Chapter 10 - THE LAST PLACE ON THE LIST
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The old facility had been converted into a rehabilitation center.
The records indicated that Eleanor had been transferred there under another name, but the administrator refused to confirm anything without a formal request.
Holly sent the legal documents.
Marcus made a separate inquiry.
Nora waited in the car, staring at the entrance.
The building was surrounded by pine trees. A low stone wall bordered the parking lot. It looked peaceful, almost ordinary.
She hated it.
Places like this could hide terrible things behind clean windows and polite voices.
Marcus returned twenty minutes later.
“They have a record.”
Nora turned.
“Is she there?”
“Not anymore.”
Her heart dropped.
“When did she leave?”
“About eight months ago.”
“Where did she go?”
“The record says she was transferred to a private residence.”
“Which one?”
“There's no address. Only a company name.”
Marcus showed her the document.
Harborlight Care Services.
Nora recognized the name.
It was one of Breakwater's former vendors.
Her husband had paid the company for logistics services.
But it had no public office, no listed employees, and no actual business activity.
Holly leaned forward.
“Camden used a Breakwater subsidiary to pay for your mother's care?”
Marcus nodded.
“That's what it looks like.”
Nora stared at the document.
“He knew where she was.”
“Yes.”
“For years.”
Marcus did not answer.
Nora looked through the windshield.
She thought about Camden sitting beside her at their wedding.
Camden holding her hand when they signed their first mortgage.
Camden telling her he wanted children.
She remembered the first time she had asked him whether he wanted a daughter.
He had smiled and said, “If she's anything like you, I'll be lucky.”
Now she wondered whether he had been thinking about the trust.
Her phone rang.
Camden.
She answered.
“Where is my mother?”
Silence.
Then Camden said, “I don't know.”
“You paid for her care.”
“I paid for a service.”
“You visited her.”
His breathing changed.
“Who told you that?”
“Does it matter?”
“You need to stop.”
“Where is she?”
“I don't know where she is now.”
“But you knew where she was.”
He said nothing.
Nora's voice shook.
“Did she ask about me?”
A long silence.
Then Camden answered.
“Yes.”
Nora closed her eyes.
“How many times?”
“Every time I visited.”
“And what did you tell her?”
“That you were safe.”
“Did you tell her I was your wife?”
He didn't answer.
“Did you tell her I was carrying your child?”
Silence.
Nora began to cry.
“Did you tell her I believed she had abandoned me?”
Camden finally spoke.
“I thought it was better that way.”
Nora pulled the phone away from her ear.
Holly took it.
“Mr. Rourke, any further communication should go through counsel.”
She ended the call.
Nora stared at the care facility.
Her mother had been close enough to reach.
And Camden had made sure she never knew.
Then Marcus's phone rang.
He listened, and his expression changed.
“What happened?” Holly asked.
“Harborlight's registered owner has been identified.”
“Who?”
May you like
Marcus looked at Nora.
“Camden Rourke.”
