Chapter 12 - THE PERSON HE LEFT BEHIND
Julian hadn’t boarded a flight.
By midnight, investigators had confirmed that much.
His car had been left in long-term parking. His phone was off. His assistant said he had canceled three meetings and asked for cash from a company account.
Vivian stared at the wall.
“He told me we were getting married in June.”
Nobody answered.
Celeste hadn’t known there was a date.
Once, Julian had promised her October.
A small wedding.
Nothing like her father’s parties.
He had been very good at promising different women the exact life they wanted.
Vivian rubbed her bare ring finger.
“I took it off.”
Celeste looked at her.
“You don’t have to explain that to me.”
“I know.”
It was the first time Vivian had said those words without sounding defensive.
The next morning, Brooks returned with a woman Celeste recognized from a framed photograph.
Mara’s daughter.
Older now.
An adult.
“Lucy Ellis,” she said.
Celeste stood.
For a moment, all she could see was a little girl missing her front teeth in a picture taped above Mara’s bunk.
“I’m sorry,” Celeste said.
Lucy’s face tightened.
“I didn’t come for that.”
She held up a padded envelope.
“Mom mailed this before she died. My dad kept it with her letters. He thought it was work stuff somebody had already looked at.”
Inside were printed photographs of equipment labels and a handwritten note.
If the report gets lost, make noise.
Celeste laughed through a sudden breath of tears.
“That sounds like her.”
Lucy nodded.
“Dad died last year. I found it when I cleaned out the garage. I sent a copy to Admiral Reed because his name was in Mom’s letters.”
That was how the investigation had started.
Not with a torn dress.
With a daughter opening a box.
Brooks examined the envelope and discussed obtaining the original properly.
Lucy looked at Celeste.
“Did she suffer?”
The question landed exactly where it always would.
Celeste didn’t lie.
“She was scared. We all were.”
Lucy’s mouth trembled.
“But she wasn’t alone,” Celeste added. “And she was still helping people.”
Lucy nodded once.
Then she reached into her bag again.
“There’s one more picture.”
A man stood beside the service gate.
Gray beard.
Company badge.
On the back, Mara had written a name.
Frank Danner.
Ben looked at it.
“That’s him.”
Brooks’ phone vibrated.
She read the message.
Then she said, “We found Danner.”
May you like
Her expression changed.
“He’s asking for protection from Julian Cross.”
