Chapter 18 - THE WOMAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH
Rebecca drove until they reached an old cabin owned by one of Jonathan’s college friends.
“No phones,” Elise said.
They removed their batteries.
For the first time in years, Elise felt completely alone.
Then June stepped from the bedroom.
Elise nearly screamed.
“What are you doing here?”
Rebecca winced.
“I picked her up before meeting you.”
“You brought my daughter into this?”
“You wanted her sitting at Northbridge where Shaw could find her?”
Elise had no answer.
June hugged her.
For several minutes, Elise simply held her.
Later, they opened Jonathan’s fourth letter.
The next clue was strange.
Find the woman who stood beside your mother when you were born.
Elise stared.
“My mother died when I was six.”
Rebecca asked, “Do you have photographs?”
Only a few.
Elise’s childhood albums remained at Northbridge.
June suddenly remembered something.
“Grandpa Michael’s box.”
“What box?”
“The one in the attic. Dad showed it to me once.”
Northbridge was unsafe.
But Rebecca knew a caretaker who could enter through an old service tunnel.
Three hours later, the man delivered a wooden box.
Inside were photographs.
Elise’s parents.
Her childhood.
Her first birthday.
Then Rebecca found one taken outside the hospital after Elise’s birth.
Elise’s mother held newborn Elise.
Michael stood beside her.
And behind them was a young woman wearing a nurse’s uniform.
Elise turned the photograph over.
Three names.
Michael.
Sarah.
Monica.
Elise stared.
“Monica Shaw.”
Rebecca whispered, “She knew your parents.”
There was more.
A folded newspaper clipping.
LOCAL NURSE SAVES INFANT DURING HOSPITAL FIRE.
Monica Shaw had once been Monica Bennett.
Elise’s mother’s younger sister.
Her aunt.
Elise sat down heavily.
“My mother never had a sister.”
“Apparently she did.”
Another envelope lay beneath the clipping.
Not Jonathan’s handwriting.
Michael’s.
For Elise, when she is ready.
Elise opened it.
Her father’s words were seventeen years old.
Elise,
There are things about our family I hoped you would never need to know.
Your mother’s sister, Monica, believes power is the only form of safety.
After Sarah died, Monica blamed me.
She believed I failed to save her.
She joined Helena because Helena gave her influence, money, and eventually protection.
If anything happens to me, understand that Monica will tell herself she is protecting you even while destroying everyone around you.
Do not underestimate her.
Elise lowered the page.
June whispered, “She’s your aunt?”
“Yes.”
“Does that make her family?”
Elise looked at her daughter.
“Blood makes people related.”
She folded the letter.
“Choices make them family.”
A vehicle approached outside.
Rebecca reached for a fireplace poker.
Elise pulled June behind her.
Someone knocked.
Three times.
Then a voice:
“Elise.”
Samuel Cross.
They opened the door.
The elderly man looked exhausted and terrified.
“I don’t have much time.”
“You came.”
“I should have twenty years ago.”
He handed Elise a photograph.
Monica Shaw.
Helena Vale.
And a third person.
Thomas Keene.
Elise stared.
“Thomas?”
Samuel nodded.
“He didn’t just work for Helena.”
“He saved June.”
“Yes.”
“Then what are you telling me?”
May you like
Samuel looked toward the window.
“That there are two Thomas Keenes.”
