Chapter 150 Anonymous Supporter
CAITLYN'S POV
I was checking the mail when I saw a package addressed to me. No return address. Just my name and address written in block letters. I brought it inside carefully. After everything that had happened, I was suspicious of unexpected packages.
"Jason," I called out. "Come look at this."
He came into the kitchen. "What is it?"
"A package," I said. "No return address. Should I open it?"
"Let me," Jason said. He took the package and examined it. "It is light. Does not feel dangerous. But let me open it just in case."
He carefully opened the package. Inside was a manila folder and a note. Jason read the note first.
"What does it say?" I asked.
"It says I am someone who knows the truth. Vanessa Cory lied about you. Enclosed is proof. Use this to clear your name. You deserve justice," Jason read. "It is signed A Friend."
"A friend?" I said. "Who would send this? Who has proof?"
Jason opened the folder. Inside were documents. Photos. Records. He started going through them.
"Oh my god," Jason said. "Caitlyn look at this."
He showed me a photo. It was Vanessa with a man. They were sitting in a restaurant. The photo was dated three weeks before she went public with her story about being Collin's girlfriend.
"Who is that man?" I asked.
"I do not know," Jason said. "But look at this."
He showed me more photos. Vanessa is meeting with the same man multiple times. There were also bank statements. Showing payments to Vanessa from a shell company. The same shell company that Detective Rourke had traced to the defendants.
"This is the evidence Rourke found," I said. "But there is more here. More meetings. More payments. More proof that Vanessa was working with the defendants."
"There is also this," Jason said. He pulled out a document. It was an email. From Vanessa to the man in the photos. In the email, she talked about her plan to destroy my credibility. Said she would say whatever they needed her to say as long as they paid her.
"This is huge," I said. "This proves she knew she was lying. That she did it for money. That it was all planned."
"We need to give this to Rourke," Jason said. "And to Rebecca. This helps both the criminal case and the civil case."
"But who sent it?" I asked. "Who has access to these documents? These photos?"
"I do not know," Jason said. "But whoever it is they are on our side. They want to help."
I looked at the note again. A friend. Someone who knew the truth. Someone who had evidence. But who?
"Maybe it is someone from inside Vanessa's circle," I said. "Someone who feels guilty. Who wants to do the right thing?"
"Maybe," Jason said. "Or maybe it is someone who was following Vanessa. Gathering evidence. Waiting for the right time to release it."
"Why send it to us though?" I asked. "Why not give it to the police or the DA?"
"Maybe they do not trust the authorities," Jason said. "Or maybe they wanted you to have it first. To give you power over how it is used."
"I need to call Rourke," I said. "Show him this."
I called Rourke and he came over within an hour. He looked through all the documents and photos. His eyes got wider with each page.
"This is incredible," Rourke said. "Some of this I already had. But some of this is new. These emails. These additional meetings. This strengthens the case significantly."
"Who could have sent it?" I asked.
"I have a few theories," Rourke said. "But I do not want to say until I can confirm. Let me look into it. In the meantime, I am taking this to the DA. This could change everything."
"How?" Jason asked.
"This proves premeditation," Rourke said. "Proves Vanessa planned this from the start. That she conspired with the defendants. That makes the charges more serious. The penalties are more severe."
"Good," I said. "She deserves serious penalties."
"She does," Rourke said. "And now we can make sure she gets them."
After Rourke left I sat on the couch staring at the note. A friend. Who was this friend? Why were they helping me? And how did they get this evidence?
"You okay?" Jason asked.
"I do not know," I said. "Part of me is grateful. This evidence could change everything. Could finally prove once and for all that I was telling the truth."
"But?" Jason asked.
"But part of me is scared," I said. "Scared of who sent this. Scared of what it means. Scared that this is too good to be true."
"Maybe it is just what it seems," Jason said. "Someone who knows you are innocent. Who has evidence? Who wants to help?"
"Maybe," I said. "Or maybe there is more to this. Something we do not understand yet."
"Either way the evidence is real," Jason said. "Rourke confirmed it. That is what matters."
"You are right," I said. "I should be grateful. Not suspicious."
That night I could not stop thinking about the package. About the anonymous friend. About who they might be and why they were helping.
I made a list of possibilities. Someone from Vanessa's past. Someone who worked with the defendants. Someone who had been following the case. Someone who had access to information. But none of the possibilities made complete sense.
"You are obsessing," Jason said. "Let it go. Just be grateful for the help."
"I cannot let it go," I said. "I need to know who this person is. Why are we helping?"
"Maybe you will never know," Jason said. "Maybe they want to stay anonymous. Maybe that is the point."
"Maybe," I said. "But I still want to know."
The next morning Rebecca called. "I saw the evidence Rourke brought over," she said. "This is huge for our case. This proves everything. Proves Vanessa lied. Proves she was paid. Proves it was all a setup."
"So we can win?" I asked.
"We can definitely win," Rebecca said. "This evidence is damning. The tabloid is going to have a hard time defending publishing her lies when we have proof they were lies."
"What happens next?" I asked.
"We use this in discovery," Rebecca said. "We show it to the defendants. We make them realize they have no chance of winning. Then we negotiate a settlement."
"A settlement?" I said. "I do not want a settlement. I want to go to court. I want everyone to see this evidence."
"I understand," Rebecca said. "But settlements are faster. And often they result in more money. Going to trial is risky. Juries are unpredictable. A settlement guarantees you get something."
"I will think about it," I said. "But right now I want to fight. I want my day in court."
"Okay," Rebecca said. "Then we prepare for trial. But keep in mind the offer of settlement. It might be the smart choice."
After I hung up I sat with the note again. A friend. Whoever you are thank you. Thank you for believing me. Thank you for helping. Thank you for giving me the evidence I need to fight back.
I just wish I knew who you were.