Chapter 11 - The Detective's SecretReed had been part of the family network.
That was the truth.
But not the whole truth.
He took us to a basement office beneath the estate.
He claimed he had been investigating the network for fourteen years.
He had infiltrated it.
The original disappearance investigation was compromised.
He had intentionally closed the case because continuing would have gotten Evelyn killed.
I hated hearing that.
Because from my perspective, his actions still looked unforgivable.
“You let me believe she abandoned me.”
“I had no choice.”
“You always have a choice.”
He said nothing.
Then he opened a metal box.
Inside were photographs.
Evidence from the original investigation.
Photos of Evelyn.
Photos of Bianca.
Photos of Victor.
Photos of my father.
And one photograph of my mother.
Alive.
Taken one month before Evelyn disappeared.
Reed said she had been hiding.
“She contacted me.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“She begged me not to.”
“Why?”
“She said Richard had people inside the police.”
Then Reed handed me a letter.
My mother's handwriting.
Nathan, if you are reading this, I failed to protect you. But remember this: not everyone who lies to you is your enemy. Some people lie because the truth gets people killed.
I looked at Evelyn.
She nodded.
“That sounds like her.”
Then Reed showed us a final photograph.
It was taken on our wedding day.
A woman was standing in the chapel.
Not Evelyn.
Not Helena.
Not Bianca.
Someone else.
Someone who had been watching from the back row.
A child.
A little girl.
I knew her.
She had been the flower girl.
Her name was Lily.
“Where is she now?”
Reed looked at me.
“Missing.”
My blood ran cold.
“How long?”
“Three years.”
The same day Evelyn disappeared.
Another clue.
Another victim.
Another lie.
We found Lily's name in the ledger.
Beside it:
PROJECT WITNESS.
Evelyn remembered her.
“She saw them.”
“Saw what?”
“The night they took me.”
“What did she see?”
“My mother.”
I stared.
“Your mother?”
Evelyn nodded.
“Your mother came to the bridal suite.”
She told me what happened.
Margaret appeared shortly before the ceremony.
She gave Evelyn a warning.
“Do not let Nathan sign anything.”
Then she said:
“If I disappear, trust Anna.”
Anna.
The housemaid.
I turned.
Anna stood behind us.
She looked terrified.
“I didn't know when to tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
She reached into her apron.
Pulled out a photograph.
It showed my mother holding a baby.
Me.
But beside the baby was another child.
Adrian.
My supposed identity.
Anna had been keeping the photograph for twenty-five years.
“Why?”
“Your mother gave it to me.”
“When?”
“Before she disappeared.”
“What did she tell you?”
Anna began crying.
“She said one day you would find Evelyn.”
“And?”
“She said when you did…”
Anna looked directly at me.
“Do not trust the woman who survived the fire.”
“What fire?”
Anna didn't answer.
Then the estate alarm started screaming.
Smoke poured into the east wing.
Someone had set the house on fire.
Reed shouted:
“Get out!”
We ran.
The bridal suite was engulfed in flames.
Evelyn stopped.
“My room.”
I grabbed her.
“We don't have time.”
She pointed into the fire.
“There was something under the floor.”
“What?”
“The original wedding license.”
We were about to leave.
Then I heard a child's voice from inside.
“Nathan?”
I froze.
May you like
Lily.
She was alive.
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