Chapter 8 - THE WOMAN WHO NEVER DIED
Daniel stared at Victor.
“You’re lying.”
Victor shrugged.
“Rachel Lawson never died.”
“Where is she?”
“Safe.”
Margaret’s voice hardened.
“Safe?”
Victor looked at her.
“You never found her, did you?”
Margaret’s expression answered.
Victor smiled.
“I did.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“Where?”
“One step closer and Emily loses the only mother she just found.”
Victor aimed the gun at Eleanor.
Daniel stopped.
Emily whispered, “What do you want?”
Victor looked at her pendant.
“That.”
Emily touched it.
“The jade?”
“Yes.”
Margaret frowned.
“Why?”
Victor laughed.
“You still don’t understand.”
The pendant wasn’t only sentimental.
Victor explained that Richard had commissioned two identical pieces.
One for Eleanor.
One for baby Madeline.
Inside the gold frame was a tiny removable plate.
Emily twisted the edge.
Nothing happened.
Victor said, “There’s a latch.”
Eleanor whispered, “I never knew.”
Emily pressed her thumbnail against the frame.
A tiny section opened.
Inside was a strip of paper.
Daniel stared.
“What is that?”
Victor’s expression changed.
“Give it to me.”
Emily unfolded the paper.
Numbers.
A bank name.
And a handwritten phrase.
FOR MADELINE — IF RICHARD FINDS OUT, RUN.
Eleanor staggered.
“That’s my mother’s handwriting.”
Margaret nodded slowly.
“Our mother knew.”
Emily looked between them.
“Knew what?”
Victor raised the gun.
“Enough.”
Daniel moved suddenly.
He knocked the weapon aside.
A shot exploded.
Glass shattered.
Margaret fired at one of Victor’s men.
Chaos erupted.
Emily dropped behind a couch.
Daniel tackled Victor.
Eleanor screamed.
Margaret fought the second man near the hallway.
Victor struck Daniel with the gun.
Daniel fell.
Emily grabbed a heavy bronze sculpture and smashed it against Victor’s wrist.
The gun hit the floor.
Margaret kicked it away.
Security from the building rushed in seconds later.
Victor was pinned against the wall.
Daniel stood, blood running from his lip.
He grabbed Victor’s collar.
“Where is Rachel?”
Victor smiled through bloody teeth.
“You’ll never find her without me.”
Daniel tightened his grip.
Emily said, “Daniel.”
He looked at her.
“Don’t become him.”
Daniel released Victor.
Police arrived.
Victor was taken downstairs.
But before leaving, he leaned toward Daniel.
“Ask Eleanor about Harbor House.”
Daniel looked at his mother.
Eleanor went pale.
“What is Harbor House?”
She didn’t answer.
Daniel’s voice rose.
“What is Harbor House?”
Eleanor whispered, “A private psychiatric facility.”
Emily’s blood ran cold.
Margaret stared at her sister.
“No.”
Eleanor began crying.
Daniel understood before she said it.
“You knew Rachel was alive.”
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“Eight years ago.”
Daniel stepped back.
“You found her?”
May you like
“Yes.”
“And you left her there?”
