Chapter 4 - The Woman Who Had Been Watching
Clara could not decide whether to run into her mother's arms or scream at her.
Sixteen years.
Sixteen birthdays.
Sixteen Christmas mornings.
Sixteen years of believing she had been abandoned.
And Helen Hayes stood in front of her as though those years were a door she could simply close.
Clara's voice shook.
"You're alive."
Helen nodded.
"I am."
"Why?"
Helen's eyes filled.
"Because I was terrified."
"You left me."
"I know."
"You let me think you hated me."
"I know."
"Why?"
Helen took a step forward.
Clara stepped back.
"Don't."
Helen stopped.
"I won't touch you unless you ask."
Clara looked at her.
"Tell me everything."
Helen glanced toward the hallway.
"Not here."
Matteo entered.
His hand rested near his weapon.
Helen looked at him.
"You knew I'd come."
"I hoped."
Clara stared between them.
"You two have been talking?"
"Not directly," Matteo said.
Helen looked at him.
"Your mother would be proud."
Matteo went still.
Clara noticed.
"You knew my mother before tonight."
"Yes."
"How?"
Helen answered.
"Your father worked with Matteo's father."
Clara laughed bitterly.
"This is unbelievable."
Helen lowered her head.
"We were trying to protect you."
"Everyone keeps saying that."
"And everyone keeps leaving me out of the truth."
Helen flinched.
Clara's anger broke into tears.
"You missed everything."
"I know."
"You weren't there when I graduated."
"I know."
"When Dad died, I had no one."
"I know."
"When I got sick, I sat in that hospital alone."
Helen covered her mouth.
"I was watching from across the street."
Clara stared.
"What?"
"I couldn't come near you."
"Why?"
"Because Victor was watching you."
Matteo stepped forward.
"Victor Hale has been tracking your family since before Clara was born."
Helen nodded.
"Your uncle found records proving Victor had been selling confidential information."
"To whom?"
"To rival organizations."
Matteo added, "And to corrupt officials."
Helen continued.
"Nathan wanted to expose him."
"Then what happened?"
"He was killed."
Clara's eyes filled.
"Did you see it?"
"No."
Helen closed her eyes.
"But I knew it was Victor."
"Why?"
"Because he came after me next."
Matteo's jaw tightened.
"Victor wanted the records."
"He still does," Helen said.
Clara looked at Matteo.
"What records?"
"The final evidence against him."
"Where are they?"
Helen stared at Clara.
"With you."
Clara frowned.
"What?"
"Your father hid them."
"How?"
"He knew Victor would search the obvious places."
Matteo said, "So he used Clara."
Clara looked between them.
"I was a child."
"Exactly."
Helen reached into her coat.
She produced a small photograph.
It showed Clara sitting on her father's shoulders.
On the back was a handwritten phrase.
Look for the light where no one looks.
Clara whispered the words.
She remembered them.
Her father had said them whenever she was afraid.
"What does it mean?"
Helen looked at Matteo.
"Your father's old chapel."
Matteo understood.
"The Moretti estate chapel."
"They hid something there."
Security suddenly shouted.
A crash shook the hallway.
Matteo drew his gun.
"Stay here."
Clara grabbed his arm.
"No."
He looked at her.
"I am coming."
"This isn't a discussion."
"I know."
Helen smiled faintly.
"She's exactly like her father."
Matteo sighed.
"That's what worries me."
They moved through the corridors.
Three guards were down.
No one had heard the shots.
The attack was silent.
Too organized.
They reached the chapel.
The old stone floor was cracked.
Clara looked around.
"Where would my father hide something?"
Matteo studied the walls.
Bruno sniffed the altar.
Then scratched the floor.
Clara crouched.
"Here."
They lifted a loose stone.
Beneath it was a metal box.
Clara opened it.
Inside was a flash drive.
And a letter.
She opened it.
Her father's handwriting.
My little girl,
If you are reading this, then I failed to keep the world away from you.
Clara sobbed.
Nathan's letter explained everything.
Victor had orchestrated years of murders.
He had manipulated Matteo's father.
He had helped cause the deaths of people inside the organization.
He had even arranged the attack that injured Bruno and nearly killed Matteo.
But Nathan had discovered one final secret.
Victor was responsible for the disappearance of Matteo's mother.
Clara looked at Matteo.
He read the page.
His hands trembled.
"My mother?"
Helen nodded.
"Victor kidnapped her."
"Where is she?"
"We don't know."
The sound of footsteps came from outside.
Too many.
Matteo closed the box.
"We have to go."
They left the chapel through a side door.
Behind them, the estate erupted into gunfire.
They ran into the underground passage.
Clara held the box.
Matteo held her hand.
They reached the safe room.
A voice came over the speaker.
"Matteo."
Victor.
"I know what you found."
Clara froze.
Victor continued.
"You have always been predictable."
Matteo stepped toward the speaker.
"You've lost."
"Not yet."
A second voice came through.
Bianca.
"Matteo."
His face changed.
Victor laughed.
"Your favorite guest has something to tell you."
Bianca's voice broke.
"I never wanted anyone hurt."
"You chose this," Matteo said.
"Victor forced me."
"Then why are you still helping him?"
Silence.
Victor took over.
"Because she knows what happens when you betray family."
Then the lights went out.
May you like
The safe room door locked.
And somewhere above them, the estate alarms began screaming.
