Chapter 6 - The Woman Who Knew Nora's Father Better Than AnyoneJulia Grant was not hiding.
She was living in Chicago under her real name.
She worked at a private bank.
She had dinner reservations.
She had friends.
A normal life.
That was what made her dangerous.
Declan confronted her at the bank.
She did not run.
She smiled.
“You're late.”
Declan stared.
“You expected me?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Because I knew Nora would find the ledger.”
Nora stepped forward.
“Why?”
Julia looked at her.
“Because you're your father’s daughter.”
“What does that mean?”
“He taught you everything without realizing it.”
Nora frowned.
“I don't understand.”
“Patterns.”
She smiled.
“You always noticed patterns.”
Nora felt sick.
“You manipulated me.”
“I guided you.”
“Why?”
“To finish what Michael started.”
Declan's expression hardened.
“Who are you working for?”
Julia looked toward the ceiling.
Then whispered:
“Your mother.”
Declan went still.
“My mother is dead.”
“No.”
Nora looked at him.
Julia continued.
“She's alive.”
Declan's face became unreadable.
“Where?”
“She has been watching you for thirty years.”
“Why?”
“Because your father made her believe you were going to become like him.”
Declan stepped closer.
“That's impossible.”
“Is it?”
Julia handed him a photograph.
A younger woman.
Holding a little boy.
Declan.
The woman was smiling.
His mother.
Alive.
Nora looked at Declan.
He could barely breathe.
“Where is she?”
Julia smiled.
“You already know.”
Declan stared.
“The Blue Room.”
“Yes.”
“The woman on the screen wasn't Patrick.”
Julia nodded.
“It was your mother.”
The room seemed to lose oxygen.
Patrick had only been the public face.
Declan's mother had been the real strategist.
She had orchestrated the ledger.
She had manipulated Ethan.
She had used Julia.
She had even created the trail that brought Nora into Declan's company.
Nora asked:
“Why me?”
Julia looked at her.
“Because your father hid the final ledger in your childhood memories.”
“My memories?”
“Your lullaby.”
Nora froze.
The song her father used to sing.
The same melody her mother had taught her.
She hummed it.
Julia nodded.
“That's the key.”
The song contained a code.
Numbers.
Dates.
Locations.
Nora had memorized it as a child.
She had never known what it meant.
Now she did.
The code unlocked the final trust.
The trust contained billions.
And it belonged to the victims.
Declan's mother wanted it.
Not for herself.
To destroy the remaining criminal families.
But her methods were ruthless.
People had died.
Nora asked:
“Did she hurt me?”
Julia looked away.
“No.”
“Then who did?”
“Someone hired by Patrick.”
“Why?”
“To force you to decode the ledger.”
Nora understood.
The bruises had not been punishment.
They had been a message.
A way to make her afraid enough to work.
Declan's mother had not ordered it.
But she had allowed it.
That distinction did not matter to Nora.
She still remembered the hands around her throat.
Declan took Nora's hand.
“We're done.”
Julia looked at him.
“Not yet.”
“What?”
“Your mother wants to meet you.”
Declan stared.
“Where?”
Julia named the place.
An old church.
The same church where Declan's father had held private meetings.
They went that night.
His mother waited alone.
Evelyn Walsh.
Sixty-five.
Elegant.
Calm.
She looked at Declan.
“My son.”
He raised his gun.
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“You let people hurt Nora.”
“Yes.”
“You used my entire life.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Evelyn looked at Nora.
“Because someone had to end what your father began.”
Declan shook his head.
“You could have told me.”
“You would have refused.”
“I would have.”
She smiled sadly.
“That is why I was afraid.”
Nora stepped forward.
“Did you know my father?”
“Yes.”
“Did you kill him?”
Evelyn shook her head.
“No.”
“Then who?”
She looked toward Declan.
“Your father.”
Silence.
“Why?”
“Because Michael tried to expose him.”
Nora cried.
“Then why didn't you help?”
“Because I was pregnant with you.”
Declan froze.
“I was?”
Evelyn nodded.
“I was afraid your father would kill my unborn child.”
Nora stared.
The revelation changed everything.
Her mother had been pregnant with Declan.
She had known Michael Hayes.
She had protected Nora.
But Nora wasn't her biological child.
She was Michael's daughter.
And Evelyn had raised her from the shadows.
Nora felt dizzy.
“My mother wasn't my mother.”
“She loved you.”
“But she lied.”
“Yes.”
“Just like everyone else.”
Evelyn looked at her.
“Because truth was dangerous.”
Declan lowered his gun.
“Enough.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“You have a choice.”
“What?”
“Take the trust.”
“Give it to the victims.”
“Yes.”
“Then what?”
“You walk away.”
“From the family?”
“From the crime.”
Declan looked at Nora.
Then Lily.
Then his mother.
He shook his head.
“I don't walk away.”
He took Nora's hand.
“I rebuild.”
Evelyn smiled.
“My son.”
Then the church doors exploded inward.
Patrick entered.
He fired.
Evelyn was hit.
Declan caught her.
“NORA!”
Nora grabbed Lily.
May you like
Patrick smiled.
“Now we finish this.”
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