Chapter 8 - My Sister's Confession and the Woman Who Stole a Dead Girl's Name
Ava was sitting in the hospital chapel when I found her.
She looked as though she hadn't slept in days.
Her hands were folded in her lap.
A small silver cross hung around her neck.
It had belonged to our mother.
I sat beside her.
"Gabriel says you know who Emily Reed is."
Ava nodded.
"Her real name is Rachel Sloane."
I stared.
"Victor's daughter?"
"Yes."
I remembered Rachel.
A quiet girl who used to attend holiday parties at my father's house.
She was several years younger than me.
Her mother had died when Rachel was a teenager.
After that, Victor sent her to boarding school.
I hadn't seen her in years.
"Why use Emily's name?"
Ava looked down.
"Because Victor wanted access to Margaret."
"Why?"
"Margaret had evidence."
"And Rachel approached Elena to find it."
Ava nodded.
I studied my sister.
"How long have you known?"
"About a month."
My jaw tightened.
"Ava."
"I was trying to help."
"By lying?"
She began crying.
"I know how that sounds."
"Then explain."
She took a trembling breath.
"Rachel contacted me after Elena started investigating. She claimed Victor was threatening her."
I stared.
"Did you believe her?"
"At first."
"What changed?"
"She asked me to steal the key."
I leaned forward.
"From Elena?"
Ava nodded.
"I refused."
"And then?"
"She threatened to tell you something about Dad."
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What?"
Ava looked at me.
"That he ordered Patrick Keane to frighten Mom before she died."
Our mother had died from cancer.
I knew that.
Her medical records were clear.
But Ava continued.
"Not to kill her. To frighten her into staying quiet about the explosion plan."
I stared at my sister.
"Mom knew?"
Ava nodded.
"She knew Dad was trying to disappear. She begged him to stop."
My throat tightened.
I remembered our mother during her final months.
She had become withdrawn.
She barely spoke to our father.
I assumed illness had exhausted her.
Now I understood that she had been carrying secrets I never knew existed.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Ava's voice broke.
"Because I was ashamed."
"Of what?"
"Of helping Patrick."
I turned.
"What?"
"When I was twenty-four, Dad asked me to deliver a package. He said it contained documents."
She swallowed.
"I didn't know it was connected to the explosion until afterward."
I stared.
"You helped Keane escape."
"Yes."
"And you've been living with it for eight years."
She nodded.
I looked away.
For a long time, neither of us spoke.
Then Ava whispered, "I didn't hurt Elena."
I turned back.
"I know you didn't push her."
"But you thought I might."
I couldn't deny it.
She began crying again.
"I loved her, Nico. I still do."
I put my hand over hers.
"Then help me protect her now."
Ava nodded.
"Rachel called me this morning."
"What did she want?"
"She said Victor is leaving Chicago."
"When?"
"Tomorrow night."
"Where?"
"She didn't say."
I stood.
"Did she threaten Elena?"
Ava looked up.
"Yes."
My chest tightened.
"What did she say?"
Ava's voice shook.
"She said if the evidence became public, Elena would never get to hold her baby."
For a moment, the old violence surged through me.
I wanted to find Victor Sloane.
I wanted him to understand fear.
I wanted him to know what it felt like to lose everything.
Then I remembered Elena's words.
Don't ever decide what's best for me without asking.
I took out my phone and called Detective Bennett.
I told her everything.
Within an hour, investigators began looking for Rachel and Victor.
Ava agreed to provide a formal statement.
She also turned over years of correspondence connected to Patrick Keane.
For the first time, my sister stopped protecting the secrets that had poisoned our family.
That night, Elena asked to see her.
I hesitated.
Elena noticed.
"Nico."
"Yes?"
"She's your sister."
"I know."
"And she's my friend."
I sat beside her.
"She lied to both of us."
"So did you."
I looked down.
Elena gave me a tired smile.
"That doesn't mean I want either of you to disappear."
I nodded.
Then I brought Ava into the room.
My sister stopped at the doorway.
"Elena."
Elena held out her hand.
Ava crossed the room and began crying.
"I'm so sorry."
Elena squeezed her fingers.
"I know."
"I should have told you everything."
"Yes."
"I was scared."
Elena looked at her.
"So was I."
They sat together for almost an hour.
I stayed near the window.
Watching.
Listening.
Realizing that forgiveness wasn't pretending betrayal never happened.
It was deciding whether someone was willing to face the truth and change.
Later that evening, Gabriel arrived with news.
"Boss, we located Rachel Sloane."
I turned.
"Where?"
"An apartment in River North."
"Is she in custody?"
"Not yet."
"Why?"
"Because she contacted Detective Bennett voluntarily."
I frowned.
"What?"
"She says she wants protection."
"From Victor?"
Gabriel nodded.
"She claims her father ordered Elena's attack."
I felt my pulse accelerate.
"And Patrick Keane?"
"She says Keane carried it out."
I looked toward Elena.
She was sleeping.
Gabriel continued.
"Rachel says she has a recording of Victor giving the order."
I stared at him.
"Then why hasn't she turned it over?"
Gabriel's expression darkened.
"Because she wants a deal."
"What kind?"
"Protection for herself and her mother."
I frowned.
"Her mother is dead."
Gabriel shook his head.
"Apparently not."
I felt the floor shift beneath me.
Rachel's mother had supposedly died years earlier.
Just like Patrick Keane.
Just like so many people connected to my father.
Gabriel lowered his voice.
"Boss, Rachel says Victor has been keeping her mother hidden for fifteen years."
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"Why?"
"Because she witnessed Catherine Brooks's murder."
