Chapter 13 - CLAIRE CAME BACK
Claire looked older.
Thinner.
A pale scar crossed the side of her neck.
But it was her.
The woman I had buried.
The woman I had mourned for nine years.
Ethan stared at her as though afraid she might disappear.
“Mom?”
Claire’s weapon fell from her hand.
She covered her mouth.
“My baby.”
Ethan ran toward her.
I wanted to stop him.
I wanted answers.
But he had spent nine years grieving her too.
Claire wrapped her arms around him.
They both cried without speaking.
Then she saw the bruises on his arms.
Her expression changed.
She looked at Amanda lying near the crypt.
“What did you do to him?”
Amanda laughed through the pain.
“You abandoned him.”
“You promised to return him to me.”
“I promised before I understood who you had become.”
Claire moved toward her.
Agents blocked the way.
I stood several feet from Claire.
Every memory inside me was fighting with the woman before me.
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“I had no choice.”
“You had a husband.”
“You had a son.”
“Nolan threatened both of you.”
“You could have trusted me.”
“I did not want you involved.”
“You did not protect us.”
“You left us with her.”
Claire looked at Amanda.
“I thought she would leave after the key disappeared.”
Amanda smiled.
“You never understood me.”
Claire turned back to Ethan.
“I watched from a distance.”
His face hardened.
“You watched?”
“I sent money.”
“I contacted teachers.”
“Amanda intercepted everything.”
“You watched while I thought you were dead.”
Claire’s eyes filled with tears.
“I was trying to build a case.”
Ethan stepped away from her.
“I needed a mother.”
The words struck harder than any accusation.
Claire lowered her head.
“I know.”
Detective Reyes approached.
“Who fired from the tower?”
Claire looked toward the church.
“I did not.”
“Then why were you carrying a gun?”
“Because I followed the shooter here.”
“Who?”
Claire pointed toward the black car.
The rear door was open.
Someone had been inside with her.
Claire spoke one name.
“Marcus.”
I turned.
Marcus Bell was no longer beside us.
My old friend had disappeared.
Reyes checked the church surveillance feed.
Marcus had entered through the side door seconds after the shot.
I felt sick.
“He helped me investigate everything.”
Claire shook her head.
“He helped create everything.”
Marcus had worked security for my company.
He knew my travel schedule.
He knew when the house would be empty.
He had opened Amanda’s metal case.
He had controlled which evidence we saw.
Claire continued.
“Marcus is Raymond Pike’s brother.”
Before I could process the words, church bells began ringing.
A loudspeaker crackled.
Marcus’s voice echoed across the cemetery.
“Bring both keys into the church.”
“Claire comes alone.”
“Or I release every widow’s stolen identity onto the internet.”
Claire looked at me.
“He has the master database.”
I picked up the brass keys.
“You are not going alone.”
She met my eyes.
“You still do that.”
“Do what?”
“Walk into danger before thinking.”
I looked toward Ethan.
“This time, I am thinking.”
“I am thinking about my son.”
Then the church doors opened.
Marcus stood inside.
May you like
Beside him was Dylan.
A wire was wrapped around the boy’s neck.
