Chapter 14 - THE MAN WHO SOLD HER TWICE
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Nora spent the night at the Whitmore estate.
She could not bear to return to the hotel.
She could not bear the thought of Camden's apartment.
Instead, she sat in the blue room with her mother's notebook open on the desk.
Every page felt like another betrayal.
At sunrise, Marcus arrived with new information.
“The transfer records point to a facility in New Hampshire. It closed six years ago.”
“Can we find the patients?”
“Some. The records were moved to a storage company.”
Holly entered carrying coffee.
“We also received a response from the district attorney.”
Nora looked up.
“What did they say?”
“They're opening a preliminary investigation into the forged corporate filings and possible unlawful confinement.”
Nora nodded.
“Good.”
Marcus placed another file on the desk.
“There's something else. Camden's uncle, Gideon Rourke, was involved in a company that paid Arthur Pike.”
“Is Gideon alive?”
“Yes. He lives outside Boston.”
Nora stared at the file.
“Then I want to speak to him.”
Holly shook her head.
“Not without a subpoena or formal interview.”
“Then get one.”
That afternoon, the district attorney's office contacted Gideon.
He agreed to an interview.
But before it could happen, Camden called Nora.
She almost declined.
Then she answered.
“What?”
“Please don't speak to my uncle.”
Nora's stomach tightened.
“Why?”
“He's not well. He'll tell you anything.”
“Is that what he told my mother?”
Silence.
“Camden, did you know where she was kept?”
“I was young.”
“You were twenty-five.”
“I was trying to get ahead. Gideon told me he could help me build a company.”
“And he used my family.”
“He said your mother had stolen money.”
“Did she?”
“No.”
“Then why did you help him?”
Camden exhaled.
“I thought if I cooperated, he would let her go.”
Nora's grip tightened.
“You knew she was alive.”
“For a while.”
“How long?”
“I don't remember.”
“Try.”
“Years.”
The word landed like a blow.
Nora closed her eyes.
Years.
Her mother had been alive for years, and Camden had known.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I loved you.”
“You married me.”
“Yes.”
“You built a company using my name and my family's money.”
“I built that company for us.”
“You removed me from the records.”
“I was protecting the business.”
“You watched my mother disappear.”
Camden's voice cracked.
“I was trying to survive.”
Nora stared at the wall.
“You sold her twice.”
“What?”
“You sold her silence to your uncle. Then you sold me a marriage and called it love.”
“Nora—”
“Don't call me again.”
She ended the call.
Then she looked at Holly.
“I want the district attorney to know he just admitted he knew my mother was alive.”
Holly nodded.
“We'll preserve the call records and document the conversation.”
Nora placed a hand over her stomach.
The baby kicked.
May you like
She whispered, “We're getting closer.”
But she did not yet know that Camden had already begun planning his next move.
