Chapter 6: The Witness Who Changed Sides
June disconnected the tablet from the internet.
“The last four clips are gone,” she said.
Daniel checked the settings.
“Did anyone else have access?”
“My nephew installed the system.
Vanessa once borrowed his ladder while he was working.”
Irvin pointed to a small line on the screen.
“It says a second device signed in twelve minutes ago.”
June’s mouth tightened.
“Then she knew we had the recordings.”
A local attorney named Fiona agreed to meet us the next morning.
She spread the petition, screenshots, and Daniel’s papers across her conference table.
“Vanessa claims Marian promised to ruin her reputation,” Fiona said.
“I told her to open a box.”
“She also has a witness named Laurel Price.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“Laurel is Vanessa’s closest friend.”
Fiona tapped the petition.
“Laurel says she heard Marian threaten to make Vanessa sorry she moved here.”
“I never said that.”
“Then we make Vanessa prove you did.”
Outside the courthouse on Friday, Vanessa waited beside a stone column.
Laurel stood several feet behind her.
Vanessa smiled at me.
“You can still avoid this.”
Fiona raised her hand.
“Speak through counsel.”
Vanessa ignored her.
“Move out within thirty days, apologize publicly, and admit the recording is genuine.
I’ll withdraw the petition and contact Irvin’s employer.”
Irvin stepped forward.
“You tried to cost me my job.”
“I can give it back.”
“You don’t have that power.”
“I had enough power to take it away.”
I held up my phone.
“Say your offer again.”
Vanessa’s eyes narrowed.
“Recording me won’t save you.”
“It might show the court what you want.”
She walked past me.
“By this afternoon, you’ll be ordered to stay away from your own fence.”
Inside the courtroom, Vanessa wiped her eyes while Laurel described the barbecue.
“Marian looked furious,” Laurel said.
“She said Vanessa would regret everything.”
Fiona stood.
“Did you hear those exact words?”
Laurel looked at Vanessa.
“Yes.”
“Were you beside them?”
“I was near the drinks table.”
June whispered, “That was thirty feet away.”
The judge watched a short video showing me entering Vanessa’s yard with the box.
The clip ended before Daniel arrived.
“Where is the remainder?” Fiona asked.
Vanessa pressed a tissue beneath one eye.
“My camera stopped recording.”
Daniel shook his head.
“How fortunate.”
The judge extended the temporary order until a full evidence hearing the following week.
I could remain in my home, but I was ordered not to approach Vanessa or communicate with her.
Vanessa passed me in the hallway.
“Thirty feet from me at all times,” she whispered.
“Imagine living next door to that.”
Fiona touched my arm before I could answer.
“Not here.”
That evening, Sophie came to our house but remained standing near the door.
“I listened to June’s clips,” she said.
“Dad’s words match the recording.”
“They do,” Irvin replied.
“Vanessa changed their order.”
Sophie faced him.
“I’m angry that you hid this.”
“You should be.”
“But I believe you.”
Irvin covered his mouth.
Sophie crossed the room and held him while he cried.
My phone vibrated on the table.
The message came from an unknown number.
This is Laurel.
Vanessa asked me to lie.
I said yes because I was afraid of her.
A second message appeared.
May you like
I recorded what she said afterward.
She admits everything.
