
The detective continued:
"It wasn't Grant."
May you like
Vanessa's face drained of color.
"It was you."