“Good idea,” Jen agreed. “The fresh air will do you good.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN The spected Visitor at Midnight
Laura beaded upstairs to change into her running gear, her steps light for the first time in what felt like ages. She laced up her sneakers, grabbed her phone, and headed for the front door.
The moment she stepped outside, her good mood evaporated like morning mist in harsh sunlight.
Her car, parked in Jen’s driveway, was a mess of destruction. Deep scratches marred the once–gleaming blue paint, ugly gouges that ran the length of the vehicle. But that wasn’t the worst of it. All four tires were flat, obviously slashed by something sharp,
“No,” Laura whispered, shock coursing through her system. “No, no, no!”
Her distressed cry brought fen running “Laura? What’s wrong?”
Laura could only gesture mutely at her ruined car. Jen gasped as she took in the damage.
“Oh my God,” Jen breathed. “Who would do this?
The shock was quickly giving way to anger. Laura’s hands clenched into fists at her sides. “Thave a pretty good idea,” she growled.
Jen pulled out her phone. “I’m calling the police. This is way beyond a petty prank”
Within an hour, a police cruiser pulled up in front of the house. Officer Rodriguez, a stocky man with a neatly trimmed mustache, stepped out and approached the sisters.
“Good morning, ladies,” he said, his voice professional but kind. “I understand you’ve had some property damage?”
Laura nodded, leading him to her car. “This is what I found when I came out this morning”
Officer Rodriguez let out a low whistle as he surveyed the damage. “That’s some serious vandalisin, Mind if I take a closer look?”
“Go ahead,” Laura said, stepping back
The officer circled the car slowly, taking photos with his department–issued camera. He crouched down to examine the slashed tires, his brow furrowed in concentration.
“Can you tell me about when you last saw your car in its normal condition?” he asked, straightening up.
Laura thought for a moment. “It was fine when I got home last night. That was around….& PM, I think?
Officer Rodriguez nodded, jotting notes in a small pad. “And you didn’t hear anything unusual during the night? No strange noises, cars idling, that sort of thing?
Laura and Jen exchanged glances. “No, nothing.” Jen said. “I’m usually a pretty light sleeper, but I didn’t hear a thing.”
The officer’s mustache twitched slightly. “That’s not uncommon. Vandals can be surprisingly quick and quiet when they want to be.”
He turned back to Laura. “Ma’am, do you have any idea who might have done this? Any recent conflicts or disagreements?–
Laura let out a bitter laugh. “Where do I start? I’m in the middle of a messy divorce. My soon to be ex–husband’s girlfriend and her friends aren’t exactly my biggest fans.”
Officer Rodriguez’s eyebrows rase. “I see. Have there been any previous incidents of harassment or threats?”
“Nothing this extreme,” Laura said. “But there have been… unpleasant encounters.”
The officer made more notes. “I’ll need names and contact information for these individuals, if you have them.
Laura nodded, rattling off what information she had about Vanessa and her friends, Officer Rodriguez listened attentively, occasionally asking for clarification.
“Alright,” he said when she finished. “I’ve got enough to start an investigation. But I want to be upfront with you ladies – without witnesses or clear evidence, cases like this can be challenging to solve.”
Jen frowned. “What about fingerprints? Or DNA from the tires?”
Officer Rodriguez shook his head. “We can dust for prints, but unless the perpetrators are already in our system, it might not lead anywhere. And DNA testing is rarely used for property crimes like this- it’s expensive and time–consuming.”
Laura felt her heart sink. “So you’re saying there’s nothing you can do?”
“I didn’t say that,” the officer replied kindly. “We’ll do everything we can to investigate. I’ll put out an alert for any similar incidents in the area. Sometimes vandals hit multiple targets in one night. And we’ll look into the individuals you’ve mentioned.”
He paused, his expression becoming more serious. “But I want to caution you against confronting anyone yourselves. If you have suspicions, bring them to us. Don’t do anything that could jeopardize the investigation or put yourselves in danger.”
Laura nodded, though internally she was seething The idea of Vanessa and her cronies getting away with this made her blood boil.
leave, he handed Laura a card with his contact information
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN–Willough?
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN–Will It Be Enough?
“If you think of anything else, or if there are any more incidents, don’t hesitate to call,” he said. “And please, be careful. Tensions can run high in situations like this. The last thing we want is for anyone to get hurt.”
As the police cruiser pulled away, Laura and Jen stood in silence for a moment, staring at the ruined car.
“What now?” Jen finally asked.
Laura sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I guess we need to get it towed to a repair shop. God, this is going to cost a fortune They spent the next couple of hours making calls to Laura’s insurance company, to local auto body shops, and finally to a tow truck. As they waited for the truck to arrive, they sat on Jen’s front porch, the earlier cheerfulness of the morning long gone.
“It has to be Vanessa,” Laura said, breaking the silence. “Or at least, someone connected to her
Jen nodded slowly. “It seems likely. But like the officer said, without proof…
“I know, I know,” Laura cut her off. “We can’t do anything. It’s just… God, it makes me so angry! They get to wreck my stuff and walk away scot–free?”
“Maybe not,” Jen mused. “Think about it if it is Vanessa or her friends, this kind of helps your case, doesn’t it? It shows harassment, vindictiveness. Your lawyer could probably use that.”
Laura considered this. “Maybe. But again, we’d need proof”
“True” jen conceded. “But at least it’s something. And who knows? Maybe they’ll slip up, leave some evidence next time.”
ea next time?”
“Next time?” Laura echoed, alarm in her voice “You think there’ll be a next
Jen shrugged. “I hope not. But people who do this kind of thing… they often escalate. We should probably be prepared.”
They lapsed into silence again, each lost in their own thoughts. The sound of an approaching tow truck broke their reverie.
As they watched Laura’s car being loaded onto the flatbed, Jen suddenly chuckled.
“What’s so funny?” Laura asked, puzzled
Jen shook her head, a wry smile on her face. “I was just thinking… remember when we were kids, and we used to play detective? We’d run around the neighborhood with our little notepads, looking for ‘clues‘ to imaginary crimes?”
Despite everything, Laura found herself smiling at the memory. “Yeah, I remember. We thought we were so clever.”
“Well,” Jen said, throwing an arm around her sister’s shoulders, “maybe it’s time to dust off those detective skills. If the real police can’t solve this, maybe the McKenna sisters can
”
Laura leaned into her sister’s embrace, feeling a spark of that morning’s optimism returning. “You know what? Maybe you’re right.. Watch out, Vanessa. The game is afoot.“‘
Laura stood in front of her closet, fingers trailing over hangers as she considered her options. The weight of the day ahead pressed down on her, making even this simple decision feel monumental
“The navy suit,” Jen suggested from the doorway. “It always makes you look like you could run a Fortune 500 company
Laura nodded, pulling out the suit in question. As she dressed, she caught her reflection in the mirror. The woman staring back at her looked composed, professional But Laura could see the anxiety lurking in her eyes.
“You’ve got this,” she whispered to herself, smoothing down the jacket
The ride to the courthouse was quiet, both sisters lost in thought. As they approached the imposing building, Jen reached over and squeezed Laura’s hand.
“Remember, no matter what happens in there, you’ve already won by choosing yourself,” Jen said softly.
Lavira managed a small smile. “Thanks, sis.”
Inside, the courthouse bustled with activity. Laura’s heart rate picked up as they navigated the crowded hallways. Outside the designated courtroom, they spotted Sandra Patel, Laura’s lawyer, reviewing some papers.
Sandra looked up as they approached, her sharp eyes taking in Laura’s appearance. “You look ready for battle,” she said approvingly. How are you feeling?”
“Like I might throw up,” Laura admitted.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN – WITH B- Enough!
Sandra’s expression softened. “That’s normal. Just remember, we’ve prepared for this. You know your story better than anyone. Just tell the truth, and let me handle the rest.”
As they entered the courtroom, Laura’s eyes immediately found Leon. He sat on the opposite side, Vanessa next to him. Their gazes locked for a moment, and Laura felt a surge of emotions- anger, hurt, and surprisingly, a hint of pity. Leon looked away first
The bailiff’s voice rang out. “All rise. The Honorable Judge Amelia Hawthorne presiding”
As the judge took her seat, Sandra leaned over to Laura “Remember, deep breaths. We’ve got this.”
The proceedings began with opening statements. Leon’s lawyer, a slick–looking man named Richard Denton, went first.
“Your Honor,” Denton began, his voice smooth as oil, “we are here today because Mrs. McKenna has chosen to abandon her marriage My client, Mr. McKenna, has been nothing but a devoted husband, while Mrs. McKenna prioritized her career over her family. When faced with an emotionally absent wife, Mr. McKenna simply sought the companionship he was lacking at home.”
Laura’s fists clenched under the table. Sandra gave her a warning look before standing to deliver her own opening statement.
“Your Honor, “Sandra’s voice rang clear and confident, “what we have here is a clear case of infidelity and financial misconduct. Mr. McKenna not only betrayed his marriage vows by engaging in an affair, but he also actively worked to undermine the financial stability of his family. We will prove that Mr. McKenna’s actions were premeditated and malicious, causing significant emotional and financial harm to my client.”
As Sandra continued, outlining the evidence they would present, Laura felt a surge of gratitude for her lawyer’s unwavering support.
The first dramatic moment came when Sandra called Leon to the stand. He walked up, his usual confident swagger noticeably subdued
After the oath was administered, Sandra approached the stand. “Mr. McKenna, can you please tell the court when your relationship with Vanessa Carlson began?
Leon shifted in his seat. “We met at a company party about a year ago.”
“And when did this relationship become romantic”
