Chapter 10 - THE SECOND WOMAN IN EMERALD
Police reviewed hundreds of gala photographs.
At first, nothing appeared unusual.
Then a photographer’s image revealed a woman near the servants’ entrance.
Emerald gown.
Dark hair.
Face turned away.
Same height as Evelyn.
Claire stared at the photograph.
“That’s why witnesses thought they saw Evelyn near the staircase.”
Mason nodded.
“The dress was deliberate.”
Lucas enlarged the image.
“Who is she.”
Rosa stepped closer.
Then gasped.
“I know her.”
Everyone turned.
“She worked here.”
“When.”
“Years ago.”
Rosa looked at Helena.
Helena’s face had gone white.
“Her name was Rebecca Shaw.”
Lucas frowned.
“I don’t remember her.”
“You were away at college.”
Rosa continued.
“She was Mr. Henry’s private secretary.”
Claire looked at Helena.
“What happened to her.”
Helena answered.
“She stole confidential information.”
“We dismissed her.”
Rosa shook her head.
“That’s not why she left.”
Helena snapped.
“Enough.”
Mason stepped between them.
“No.”
“Not enough.”
Rosa took a breath.
“Rebecca had an affair.”
Claire felt the room tighten.
“With Graham.”
Helena laughed coldly.
“You never understood anything.”
Rosa looked at her.
“Then tell them.”
Helena remained silent.
Graham spoke from behind them.
“Rebecca wasn’t having an affair with me.”
Everyone turned.
He had entered with an officer.
“She was involved with Henry.”
Lucas stared at him.
“My father.”
Graham nodded.
“For almost three years.”
Helena’s expression looked carved from stone.
Claire suddenly understood the hatred.
Rebecca had not merely been an employee.
She had been Henry Sterling’s mistress.
“What happened to her.”
Graham answered.
“She disappeared.”
“When.”
“Twenty-two years ago.”
Mason looked at Helena.
“Did you know where she went.”
“No.”
Graham shook his head.
“You did.”
Helena glared at him.
“I paid her to leave.”
Lucas stepped closer.
“How much.”
“Enough.”
“Why did she come back.”
Helena looked at Claire.
“For the same reason everyone comes back.”
“Money.”
Mason’s phone rang.
He listened silently.
Then his expression changed.
“We located Nathan Cole’s car.”
“Where.”
“Abandoned near the harbor.”
Claire touched her stomach.
“And Nathan.”
“Gone.”
“The passenger.”
“Gone.”
Mason hesitated.
“But there was blood in the back seat.”
Lucas went pale.
Then Mason added.
“And a hospital bracelet.”
Claire’s hand tightened around the edge of the table.
“What hospital bracelet.”
Mason looked at her.
“It has a name printed on it.”
“Rebecca Sterling.”
Lucas stopped breathing.
“That’s impossible.”
Helena sat down slowly.
Claire looked from Helena to Lucas.
“Who is Rebecca Sterling.”
May you like
Helena whispered the answer.
“My daughter.”
