Chapter 11 - The police arrived twenty minutes later.Too late.
Again.
Everett no longer trusted uniforms.
He trusted facts.
The evidence had disappeared.
Richard had the card.
Victor was alive.
And Junie was safe.
For the moment.
Lily sat inside an ambulance.
Her condition had worsened.
Dr. Voss examined her.
Everett stood beside the vehicle.
“How long?”
The doctor hesitated.
“Without treatment?”
“Yes.”
“A few weeks.”
Everett looked away.
“But with treatment?”
“She could live for years.”
“Then treat her.”
“It isn't that simple.”
“Make it simple.”
Dr. Voss sighed.
“The cancer is advanced.”
Lily looked at her father.
“Dad.”
Everett turned.
“I'm not dying.”
He smiled weakly.
“You're my daughter.”
“I know.”
“You're supposed to outlive me.”
Lily reached for his hand.
“I know.”
Junie climbed into the ambulance.
She looked at Lily.
“Are you my mommy?”
Lily started crying.
“Yes.”
Junie hugged her.
For six years, Lily had imagined this moment.
She had never imagined it would hurt so much.
“I thought you were dead.”
“So did I.”
Junie touched her face.
“Daddy said nice bears don't leave.”
Lily looked at Everett.
He smiled through tears.
But then Junie frowned.
“Mommy?”
“Yes?”
“Why did Grandpa make me watch the video?”
Everett stiffened.
“What video?”
Junie looked confused.
“The video of Aunt Hannah.”
Claire's face went pale.
“There was another woman?”
Junie nodded.
“She was crying.”
Lily looked at Claire.
“Who is Hannah?”
Claire didn't answer.
Everett turned toward her.
“Claire.”
She started shaking.
“Hannah was my sister.”
Lily's eyes widened.
“Your sister died before Junie was born.”
Claire nodded.
“But Junie says she saw her.”
Junie pulled something from her pocket.
A photograph.
Everett took it.
The image showed Hannah.
She was alive.
Standing beside Richard.
And holding a baby.
Junie.
Everett's mind raced.
“What is this?”
Claire whispered:
“I never saw that photograph.”
Lily stared at it.
“That date…”
Everett checked.
Six months before Lily's supposed death.
Lily shook her head.
“That was the month I disappeared.”
Everett looked toward the road.
Something finally made sense.
Hannah wasn't dead.
She had been part of the operation.
And she had been the person who helped create Junie's false identity.
Claire grabbed Everett's arm.
“We have to find Hannah.”
“Why?”
Claire looked at Junie.
“Because if she was with Richard…”
She swallowed.
“She knows where the original evidence is.”
Everett stared at the photograph.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A woman's voice whispered:
“Everett.”
He froze.
“Who is this?”
“Someone who owes your daughter an apology.”
“Who?”
The woman whispered:
“Hannah.”
Everett's eyes widened.
Then Hannah said:
“Richard doesn't have the card.”
Everett frowned.
“What?”
“I switched it before he got it.”
A pause.
“And now Victor knows.”
The call ended.
Everett stared at his phone.
Lily looked at him.
“What did she say?”
Everett slowly answered:
May you like
“We're not chasing them anymore.”
“We're being hunted.”
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