Chapter 134 Vanessa Cory Appears
CAITLYN'S POV
A week later Jason and I went back to our apartment. The reporters had finally stopped camping outside. Things had calmed down. We thought the worst was over.
I was taking Emma for a walk in her stroller when a woman approached me. She was in her thirties. Blonde hair. Expensive clothes. She looked familiar but I could not place her.
"Caitlyn?" she said. "Caitlyn Harper? I mean Cross?"
"Yes," I said. I stopped walking. "Do I know you?"
"Not exactly," the woman said. "But I know you. I am Vanessa. Vanessa Cory. I was Collin's girlfriend."
I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. "His girlfriend?"
"Yes," Vanessa said. "For three years. While he was married to you."
"I do not understand," I said. "Collin had a girlfriend? While we were married?"
"He did," Vanessa said. "Me. He told me he was going to leave you. That he was going to divorce you and marry me. But he never did."
I looked at this woman. Really looked at her. She was beautiful. Put together. Confident. Nothing like me.
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked.
"Because I saw you on the news," Vanessa said. "Testifying at the trial. Playing the victim. Acting like you did not know what Collin was doing."
"I did not know," I said. "Not until the end."
"That is a lie," Vanessa said. "You knew. You had to know. You lived with him. You saw everything."
"I did not know," I said again. "And I do not appreciate you approaching me like this. On the street. Accusing me."
"I am not accusing you of anything," Vanessa said. "I just want to talk. I have information. Things you should know."
"What kind of information?" I asked.
"About Collin," Vanessa said. "About his business. About what really happened."
"I know what happened," I said. "I lived it."
"Do you?" Vanessa asked. "Because from where I am standing you are lying. You knew about his crimes. You benefited from them. And now you are playing victim to avoid consequences."
"That is not true," I said. My voice was getting louder. "I was a victim. He abused me. Controlled me. Hurt me."
"So he said," Vanessa said. "But I knew Collin. He was not abusive. He was loving. Kind. He treated me well."
"Because you were his mistress," I said. "Not his wife. There is a difference."
"Or because I did not push his buttons the way you did," Vanessa said. "Maybe if you had been a better wife he would not have needed me."
I felt tears starting. This woman was blaming me. For Collin's affair. For his behavior. For everything.
"I need to go," I said. I started pushing the stroller away.
"Wait," Vanessa said. She grabbed my arm. "I need to talk to you. It is important."
"Let go of me," I said. I pulled my arm away. "Leave me alone."
"I have proof," Vanessa said. "Proof that you knew about Collin's business. Proof that you helped him. Proof that you are lying."
"You do not have any proof," I said. "Because there is no proof. I did not know. I did not help. I am not lying."
"Then talk to me," Vanessa said. "Let me show you what I have. Let me explain."
"No," I said. "I am not talking to you. You are crazy."
"I am not crazy," Vanessa said. "I am telling the truth. And I am going to make sure everyone knows it."
"What does that mean?" I asked.
"It means I am going to the media," Vanessa said. "I am going to tell them about us. About Collin and me. About what you really knew. About who you really are."
"You are going to the media?" I said. "To tell lies about me?"
"They are not lies," Vanessa said. "They are the truth. And people deserve to know."
"Why are you doing this?" I asked. "What do you want from me?"
"I want justice," Vanessa said. "Collin is dead because of you. Because you could not be a good wife. Because you drove him to do desperate things. You are responsible for his death."
"I am not responsible," I said. "He kidnapped me. He tried to kill me. Detective Rourke shot him in self-defense."
"That is your version," Vanessa said. "But I think there is more to the story. And I am going to find out what."
She turned and walked away. Left me standing there shaking. Crying. Holding onto Emma's stroller for support.
I pulled out my phone and called Jason. He answered immediately.
"What is wrong?" he asked. "I can hear it in your voice."
"A woman just approached me," I said. "She said her name is Vanessa Cory. She said she was Collin's girlfriend."
"His what?" Jason said.
"His girlfriend," I said. "His mistress. For three years while we were married."
"Oh god," Jason said. "What did she want?"
"She accused me of lying," I said. "Said I knew about Collin's crimes. Said I am playing victim. She said she has proof and she is going to the media."
"Where are you?" Jason asked. "I am coming to get you."
"I am two blocks from the apartment," I said. "Heading home now."
"Stay there," Jason said. "I will be right there."
Jason met me on the street. He took the stroller from me and put his arm around me. We walked home together.
"Tell me everything," Jason said. "What exactly did she say?"
I told him. Every word. Every accusation. Every threat. By the time we got home I was crying so hard I could barely speak.
"We need to call Rourke," Jason said. "Tell him what happened."
"What can he do?" I asked. "She did not threaten me physically. She just said she is going to the media."
"She harassed you," Jason said. "Approached you on the street. Grabbed your arm. That is not okay."
He called Rourke and put him on speaker. I explained what happened. Rourke was quiet for a moment.
"Vanessa Cory," he said. "Let me look into her. See what I can find out."
"She said she has proof I knew about Collin's crimes," I said. "Is that possible? Could she have something?"
"I doubt it," Rourke said. "But I will investigate. In the meantime do not engage with her. If she approaches you again call the police immediately."
"Okay," I said.
After we hung up I sat on the couch holding Emma. Jason sat next to me.
"What if she does have proof?" I asked. "What if there is something I do not remember? Something that makes me look guilty?"
"There is nothing," Jason said. "You did not know about Collin's crimes. You were a victim. This woman is lying."
"But why?" I asked. "Why would she lie? What does she get out of it?"
"I do not know," Jason said. "But we are going to find out."