Chapter 10 - WHAT LENA REMEMBERED
Mara held the phone without speaking.
Across the table, Elias began tracing the call.
Lena’s breathing trembled.
“I did not mean for Gabriel to die.”
“Where are you?”
“I cannot tell you.”
“Then tell me what happened.”
“Bring the seal.”
“Tell me first.”
Lena whispered something to someone beside her.
A door closed in the background.
Then her voice became clearer.
“Your father found evidence that Beatrice was protecting a trafficking network.”
“I know.”
“He planned to go to the federal authorities.”
“I know that too.”
“He wanted me to testify.”
Mara looked toward Sebastian.
Sebastian lowered his eyes.
“I was afraid,” Lena continued.
“Beatrice knew where you went to school.”
“She threatened me?”
“She threatened everyone.”
“That does not explain Dad’s death.”
“I changed the route in his navigation system.”
“Why?”
“Beatrice said men would stop him and take the evidence.”
“You sent him toward the highway barrier.”
“I sent him toward the freight terminal.”
Lena’s voice cracked.
“I did not know they had damaged his brakes.”
Mara felt no anger at first.
Only emptiness.
“Who damaged them?”
“Julian.”
Elias looked up.
The trace was moving through multiple internal networks.
“He was young,” Lena said.
“He worked for Beatrice.”
“He killed my father and then attended the funeral.”
“Yes.”
“He married me.”
“Yes.”
“You allowed it.”
“I was already gone.”
“You were watching.”
Lena began sobbing.
“I believed he would protect you if he loved you.”
“He did not love me.”
“I know that now.”
Mara’s voice hardened.
“You knew it years ago.”
“I tried to contact you.”
“When?”
“Three years after the wedding.”
Mara remembered receiving an unsigned letter.
LEAVE JULIAN BEFORE HE BURIES YOU BESIDE YOUR FATHER.
Julian had found it in her desk.
He told her a disturbed former employee was harassing them.
Mara had believed him.
“Why are you helping Beatrice now?”
“I am not helping her.”
“I saw you beside her.”
“I am keeping Julian alive.”
“Why?”
“Because he knows where Beatrice moved the original collection.”
Mara looked at Sebastian.
“The paintings listed in the recording were not all of them.”
“No.”
“How many?”
“Forty-eight.”
The number stunned the room.
Forty-eight masterpieces had been replaced by forgeries.
The public museum was displaying shadows.
The real works had been hidden, sold, or used as collateral.
“Beatrice plans to transfer the land tonight,” Lena said.
“She will destroy the museum afterward.”
“How?”
“She placed accelerants in the old restoration wing.”
Elias ended the trace.
“We have the location.”
He showed Mara the map.
The signal came from beneath the museum’s eastern gallery.
Lena heard him.
“You brought the police into the call.”
“I was inside a police station.”
“Beatrice will know.”
A sound came from the phone.
Metal striking stone.
Lena inhaled sharply.
Then Beatrice’s voice replaced hers.
“You always needed an audience, Mara.”
“Let Julian go.”
“Bring the seal.”
“You do not need Julian.”
“I do not need him alive.”
Mara looked toward Elias.
He was already signaling officers toward the door.
“Where is my mother?”
“Standing exactly where she stood the night Gabriel died.”
A scream sounded in the distance.
The call ended.
Elias ordered every available unit toward Halcyon.
Amelia caught Mara’s arm.
“You are not going.”
“Yes.”
“You heard Beatrice.”
“I also heard my mother.”
“You cannot save everyone.”
Mara looked down at the silver clasp.
For years, Julian had used her loyalty as a weapon.
Beatrice was trying to do the same.
Mara removed the clasp from the bag.
She handed the empty purse to Amelia.
Then she closed her fist around Gabriel’s seal.
“I am not going to save Julian.”
Amelia released her.
“What are you going to do?”
“I am going to make him testify.”
They reached the museum eleven minutes later.
May you like
Smoke was already rising above the eastern roof.
Beatrice had started the fire early.
