Chapter 6 - The Camera That Went Dark
“You buried the wrong woman?”
Cassian read the message twice.
“No.”
“That wasn't a complicated question.”
“I saw Maria's body.”
“Did you see her face?”
Silence.
Marlo understood.
Her mother's death had involved severe injuries after a supposed collapse and fall near a service stairwell.
The coffin had been closed.
Marlo had never seen her.
Cassian had identified her through jewelry, clothing, and employment records.
Not her face.
Nico ordered an exhumation.
The result came hours later.
The woman in Maria Bell-Vargas's grave was not biologically related to Marlo.
Marlo sat motionless.
Her mother might be alive.
Hope was worse than grief because hope demanded something from her.
“Find her,” she told Cassian.
He did.
They traced the photograph to a long-term care facility outside Henderson.
A woman had lived there under the name Miriam Vale for twelve years.
Vale.
Marlo felt sick.
They reached the facility before dawn.
Room 214 was empty.
Still warm.
On the bed lay another porcelain cup.
Cassian stopped Marlo before she touched it.
Nico checked the bathroom.
Empty.
A nurse hurried toward them.
“She left ten minutes ago.”
“With whom?”
“Her husband.”
Marlo's heart dropped.
“What was his name?”
The nurse checked the record.
“Dr. Julian Vale.”
Cassian and Nico exchanged a look.
Marlo asked, “Did she leave willingly?”
The nurse hesitated.
“She was crying.”
Security footage showed an older woman being led through the lobby.
Marlo saw her face.
Age had changed it.
Pain had changed it.
But she knew.
“Mom.”
Cassian looked at Marlo.
She could barely breathe.
Her mother was alive.
Then the footage showed the man beside Maria turn toward the camera.
Dr. Pell whispered behind them.
“Oh God.”
Marlo looked at him.
“You recognize him.”
Pell nodded.
Julian Vale had returned.
But that was not what frightened Pell.
He pointed at the screen.
“The man beside Maria isn't Julian Vale.”
Cassian stared.
“Then who is he?”
Pell's voice dropped.
“That's your brother.”
Cassian went pale.
“My brother died fifteen years ago.”
Pell shook his head.
“No, Cassian.”
May you like
The elevator behind them opened.
A man's voice said, “He didn't.”
