Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH
I had spent eleven years believing my mother abandoned me.
Her name was Elena Cole.
She was beautiful, restless, and always looking over her shoulder.
When I was nine, she taught me how to remember license plates.
When I was ten, she taught me how to identify exits.
When I was eleven, she taught me never to accept drinks from strangers.
At twelve, I lost my father.
At thirteen, I lost her.
And by fourteen, I had learned not to expect anyone to stay.
Now Christian Vance was telling me she might have disappeared because of something she knew.
"Where is she?" I asked.
Christian shook his head.
"I don't know."
"Then why show me this?"
"Because someone has been searching for her."
My heart pounded.
"Who?"
"Victoria Sterling."
I stared.
Christian continued.
"Six months ago, Victoria asked my security team to investigate a woman named Elena Cole."
"Why?"
"She claimed Elena had stolen money from her father's foundation."
I laughed bitterly.
"My mother barely had enough money for groceries."
Christian's expression darkened.
"That's what made the allegation suspicious."
He opened a folder.
Inside were photographs.
Bank statements.
Copies of old shipping manifests.
And a newspaper clipping about the warehouse accident that killed my father.
Christian pointed to the article.
"The official report blamed structural failure."
I nodded.
"But the insurance investigation found evidence of tampering."
My stomach turned.
"Then why wasn't anyone charged?"
"Because the evidence disappeared."
I stared.
Christian continued.
"Your father's employer closed three months later. The witnesses changed their statements. And the detective assigned to the case retired suddenly."
I felt cold.
"Someone covered it up."
"Yes."
"Who?"
Christian looked at me.
"That's what we're going to find out."
I shook my head.
"We?"
He leaned forward.
"Maya, you saved my life."
"That doesn't make me your partner."
"No."
His voice softened.
"But it means I owe you the truth."
For a moment, I wanted to believe him.
Then I remembered the armed men at the Obsidian Club.
The poisoned wine.
Victoria's smile.
"Your world gets people killed," I whispered.
Christian didn't argue.
"You're right."
That surprised me.
He continued.
"I've spent years believing I could control it."
I looked at him.
"And now?"
He glanced toward the photograph of my parents.
"Now I think I've been controlling the wrong things."
A knock sounded.
Gabriel entered.
"Boss. We found Victoria's car."
Christian stood.
"Where?"
"Queens."
"Was she inside?"
Gabriel shook his head.
"No."
He looked at me.
"But someone else was."
My stomach tightened.
"Who?"
Gabriel held out a photograph.
A woman sat unconscious in the back seat of a black sedan.
Dark hair streaked with gray.
A familiar scar above her left eyebrow.
I covered my mouth.
"No."
Christian looked at me.
"Maya?"
Tears filled my eyes.
Because I knew that face.
Even after eleven years.
May you like
Even after believing I'd never see it again.
"My mother."
