Chapter 19 - The Woman Who Returned
Samuel had spent twelve years believing his mother was dead.
Now he was telling us she had been alive six months ago.
And somebody had known.
The investigator closed the doors to the river house.
Nobody was allowed to leave.
Samuel sat wrapped in a blanket while a paramedic checked him.
Evan didn't let go of his hand.
I stood across the room, staring at the blood trail Victor had left behind.
The investigator crouched near it.
“This isn't enough blood for a gunshot wound.”
“So he wasn't shot?”
“Probably not.”
“Then whose blood?”
He looked at the paramedic.
“Can you test it?”
“Yes.”
Rachel approached Samuel.
“What did your mother look like?”
Samuel looked at her.
“She had dark hair.”
“Was she tall?”
“Yes.”
“Did she have a scar?”
Samuel nodded.
“Here.”
He touched his jaw.
Rachel froze.
“That’s my mother.”
Samuel frowned.
“What?”
Rachel’s voice broke.
“Your mother was my half-sister.”
The room fell silent.
Samuel looked at her.
“I don't understand.”
“My mother had two daughters.”
Rachel began crying.
“Me.”
“And Anna.”
I stared at Samuel.
“Then you’re Rachel’s nephew.”
He looked confused.
“My mother was Anna?”
Rachel nodded.
“Yes.”
Samuel stared at Evan.
“Then I'm really your brother.”
Evan pulled him close.
But the moment was interrupted by a ringing phone.
This time it belonged to the investigator.
He answered.
His expression changed.
“Bring the evidence team.”
“What?”
He looked at me.
“The blood is not Victor’s.”
“Whose?”
He hesitated.
“Richard’s.”
My heart stopped.
“Richard was here.”
The investigator nodded.
“And according to the blood analysis, he was injured recently.”
Evan stood.
“Then where is he?”
Before anyone could answer, Samuel whispered:
“He was with my mother.”
Everyone turned.
“When?”
“Before Elaine came.”
“Where?”
“Inside the house.”
“Why didn't you tell us?”
Samuel looked down.
“Because he told me my mother was coming to save me.”
Rachel shook her head.
“Richard was lying.”
“Maybe.”
Samuel reached into his backpack.
“I have proof.”
He pulled out a small voice recorder.
Evan took it.
“Where did you get this?”
“From Richard.”
They played it.
Richard’s voice filled the room.
“Anna, you need to understand. I didn't kill you.”
A woman's voice answered.
“You helped them believe I was dead.”
“I was protecting Samuel.”
“You were protecting yourself.”
Richard sighed.
“Your father made a choice.”
Anna said, “And you made another.”
The recording stopped.
I stared at Samuel.
“Where did you get this?”
“He gave it to me.”
“Why?”
“Because he said someone was going to kill him.”
Rachel covered her mouth.
Evan looked at the investigator.
“Then Richard is alive.”
“We know.”
“And Anna.”
The investigator nodded.
“We need to find them.”
Then the warehouse alarm system on the investigator’s phone activated.
He checked the alert.
“Someone just entered the old Brooks headquarters.”
We rushed there.
Inside the abandoned building, every security light was on.
A single room had been opened.
The archive.
The blue ledger was gone.
On the wall was a handwritten message.
I DIDN'T RUN.
I WAS TAKEN.
Below it was another line.
AND THE PERSON WHO TOOK ME IS COMING FOR SAMUEL.
Evan read it twice.
“Who?”
A sound came from the hallway.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Everyone turned.
A woman stepped into the doorway.
Dark hair.
Pale face.
A scar near her eyebrow.
Rachel cried out.
“Anna.”
The woman looked at her.
Then at Samuel.
Then at me.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I’m sorry.”
Samuel stood.
“Mom?”
Anna covered her mouth.
He ran to her.
She dropped to her knees.
They embraced.
Evan looked stunned.
But then Anna pulled away.
Her face had changed.
Fear replaced relief.
She looked directly at me.
“You have to leave.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor wasn't the person who started this.”
“Who was?”
Anna looked behind us.
At Diane.
“Your mother.”
Diane went completely still.
Anna’s voice trembled.
“She knows where the original trust is.”
And before anyone could respond, the building exploded with the sound of breaking glass.
Gunfire.
Everyone dropped.
Anna shoved Samuel behind a desk.
The investigator shouted commands.
Evan covered me.
Then a voice came through the darkness.
“Give me the trust.”
May you like
Diane whispered one word.
“Richard.”
