Chapter 9 - THE LAST LIE
The investigation moved quickly after the senator's fundraiser.
The ledger matched bank records. The recording connected Victor Sloane to the payments. The original highway camera logs showed a second vehicle following Lucia's car on the night of the accident.
Victor was arrested at a private airfield outside the city.
Cameron was detained for questioning.
But my mother was still missing.
For three days, I heard nothing.
I stayed at the Meridian, though I barely slept. Dante gave me space. He never demanded that I spend time with him or explain my feelings.
On the fourth morning, a message arrived.
UNKNOWN NUMBER:
Come alone to the old greenhouse on Sheridan Road. If you want to see your mother.
I showed it to Gabriel.
He immediately shook his head.
“Absolutely not.”
“I'm not going alone.”
“You're not going at all.”
Dante entered the room.
“What happened?”
I handed him the phone.
He read the message.
“It's a trap.”
“Maybe.”
“Definitely.”
I folded my arms.
“If it's my mother, I need to know.”
Dante looked at Gabriel.
“Prepare the team.”
The greenhouse stood behind an abandoned estate.
The glass roof was cracked. Vines had grown through the metal frames, and the old path was covered in weeds.
A woman stood near the center.
Red hair.
Navy coat.
A small scar beneath her chin.
My mother.
I stopped.
She turned.
“Nora.”
I wanted to run to her.
I wanted to slap her.
I wanted to ask why.
Instead, I stood completely still.
“Hello, Mom.”
Her eyes filled.
“You look so much like yourself.”
“Do you know how long I've waited to hear you say that?”
She took a step.
I didn't move.
“I'm sorry.”
“You don't get to fix seven years with two words.”
“I know.”
“Why did you leave me?”
“Because Victor threatened you.”
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“Because he had people watching you. I believed that if you thought I was dead, you'd stop looking.”
“I wasn't looking. I was grieving.”
My mother covered her mouth.
“I know.”
“Did you know Cameron was dating me?”
“I knew he had approached you. I didn't know how far he had gone.”
“Did you let it happen?”
“No.”
“Did you try to stop him?”
She hesitated.
That hesitation hurt more than any answer.
“I sent warnings,” she said. “I tried to reach you through people I trusted. But Cameron intercepted them.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Of course he did.”
My mother reached into her coat.
“I brought something.”
She held out a small envelope.
Inside was a photograph of Lucia with my mother and a younger Dante.
On the back was a note:
THE TRUTH IS NOT THE SAME AS JUSTICE.
My mother looked at me.
“Lucia knew her father was involved. She also knew Dante would be tempted to destroy everyone responsible. She wanted him to choose something different.”
I glanced toward Dante.
He stood a few feet away, listening.
My mother continued.
“Victor arranged the accident. Richard Hale paid for the cover-up. But Dante's father signed the original authorization for the shipment that put Lucia in danger.”
Dante's face became still.
“Are you certain?”
My mother nodded.
“I saw the document.”
“Where is it?”
“Destroyed.”
“Then how can you prove it?”
She looked at me.
“Because I kept the original carbon copy.”
She reached into her bag and handed it to Dante.
He examined the page.
His father's signature was at the bottom.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he looked at my mother.
“Why didn't you tell me six years ago?”
“Because I was afraid you would become your father.”
Dante lowered the document.
“I almost did.”
My mother looked at me.
“I know I don't deserve forgiveness.”
“No,” I said. “You don't get to decide that.”
She nodded.
I took a breath.
“But I want to know you. If you're willing to tell me the truth, even when it's ugly.”
Tears slid down her face.
“I am.”
I did not hug her.
May you like
Not yet.
But I did not walk away.
