Chapter 12 - THE EMPTY GRAVE
We did not let Ethan go alone.
Federal agents surrounded the abandoned church before dawn.
The cemetery behind it was overgrown with weeds.
Amanda stood beside a damaged stone crypt.
No weapon was visible.
Her white Miami dress was stained with dirt.
She looked at Ethan as though no one else existed.
“My baby.”
Ethan stayed behind me.
“Do not call me that.”
Amanda’s face tightened.
“I carried you.”
“And then you spent years hurting me.”
“I was trying to make you strong.”
“You made me afraid to eat.”
Amanda flinched.
For the first time, shame appeared in her eyes.
But it vanished quickly.
“Claire stole everything from me.”
“She saved me from you.”
Amanda looked at me.
“You poisoned him against me.”
“I did not have to.”
“You did that yourself.”
Reyes ordered Amanda to raise her hands.
Amanda ignored her.
Instead, she pointed toward the crypt.
“Open it.”
Agents checked for traps before removing the rusted lock.
Inside was a coffin.
The nameplate read CLAIRE CARTER.
My knees weakened.
I had watched that coffin lowered into the ground nine years ago.
Amanda smiled.
“Go ahead.”
The agents opened it.
The coffin was empty.
Only Claire’s wedding ring rested on the faded lining.
I could not breathe.
“Where is she?” I demanded.
Amanda’s eyes filled with something close to triumph.
“Alive.”
Ethan grabbed my arm.
“That’s impossible.”
Amanda shook her head.
“Claire knew Nolan was poisoning her.”
“She replaced the final medication and faked her death.”
I stared at her.
“You were there.”
“I helped.”
“Why?”
“Because she promised to return my son.”
Amanda’s gaze moved to Ethan.
“But after the funeral, she disappeared.”
“She took the evidence.”
“She took the money.”
“And she left me with nothing.”
I looked at Margaret.
“Did you know?”
Margaret slowly nodded.
“Claire contacted me three years ago.”
“Where is she?”
“I don’t know.”
“She moved constantly.”
Amanda laughed.
“You are all still protecting her.”
Reyes stepped forward.
“You are under arrest for fraud, kidnapping, assault, and conspiracy.”
Amanda finally raised her hands.
Then a gunshot cracked through the cemetery.
Amanda dropped.
Agents pulled us behind the crypt.
The shot had come from the church tower.
A figure disappeared through a broken window.
Marcus stared upward.
“Nolan is in custody.”
“Raymond Pike is in custody.”
“Then who fired?”
Amanda was conscious.
The bullet had struck her shoulder.
She grabbed Ethan’s sleeve.
“There is one more partner.”
“Who?”
Her lips trembled.
“The person Claire trusted more than anyone.”
Then headlights appeared beyond the cemetery gates.
A black car stopped.
The driver stepped out.
My heart stopped.
Claire stood beneath the morning fog.
May you like
Alive.
And she was holding a gun.
