Chapter 7: The Woman in the Photograph
I stared at the photograph until the edges of my vision blurred.
My mother.
Alive.
The woman I'd buried six years ago was standing outside Vincent Ashworth's mansion, wearing a dark coat and looking directly at the security camera.
"Where did you get this?"" I demanded.
Detective Harper lowered her phone.
"An anonymous source sent it to our department seventeen minutes ago.""
"That's impossible. I saw her body.""
Harper hesitated.
"Did you personally identify her?""
I opened my mouth.
Then stopped.
I hadn't.
I had been eighteen when Damien's people contacted me. A funeral had taken place. A closed casket.
A death certificate. A grave with my mother's name.
I'd never questioned it.
Because everyone had told me she was gone.
Damien approached the detective.
"Show me the original file.""
Harper turned the phone toward him.
He studied the image.
His fingers tightened around the device.
"Where was this taken?""
"Outside Vincent's estate. The security system recorded her entering the property at 8:12 this morning.""
"Did she leave?""
"We don't know.""
Damien turned toward his security chief.
"Get the cars.""
Corbin laughed from beside the guards.
"You're going to chase a ghost?""
Damien looked at him.
"Not another word.""
Corbin leaned against the wall.
"You're making the same mistake you made six years ago.""
Damien crossed the distance between them and grabbed his brother's shirt.
"What do you know?""
Corbin smiled.
"More than you.""
Detective Harper immediately stepped between them.
"That's enough. Everyone stays here until we establish what happened to Vincent.""
Damien released him.
I approached Corbin.
"Did you know my mother was alive?""
His expression changed.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
"You knew," I whispered.
He looked away.
"Your mother has always been good at disappearing.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because you weren't supposed to find her.""
I slapped him.
The sound echoed through the vault.
Nobody moved.
Corbin slowly turned his face back toward me.
"Careful, sister.""
"Don't call me that.""
His smile disappeared.
"You have no idea how much trouble you've caused.""
Damien stepped between us.
"Take him away.""
Two guards escorted Corbin upstairs.
Detective Harper watched them leave.
"Mr. Ashworth, you're coming with us.""
Damien nodded.
But before we followed the detectives, Shadow suddenly began pulling toward the staircase.
He was trembling.
"Easy, boy," I whispered.
He ignored me.
He sniffed the air and moved toward the exit, his nose almost touching the floor.
I followed.
Damien looked back.
"Where are you going?""
"Shadow knows something.""
The dog stopped beside the bank's rear entrance.
There, beneath a metal security camera, was a small black envelope.
My name was written across it.
I picked it up.
Inside was a photograph of my mother holding two babies.
On the back, someone had written:
If Briar wants the truth, she must come alone.
Below that was an address.
An abandoned church in Queens.
Damien took the photograph from my hand.
"You're not going.""
"She's my mother.""
"And someone has already tried to frame you for murder.""
"What if she's waiting for me?""
"Then we'll go together.""
I shook my head.
"She specifically said alone.""
Damien's eyes hardened.
"That doesn't matter.""
I looked at Shadow.
The dog was staring at the envelope.
Then he sniffed it and began whining.
I turned it over.
A faint smell of cedar lingered on the paper.
My mother's perfume.
I closed my eyes.
For six years, I'd dreamed of hearing her voice again.
Now I had a chance.
And I was terrified.
An hour later, Damien's security team surrounded the abandoned church.
I entered through the front door with Damien several steps behind me.
The building smelled of damp wood and old candle wax.
Sunlight slipped through broken stained-glass windows.
"Mom?""
My voice echoed.
Nothing.
Then a floorboard creaked upstairs.
I climbed the narrow staircase.
At the top, a woman stood beside a broken window.
Her back was turned.
Dark hair fell over her shoulders.
"Mom?""
The woman slowly turned.
Her green eyes filled with tears.
"Briar.""
I couldn't breathe.
It was her.
Older. Thinner. A small scar across her cheek that I didn't remember.
But it was her.
I rushed forward.
She caught me in her arms.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
I buried my face against her shoulder.
"You're alive.""
She held me tighter.
"I'm so sorry, sweetheart.""
I pulled away.
"Six years. You let me believe you were dead for six years!""
"I had to.""
"No! You didn't have to leave me!""
She reached for my face.
I stepped backward.
"Who told me you died?""
Her eyes moved toward the staircase.
"Damien.""
My stomach dropped.
"What?""
"Ask him what happened the night I disappeared.""
A voice came from behind us.
"Elena, don't.""
Damien stood in the doorway.
My mother went pale.
Then she whispered something that made my entire body go cold.
"Why did you bring him here, Briar?""
I turned toward Damien.
He looked devastated.
May you like
My mother stepped behind me.
"Because Damien Ashworth is the reason I spent six years hiding from my own children.""
