Chapter 5 - The Engagement Party
Cordelia’s engagement party was supposed to be the social event of the summer.
Newport families arrived in black cars.
Politicians smiled for photographs.
Bankers spoke quietly near the fireplace.
Mave wore her normal black uniform.
Nobody expected her to matter.
That was exactly what Augustine wanted.
He had arranged for security around Ashgrove.
Azie had disappeared three hours before the guests arrived.
Wendell kept watch.
And Mave carried a secret in her pocket.
A tiny memory card.
The old doctor had given it to her.
“It contains everything I copied before the clinic closed,” he had said.
Mave had not yet looked at it.
She was afraid.
Not of what it contained.
Of what it might prove.
At nine o'clock, Cordelia entered the ballroom.
She looked like royalty.
The necklace around her throat cost more than most houses in Providence.
She saw Mave carrying glasses.
“Be careful.”
Mave nodded.
Cordelia smiled toward her guests.
“There’s the girl.”
A few people laughed.
Mave continued working.
Then Cordelia announced that the family had prepared a surprise.
The lights dimmed.
A projector turned on.
Pictures of Augustine and Cordelia appeared on the wall.
Childhood photographs.
Family estates.
Charity galas.
Business dinners.
Then a photograph appeared that had not been expected.
Mave.
In uniform.
Standing beside a military transport vehicle.
Her face was younger.
Harder.
The room erupted in whispers.
Cordelia turned toward her.
“This is the woman serving your drinks.”
Mave didn't move.
“She used to be someone else.”
The screen changed.
Mave training soldiers.
Mave carrying a weapon.
Mave receiving a commendation.
Someone laughed.
Another person murmured, “A maid?”
Cordelia smiled.
“Imagine that.”
Augustine stood.
“Turn it off.”
Cordelia ignored him.
“My fiancé’s mysterious housekeeper has quite a history.”
Mave looked at the screen.
A final photograph appeared.
Juny.
The room went silent.
Mave stopped breathing.
Cordelia whispered:
“Did you miss her?”
Augustine crossed the room.
He took the remote from Cordelia's hand.
“This party is over.”
Her father stepped forward.
“This is not your call.”
Augustine looked at him.
“It is when you use my home to threaten my staff.”
The room fell silent.
Mave looked at Cordelia.
“You had this.”
Cordelia's face tightened.
“I found it.”
“You knew.”
“I suspected.”
Mave’s eyes burned.
“You let me live in your house while holding a photograph of my daughter.”
“I didn't know where she was.”
“But you knew her name.”
Cordelia said nothing.
Mave walked toward the exit.
Augustine followed.
Outside, the night air felt cold.
Mave stopped beneath the porch light.
“I can't stay here.”
“Why?”
“Because everyone saw.”
“Let them.”
“They'll know who I am.”
“Let them.”
“They'll find me.”
“Then they'll find me standing beside you.”
She stared at him.
“Why are you doing this?”
Augustine looked at her.
“Because I’m tired of watching people treat you like you are less than human.”
Mave swallowed.
“You don't know what I am.”
“I know exactly what you are.”
“What?”
“The only person in this house who never asked me for anything.”
She shook her head.
“You’re making a mistake.”
“Probably.”
Then he reached for her hand.
Mave looked down.
No one had held her hand without wanting something from her in years.
She did not pull away.
Behind them, glass shattered.
Azie shouted.
“DOWN!”
A bullet tore through the porch railing.
Augustine pulled Mave to the ground.
Security opened fire.
Guests screamed.
Cordelia ran for cover.
Mave looked toward the tree line.
Three figures.
One sniper.
She pushed Augustine aside and pointed.
“There.”
Azie fired.
The shooter fell.
The second fled.
Mave chased him.
Augustine followed.
She caught the man near the side wall.
He turned.
“You're the one.”
He smiled.
“The old bodyguard.”
Mave froze.
“Who are you?”
He laughed.
“Ask why your husband was killed.”
That phrase cut through her.
“What?”
“Your husband knew.”
Azie reached them.
The attacker looked at him.
“You betrayed your unit.”
Azie went pale.
Mave turned.
“Azie?”
He looked away.
The attacker grinned.
“Ask him what happened the night your daughter vanished.”
Azie's jaw clenched.
Mave stared at him.
Then the attacker swallowed a hidden capsule.
He died before anyone could question him.
Mave turned toward Azie.
“Tell me.”
“I can explain.”
“You have ten seconds.”
Azie closed his eyes.
“Your husband wasn't killed by enemy fire.”
Mave's face emptied.
“He was executed.”
“By whom?”
“People inside the operation.”
“Why?”
“Because he discovered the child transfers.”
Mave stepped back.
“And you?”
“I was ordered to stay quiet.”
“You did.”
“I tried to protect you.”
“You lied.”
“Yes.”
Her voice shook.
“You lied for years.”
Azie nodded.
“And I’m sorry.”
Mave stared into the darkness.
Then she whispered:
“I don't want sorry.”
She walked away.
For the first time since she entered Ashgrove, Augustine did not follow.
He knew she needed to choose where to go next.
But before dawn, the memory card was finally opened.
Mave, Augustine, and Wendell watched the first file.
A video appeared.
A nurse.
A child.
And behind them, a woman in an Ashworth family coat.
Vivian Ashworth.
The nurse looked into the camera.
“If anyone finds this, the child named Juny Callan was alive on the night of September 18.”
Mave covered her mouth.
The nurse continued.
“She was taken from the clinic at 11:43 p.m.”
Then the image flickered.
A final note appeared.
TRANSFER DESTINATION: SAINT MERCY HOME FOR CHILDREN.
The building had closed nine years ago.
But Saint Mercy had left one surviving address.
On the screen was a location in rural Connecticut.
Mave whispered:
“She's there.”
May you like
Augustine stood.
“Then we go there.”
