Chapter 4 - The Woman in the Photograph
The attack came before dawn.
Three black SUVs tore through the estate gates.
Security opened fire.
Glass exploded.
Caitlyn crouched behind a stone fireplace while Deari moved through the house with a handgun in one hand.
She had never seen him like this.
There was no hesitation.
No emotion.
Only focus.
Luigi shouted commands.
Guards moved through the hallways.
A bullet hit the wall inches from Caitlyn’s face.
Deari crossed the room instantly and covered her.
“Stay with me.”
“I’m trying.”
He looked at her.
“Do not leave my side.”
Something in his voice made her obey.
They moved through a hidden corridor leading to the garage.
Halfway there, Deari stopped.
He looked at a wall.
“What?”
“There.”
A photograph hung crookedly.
The same photograph from her father’s file.
Daniel.
Evelyn.
Young Deari.
And another woman.
Caitlyn gasped.
“That’s my mother.”
Deari stared.
“I know.”
“But why is she standing with all of you?”
A gunshot echoed behind them.
Deari grabbed her hand.
“Later.”
They escaped through the underground garage.
At the safe house, Caitlyn refused to speak until Deari explained everything he knew.
He finally did.
Years ago, Evelyn had suspected someone inside the family of selling shipping routes and financial information.
Daniel Elmore discovered the same corruption.
Caitlyn’s mother, Margaret, had been Evelyn’s closest confidante.
When Daniel disappeared, Margaret helped Evelyn hide the evidence.
Then Evelyn died.
Margaret disappeared from Hamilton circles.
And Caitlyn grew up believing both losses were accidents.
“They were not accidents,” Deari said.
“Who killed them?”
“We do not know.”
“Then what do you know?”
Deari hesitated.
“There was one man Evelyn feared.”
“Who?”
“My uncle, Marcus.”
Caitlyn frowned.
“Is he dead?”
“No.”
“Where is he?”
“Prison.”
She exhaled.
“So this ends with him.”
“I doubt it.”
Caitlyn stared.
“Why?”
“Because Marcus went to prison eleven years ago.”
The room became quiet.
“The killings continued afterward.”
Caitlyn felt cold.
“So there is someone else.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Deari walked to the window.
“I have a suspicion.”
“And?”
“He is someone I trusted.”
The next morning, Caitlyn returned to Hamilton Tower under heavier security.
Rumors spread quickly.
People whispered that she had become important to Deari.
Luigi warned her not to listen.
“You’re making enemies,” he said.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“That’s never stopped anyone.”
“Do they think I’m sleeping with him?”
Luigi nearly choked.
“What?”
She instantly regretted saying it.
“Nothing.”
Luigi stared at her.
Then laughed.
“No. They think you’re the one person he listens to.”
Caitlyn’s face heated.
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it?”
Before she could answer, the elevator doors opened.
Victor Moretti stood inside.
He was younger than Caitlyn expected.
Elegant.
Calm.
Smiling.
Two guards raised weapons.
Deari emerged from the executive office.
Victor looked at him.
Then at Caitlyn.
“So,” he said softly.
“Margaret’s daughter.”
Caitlyn froze.
Victor smiled.
“Your mother left me something too.”
Deari stepped between them.
“You have ten seconds to explain why you are here.”
Victor raised his hands.
“I came to offer a trade.”
“For what?”
“The blue ledger.”
Deari’s expression did not change.
“And what do you have?”
Victor looked at Caitlyn.
“The truth about her mother.”
Caitlyn stepped forward.
“What truth?”
Victor’s smile faded.
“Your mother did not disappear from our world.”
“She died.”
“That is what they told you.”
Deari grabbed Victor by the collar.
“Where is she?”
Victor whispered.
“Not where you think.”
Then he dropped a photograph.
Caitlyn picked it up.
It showed a woman standing outside a small bookstore in Boston.
Older.
Grayer.
But unmistakably Margaret Elmore.
Alive.
Caitlyn’s knees nearly gave out.
“No.”
May you like
Victor smiled again.
“She has been waiting for you.”
