Chapter 9
I stopped breathing.
Find Julian Vale.
My mother had written his name.
Julian stared at the note.
Beatrice gripped the edge of the desk.
Detective Chen asked softly, “May I take a photograph?”
I nodded.
My body felt far away.
Julian looked at me.
“Mara, what was your mother’s name?”
“Elena Ellison.”
His voice shook.
“I never knew her.”
Celeste laughed from beside the officers.
“Oh, but Vivienne did.”
Detective Chen turned.
“Enough.”
Celeste smiled.
“You want the truth? Ask why Vivienne sent money to Elena every month.”
Beatrice whispered, “No.”
Julian looked at his mother.
“You know something.”
Beatrice’s face crumpled.
“I knew Vivienne helped a woman once. She said it was private.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because after she died, I found the bank statements. I thought it was an affair.”
Julian recoiled.
“With Elena?”
“I didn’t know.”
I gripped the locket.
“My mother was dying when those payments came. They paid for medicine.”
Julian looked like the floor had opened beneath him.
“Vivienne paid for your mother’s care.”
Detective Chen removed the film strip carefully.
“We need this processed.”
Roman leaned over.
“It looks like microfilm.”
Celeste’s smile faded.
She had expected panic.
Maybe chaos.
She had not expected a detective to calmly take evidence.
Grant looked at me.
“I failed you once. I won’t again.”
I wanted to scream at him.
You already failed.
For eleven years.
But the words stuck behind my teeth.
Police led Celeste out.
As she passed me, she leaned close.
“This makes you feel special, doesn’t it? You still don’t understand. Your mother didn’t protect you. She used you to hide what she stole.”
I flinched.
Julian stepped forward.
Detective Chen pulled Celeste away.
But the damage was done.
Because some part of me had already begun wondering.
May you like
What had my mother hidden in my locket?
And why had she never told me?
