Chapter 9 - THE WOMAN WHO LOOKED EXACTLY LIKE ELENA
By morning, Grace had contacted federal authorities.
Quietly.
Not through standard channels.
The directory implicated too many powerful families for casual disclosure.
Special Agent Marcus Hale arrived at St. Matthew's shortly after sunrise.
He reviewed the evidence inside a secure conference room.
"This becomes federal immediately," he said.
Julian objected.
"You'll trigger transfers."
Hale stared at him.
"They're already happening."
He placed his phone on the table.
A traffic camera image showed three medical transport vans leaving a Vesper-owned facility outside Albany at 3:42 a.m.
Destination unknown.
Julian cursed.
Elena asked, "Daniel?"
"We don't know who was inside."
"And my sister?"
"We don't know."
Serena sat nearby with counsel.
She had agreed to cooperate in exchange for consideration.
Hale questioned her about Calder.
She provided locations, account names and operational codes.
One code made Julian go still.
"Say that again."
Serena looked at him.
"Lighthouse."
Julian's face changed.
"Daniel used that word."
"When?"
"Last year. On the phone."
Elena leaned forward.
"What did he say?"
Julian closed his eyes, remembering.
"He said, 'If I disappear again, look for the lighthouse where there is no ocean.'"
Hale typed the phrase.
Serena whispered, "I know that place."
Everyone looked at her.
"It's not a lighthouse. It's a water tower."
"Where?"
"Pennsylvania. Vesper owns an old neurological rehabilitation campus outside Blackridge. There's a white water tower with rotating security lights. Employees call it the lighthouse."
Hale stood.
Within two hours, federal teams were heading toward Blackridge.
Elena insisted on going.
Hale refused.
"This isn't a movie. If the facility is occupied by armed security, you're staying here."
Elena hated him for being correct.
She remained in the hospital command room with Grace.
At 11:17 a.m., Hale called.
"We found the facility."
Elena gripped the phone.
"Daniel?"
"Give us time."
At 12:03, another call.
"There are twenty-two patients."
"Is one Daniel?"
"We're verifying identities."
At 12:41, Hale called again.
His voice sounded different.
"Mrs. Vance."
"Tell me."
"We found someone who says she's your sister."
Elena could not speak.
"She's alive?"
"Yes."
"What's her name?"
Hale paused.
"According to the facility, she's called Nora Lane."
Elena closed her eyes.
"Does she know who I am?"
"She knew your name before we told her."
Elena's entire body went cold.
"How?"
May you like
Hale did not answer immediately.
Then he said, "Because there are photographs of you covering one wall of her room."
