Chapter 12 - The Dead Woman
Elena stared at the photograph until the edges blurred.
“No.”
Margaret moved beside her.
Her face drained completely.
“That can’t be real.”
Elena turned.
“You tell me.”
“I watched her die.”
“So did I.”
Graham picked up the photograph carefully.
“It could be manipulated.”
Aaron examined the room.
“Or staged.”
Elena looked at the wine glass.
“Run DNA.”
One officer bagged it.
Margaret picked up the photograph.
“The location.”
“What about it?”
“I know that building.”
She pointed toward a stone tower in the background.
“Lake Como.”
Elena’s pulse accelerated.
“My mother hated Italy.”
Margaret gave a hollow laugh.
“She claimed she did.”
Elena walked into Evelyn’s old study.
Dust covered the desk.
Books remained exactly where they had been.
Then Elena noticed one difference.
A framed photograph of herself was turned facedown.
She lifted it.
Underneath was a brass key.
Margaret whispered.
“That wasn’t there before.”
Elena looked toward the wall safe.
The safe had belonged to Evelyn.
After her death, attorneys claimed it was empty.
Elena inserted the key.
The lock clicked.
Inside was a single envelope.
Her name appeared in Evelyn’s handwriting.
ELENA — ONLY OPEN IF THEY SHOW YOU ITALY.
Elena sat down.
Her hands shook for the first time.
She opened it.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
My darling Elena.
If you are reading this, someone wants you to believe I survived.
Elena stopped.
Graham looked over her shoulder.
She continued.
I did not.
Do not chase ghosts.
That is how Meridian removes people from the board.
Margaret exhaled.
Elena read on.
They will use photographs, recordings, biometric copies, and perhaps even my voice.
They learned early that people will abandon reason for someone they love.
Elena swallowed.
The final lines were darker.
If Margaret is still beside you, listen to her.
Margaret’s eyes filled.
If Robert Kane appears, run.
Aaron immediately looked toward the hallway.
Elena kept reading.
And if a man calling himself the Steward contacts you, ask him one question.
Ask him what happened in Room 608.
That was all.
No explanation.
No signature beyond Evelyn’s initials.
Graham frowned.
“Room 608 where?”
Margaret whispered.
“I know.”
Elena looked at her.
“Of course you do.”
“Hotel Belvedere.”
“Geneva.”
“Yes.”
“The elevator attack?”
Margaret nodded.
“Evelyn stayed in Room 608 that night.”
A sound came from upstairs.
Aaron drew his weapon.
Everyone froze.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Measured.
Coming toward the staircase.
Security officers moved into position.
A man appeared at the top landing.
Gray hair.
Tall.
Left-handed.
Robert Kane.
Aaron raised his weapon.
“Hands where I can see them.”
Robert stopped.
“Elena.”
Her entire body went cold.
“Stay away from me.”
He looked almost hurt.
“I promised your mother I would protect you.”
“You murdered Peter Shaw.”
“Yes.”
No hesitation.
Margaret stared.
“Robert.”
“He was about to give her the wrong name.”
Elena stepped forward.
“Whose?”
Robert looked directly at her.
“The man who killed Evelyn.”
“Who was it?”
Robert slowly raised both hands.
“I’ll tell you.”
A red laser dot appeared suddenly on his chest.
Aaron shouted.
“Down.”
The gunshot shattered the window.
Robert fell backward.
May you like
And before Elena could reach him, he whispered one name.
“Graham.”
