Chapter 19 - The Last Betrayal|
Raymond had been with the Ellery family for seventeen years.
He had protected Marcus's father, managed the security team, and helped Marcus rebuild the company after Evelyn's accident.
He had also been the person responsible for preserving the original footage.
Now Norah understood why so much information had disappeared.
Marcus summoned him to the estate.
Raymond entered the office calmly.
"Sir?"
Marcus placed the photograph on the desk.
"Do you know what this is?"
Raymond looked at it.
"Yes."
"Where was it taken?"
"At the charity gala last spring."
"Who are you standing beside?"
"Richard Voss."
Marcus stood.
"Why?"
Raymond remained silent.
"Answer me."
"I was working for him."
The admission was so casual that Marcus almost laughed.
"How long?"
"Since before Evelyn's accident."
"Why?"
Raymond looked toward the window.
"Your father owed Voss money. Your family business was already compromised. I was offered a position protecting the operation."
"You helped them follow my wife?"
"I helped arrange security."
"Did you know what Peter intended to do?"
Raymond hesitated.
"Yes."
Marcus moved around the desk.
"Did you know Evelyn survived?"
"Yes."
Marcus's expression changed.
"Where is she?"
"I don't know."
Norah entered the office.
"You're lying."
Raymond looked at her.
"You should stay out of this."
"That's what everyone told me when I first arrived here."
She placed a small recording device on the desk.
"We have your conversation with Peter."
Raymond's face hardened.
Norah continued.
"You weren't simply protecting the family. You were protecting Voss."
Raymond reached toward the desk.
Marcus grabbed his wrist.
"Don't."
For several seconds, the two men struggled.
Then Raymond pulled away and ran toward the hallway.
Security officers intercepted him at the entrance.
He was arrested before he reached the driveway.
His phone contained messages connecting him to Voss and several payments made through the security company.
But the most important message was dated three days earlier.
It contained an address.
A small house in Vermont.
The place where Evelyn had been hiding.
Marcus and Norah left immediately with federal protection.
When they arrived, the house was empty.
The curtains moved gently in the wind.
A cup of tea sat on the kitchen table.
And beside it was a child's drawing.
Lily.
Norah picked it up.
The drawing showed a woman holding a little girl's hand.
Above them, Lily had written:
Mommy is coming home.
Marcus found a note beneath the drawing.
It was written by Evelyn.
Marcus, if you're reading this, I know you've finally discovered the truth. I wanted to come home. I wanted to see Lily. But I needed to know that the people who hurt us could never reach her again.
At the bottom was a location.
A small church outside Burlington.
Marcus looked at Norah.
"She's there."
They drove through the night.
At dawn, they entered the church.
A woman stood near the altar.
She wore a gray coat.
Her hair was shorter.
But when she turned, Marcus recognized the face he had spent a year believing he would never see again.
"Evelyn."
She looked at him.
Then she began to cry.
Marcus crossed the room.
He stopped a few feet away.
For once, he didn't reach for her without permission.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
Evelyn looked at him.
"So am I."
Then Norah stepped forward.
"There's someone waiting for you."
Evelyn's hands began trembling.
"Lily?"
May you like
Norah nodded.
"She's ready."
