Chapter 11
Julian went still when Detective Chen said it.
I watched grief return to his body.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
It simply took the light from his face.
I knew that look.
I had seen it in my own mirror after my mother died.
Detective Chen asked us to come downstairs.
In the private screening room, the footage waited.
Beatrice sat with both hands clasped.
Grant Ashford looked like a man waiting for a sentence.
I stood near the back.
I did not belong in their family grief.
But the evidence had come from my locket.
So I stayed.
The video was grainy.
Silent.
A winter balcony.
Vivienne Vale in a pale robe.
Celeste younger, standing near the glass doors.
They argued.
Vivienne held an envelope.
Celeste reached for it.
Vivienne pulled away.
Then another woman appeared.
Older.
Elegant.
Grant whispered, “Marion.”
Celeste’s mother.
The woman who was supposed to be dead.
Marion Ashford stepped onto the balcony.
Vivienne backed away from both of them.
Marion grabbed Vivienne’s arm.
Celeste took the envelope.
Vivienne tried to run.
Marion pushed her.
Vivienne hit the railing.
Celeste reached out.
For one second, I thought she might save her.
She didn’t.
Vivienne fell.
The screen went black.
Ivy was not in the room.
Thank God.
Julian made no sound.
That was worse than screaming.
Beatrice sobbed into her hands.
Grant whispered, “Marion told me she had left the country that night.”
Detective Chen said, “We believe Marion Ashford is alive and connected to multiple identity fraud cases.”
I touched my locket.
“My mother had this footage. Why?”
Detective Chen looked at me.
“We think Elena worked for Vivienne.”
“No. My mother cleaned houses. She wasn’t involved with billionaires.”
Julian turned.
“Vivienne funded domestic abuse shelters. Quietly. Privately.”
My heart squeezed.
My mother had stayed in one when I was four.
Detective Chen nodded.
“Elena may have witnessed something long before the balcony.”
Then her phone buzzed.
She read the message.
May you like
Her face changed.
“Celeste escaped transport.”
