We believed it.
I set the ring on top of the envelope.
Then I sat down.
At 9:27, Daniel texted me.
I stared at his name because I had not given him my number.
Vanessa must have provided it at some point, or perhaps he found me through a mutual contact.
The message was short.
I think you should know she told me you two were already separated. I’m taking her back to her friend’s place after one drink. I’m not interested in being part of this.
I read it twice.
Then another message arrived.
For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.
I did not reply immediately.
Finally I wrote: Thank you for telling me. Please do not involve yourself further.
He responded with a thumbs-up.
Ten minutes later Vanessa texted.
You contacting Daniel now? Seriously? This is psychotic.
I had not contacted Daniel.
That meant he had told her himself.
I did not answer.
Another message.
You are making yourself look insane.
Then:
Adrian called me too. What the hell are you doing?
I still did not answer.
Then:
You went through my private financial information. That is illegal.
That one interested me because I had not told her what I found.
I took a screenshot.
Then the message disappeared from our thread.
She had unsent it.
Too late.
At 9:54, Adrian called again.
“I’m done,” he said.
“With what?”
“Her.”
I leaned back.
“That’s between you and her.”
“I know.”
He sounded tired now rather than defensive.
“She told me Daniel contacted you. Then she told me you hacked her bank account. Then she said you were threatening to ruin her career.”
“I haven’t contacted her employer.”
“I know.”
“How?”
“Because she asked me to make sure you couldn’t.”
That sounded exactly wrong enough to be believable.
Adrian continued. “I told her I wasn’t doing anything for her. She started yelling. Then she said something about the house financing being none of your business.”
I felt a cold pressure in my chest.
“Exact words?”
“She said, ‘The financing is mine to handle. He signed what he needed to sign.’”
“I never signed anything.”
Adrian went quiet.
“Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
“Then you need the folder.”