Chapter 11 - The Other Dead Girl
The bracelet belonged to a child named Emily Vale.
Age six.
The date printed on it was twenty-three years earlier.
Daniel searched available records while the funeral guests took their seats.
Emily Vale had been declared dead after a house fire. Her body was never recovered. Her father, Samuel Vale, had identified several personal items found in the ruins.
Victoria would have been six at the time.
Claire examined the bracelet.
“Emily and Victoria were the same age.”
Daniel nodded.
“You think Victoria was born under another name?” Arthur asked.
“More than that. I think Emily Vale never died.”
Eleanor looked through the choir room window at Victoria.
“She became Victoria.”
“Samuel may have changed her identity after the fire.”
“Why?”
“That is what the third video may explain.”
Chloe sat wrapped in Eleanor’s coat.
“Victoria has a mark on her back,” she said.
Everyone looked at her.
“What kind of mark?” Daniel asked.
“Like fire.”
Eleanor remembered seeing a scar above Victoria’s dress during a summer event.
A burn.
Daniel photographed Emily’s bracelet.
“This could connect her to an identity fraud network going back decades.”
Claire watched the funeral hall.
“Why carry the bracelet inside Chloe’s casket?”
“Insurance,” Eleanor said. “If Victoria needed to disappear, the tunnel would deliver her to another identity.”
Daniel considered this.
“The silver box may contain the documents she needs.”
They opened the remaining compartments.
Inside were passports bearing Victoria’s photograph under three different names, currency, diamonds, and a list of locations.
One address was circled.
Saint Catherine’s Hospital, East Wing, Room E-17.
The room with no windows.
Daniel contacted Agent Vance.
Her team had reached the city and was approaching the hospital.
“Do not enter E-17 until I arrive,” Daniel told her.
“We have probable cause.”
“You may also have an explosive device.”
“What makes you think that?”
“Because Victoria destroys evidence before she abandons it.”
In the funeral hall, the minister began the service.
Julian sat rigidly in the front row.
Victoria leaned close to him.
“Your mother is late.”
“She will come.”
“And Chloe?”
“In the casket.”
Victoria watched his face.
“You checked?”
Julian did not answer.
Her eyes narrowed.
“You did not check.”
“She was sedated.”
“Open it.”
“Now?”
“Yes.”
“Everyone is watching.”
“Pretend you need a final moment.”
Julian stood.
In the choir room, Eleanor saw him approach the casket.
“We have to move,” Daniel said.
“Not yet.”
“If he opens it, they will know.”
Eleanor watched her son.
Julian placed both hands on the lid.
Then he stopped.
He looked toward Victoria.
“No.”
Her face hardened.
“What?”
“I said no.”
Julian turned toward the mourners.
“There is something I need to say.”
The minister stepped aside.
Victoria rose slowly.
Julian’s voice shook.
“My daughter did not die naturally.”
Gasps moved through the hall.
Eleanor stared through the window.
Julian continued.
“She was drugged.”
Victoria walked toward him.
“Julian, grief is confusing you.”
He backed away from her.
“Victoria and Dr. Keller created a false death certificate.”
The rear doors opened.
Captain Reeves entered.
He had escaped custody.
Blood stained the side of his face, and he held a gun beneath his coat.
Daniel cursed.
“How did he get free?”
One of the estate guards had betrayed them.
Reeves moved toward Julian through the seated crowd.
Victoria smiled faintly.
Julian saw him.
His confession stopped.
Victoria reached the casket.
“Open it,” she ordered.
Julian looked toward the choir room.
For the first time, Eleanor realized he knew exactly where she was.
He had seen her reflection in the glass.
“Mother,” he said.
Every head turned.
Eleanor opened the choir room door.
She entered the hall holding Chloe’s hand.
The room erupted.
Victoria stared at the child.
Her face lost all expression.
Chloe clung to Eleanor but continued walking.
Julian began to cry.
“Chloe.”
She looked at him.
“You put me in the box.”
He lowered his head.
“Yes.”
“You gave me the medicine.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Julian had no answer large enough for the question.
Victoria reached into her handbag.
Daniel moved.
Reeves drew his pistol.
Two shots exploded.
The first struck the ceiling.
The second struck Julian in the chest.
He fell beside the casket.
Guests screamed and scattered.
Daniel tackled Reeves.
Victoria seized Chloe.
Eleanor caught Victoria’s wrist.
They struggled beside the flowers.
“Let her go!”
Victoria pulled a small blade from her sleeve.
Before she could use it, Chloe bit her hand.
Victoria screamed.
Eleanor struck her across the face and dragged Chloe free.
Federal agents entered through every door.
Agent Vance aimed her weapon at Victoria.
“On the floor!”
Victoria looked toward Julian, bleeding beside the casket.
Then she smiled.
“You still think he is the worst person in this room.”
She dropped the blade.
Agents handcuffed her.
Paramedics rushed to Julian.
Eleanor knelt beside him.
His breathing came in wet gasps.
“Mother,” he whispered.
“Do not speak.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Save your strength.”
“Sophie’s third video.”
“Where is it?”
Julian’s eyes moved toward Chloe.
“She knows.”
Chloe shook her head.
“No, I don’t.”
Julian reached toward her, but his hand fell.
“The song,” he whispered. “Sophie’s song.”
Then his eyes closed.
The paramedics lifted him onto a stretcher.
Eleanor rose.
Victoria watched from across the hall.
“Ask Chloe to sing it,” she said.
Eleanor looked at her.
May you like
Victoria’s smile widened.
“But be careful where you play the final note.”
