Chapter 6 - The Woman in the Photograph
The woman was Elena Vescari.
Julian stared at the photograph.
“My mother died when I was six.”
Victoria shook her head.
“No.”
“She did.”
“She disappeared.”
Julian looked at Marcus.
Marcus smiled.
“You were always told the truth was complicated.”
Julian's voice became cold.
“Where is she?”
Marcus didn't answer.
Gabriel raised his weapon.
“Talk.”
Marcus laughed.
“You think a gun makes you powerful?”
“No,” Gabriel said.
“It makes me persuasive.”
Marcus glanced at me.
“Claire Bennett.”
My stomach tightened.
“You know me.”
“I know your family.”
He pulled another photograph from his coat.
Andrew.
Alive.
Standing beside a woman.
Elena.
I stared.
“When was this taken?”
“Three months ago.”
Julian moved forward.
“Where?”
Marcus stepped backward.
“You're not ready.”
Julian's expression hardened.
“I spent twenty-six months unable to move my legs.”
Marcus smiled.
“You spent twenty-six months believing you were a victim.”
The words landed.
Julian's hands tightened around the wheelchair.
Marcus continued.
“You weren't the target.”
“Who was?”
“Andrew.”
My heart stopped.
Marcus looked at me.
“Your brother found something.”
“What?”
“He found out why your brother was chosen.”
Julian looked confused.
Marcus corrected himself.
“Why you were chosen.”
He dropped a file.
Julian opened it.
Inside were medical records.
Not from his accident.
From before.
A childhood genetic report.
A second document contained the name of a woman.
Claire leaned closer.
The surname was familiar.
Bennett.
My own surname.
I stared.
“What is that?”
Marcus said nothing.
Victoria stepped forward.
“Claire, don't.”
I looked at her.
“What?”
She whispered:
“Your mother worked for Julian's father.”
My heart pounded.
“My mother died when I was ten.”
Victoria nodded.
“She was investigating the same operation Andrew later discovered.”
Julian looked between us.
“Why would Andrew trust Claire?”
Marcus smiled.
“Because he knew something none of you did.”
A gunshot cracked.
The window exploded.
Everyone dropped.
Gabriel pulled Julian behind the desk.
Victoria dragged me down.
Another shot.
Marcus ran.
Gabriel chased him.
I crawled toward Julian.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
His eyes were fixed on me.
“Claire.”
“What?”
“Your mother wasn't a secretary.”
I stared.
“She was the doctor who treated me after the accident.”
My mouth went dry.
“That can't be.”
“She signed the first report.”
I shook my head.
“My mother died six years before your accident.”
Julian looked at the photograph.
“Then someone has been using her identity.”
A phone began ringing.
It was lying inside Andrew's old briefcase.
I opened it.
One message appeared.
You have until midnight.
Then another.
Bring Julian to the boathouse.
A third arrived.
Come alone, Claire.
I looked at Julian.
He saw the screen.
“No.”
“Julian—”
“No.”
The phone rang again.
This time, the caller ID displayed a name.
Andrew Bennett.
My hands went numb.
I answered.
A man's voice whispered:
“Claire, don't let Julian see who is standing behind you.”
May you like
I slowly turned.
Someone was already there...
