Elena looked at Vanessa one last time.
“Did you hit someone and run?”
Vanessa leaned close enough for Elena to smell the wine on her breath.
“Yes,” she whispered. “And who’s going to believe you?”
Then the police cars turned onto the street.
And Elena realized she was finally done protecting people who had never protected her.
PART 2: The Secret They Never Expected
The police arrived within minutes.
Immediately, Carmen rushed toward them in tears.
“Thank goodness you’re here! My daughter Elena came home hysterical and admitted she hit someone!”
Vanessa pretended to cry.
Their father wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
The performance was convincing.
But Elena had spent years listening to criminals lie under oath.
This was amateur work.
One officer approached.
“Ma’am, were you driving the vehicle?”
Before Elena could answer, her mother spoke again. Mother-daughterjewelry
“She’s always been troubled. She hangs around strange people and works at the courthouse—”
Elena raised a hand.
“Officer, before I make any statement, I’d like you to hear something.”
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