Chapter 8 - The Woman Who Signed the DeathClaire had witnessed Rosalind’s death.
Or so the document claimed.
Daniel read it three times.
“This signature is genuine.”
Victoria stared.
“That means Claire lied.”
“Or someone forced her.”
Charles said quietly, “She wasn't supposed to sign it.”
Victoria looked at him.
“You know more.”
“Yes.”
“Tell me.”
Charles sat down.
“Claire discovered your father's records.”
“What records?”
“Children transferred through Hale charities.”
Victoria felt sick.
“She tried to expose him.”
“Yes.”
“And Rosalind was leverage.”
“Yes.”
Charles rubbed his face.
“Your father knew Claire could ruin him.”
“What happened?”
“He offered her a deal.”
“What deal?”
“Sign the death verification, and he would let Eleanor and the baby leave.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“So Claire traded herself.”
“Yes.”
“What did he do to her?”
“Nothing at first.”
“At first?”
“He waited.”
“For what?”
“For the right moment.”
Victoria stared.
“What was the right moment?”
“Your father planned to eliminate her once the trust transferred.”
Victoria looked at the document.
“But she survived.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Charles shook his head.
“I don't know.”
A knock sounded.
Daniel opened the door.
The police had found something in the garden.
A shoe.
Child-sized.
Victoria recognized it.
Rosie’s.
She turned.
The sofa was empty.
“Rosie?”
No answer.
Victoria ran.
The back door was open.
Mud covered the floor.
“ROSIE!”
Daniel sprinted behind her.
A trail of small footprints led into the garden.
Then disappeared.
Victoria’s heart thundered.
Charles followed.
“Find her.”
Daniel was already calling the police.
Victoria saw something beneath a bush.
A red ribbon.
Rosie wore one in her hair.
She picked it up.
There was writing on it.
YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT THE DEAD BURIED.
Victoria looked at Charles.
He had gone pale.
“You did this.”
“No.”
“Where is my daughter?”
“I don't know.”
“Then find her.”
Charles looked at her.
Something changed in his face.
Fear.
Not for himself.
For Rosie.
“I know where they might take her.”
“Where?”
“The old train station.”
“Why?”
“Because that is where Eleanor disappeared.”
They drove through the rain.
The old station had been abandoned for years.
Daniel entered first.
“Police are five minutes out.”
Victoria couldn't wait.
She ran inside.
A sound came from the waiting room.
A child crying.
“Rosie!”
Victoria moved toward it.
Then stopped.
The crying was coming from a speaker.
A recording.
She turned.
A screen flickered on.
Eleanor appeared.
Older.
Paler.
But alive.
Victoria stepped closer.
“Eleanor?”
The image moved.
Eleanor looked directly into the camera.
“Victoria.”
Victoria stopped breathing.
“If you are seeing this, Rosie found you.”
Charles whispered:
“No.”
Eleanor continued.
“You must know the truth before they come for her.”
Victoria gripped the table.
“Who?”
Eleanor’s eyes shifted toward someone off-camera.
Then back.
“Your husband.”
Charles closed his eyes.
“Eleanor…”
She continued.
“Charles did not kill Rosalind.”
Victoria looked at him.
“He did something worse.”
The screen flickered.
“He convinced you she was dead.”
Charles whispered:
“Stop.”
Eleanor's voice trembled.
“He did it because he needed you to sign the documents that made him guardian of the Hale fortune.”
Victoria stared.
Then Eleanor said the words that broke everything.
“But the man who ordered Rosalind killed was not Charles.”
A shadow moved behind Eleanor.
She turned.
Someone grabbed her.
The screen went black.
Victoria shouted.
The lights in the station turned on.
A voice came from behind them.
“You finally came.”
Victoria turned.
A woman stood in the doorway.
Brown hair.
Small glasses.
Older.
Scar across her cheek.
Victoria stared.
Eleanor.
May you like
Alive.
And she was holding a gun.
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