Chapter 5 - The Woman in the Photograph
The wedding had stopped being a wedding.
Nobody cared about the ceremony anymore.
Nora sat in the small chapel office with the photograph in her hand.
Julian stood beside her.
David remained near the door.
Daniel sat across from them.
Charles was gone.
He had left the chapel without saying another word.
Nora looked at the photograph again.
The woman stood beside Daniel.
Young.
Dark hair.
A familiar smile.
She had seen that smile before.
But where?
Then she realized.
Her grandmother's old albums.
Nora looked at Julian.
I know her.
Julian said nothing.
David leaned forward.
Who?
Nora whispered.
My aunt.
David's eyes narrowed.
You have an aunt?
Nora shook her head.
Not anymore.
She died before I was born.
Daniel looked at David.
That is not true.
Nora stared at him.
What do you mean?
Daniel said quietly.
She was alive the last time I saw her.
Then where is she?
Daniel looked toward the window.
I don't know.
Nora felt cold.
Her family had always told her that her aunt had died in an accident.
But now every certainty seemed to be collapsing.
Julian sat beside her.
Nora, there is something else.
She looked at him.
What?
I found your aunt's name in the same records.
Her name was Eleanor Montgomery.
Nora's breathing stopped.
Eleanor had always been described as unstable.
A woman who had abandoned the family.
A woman Charles never wanted discussed.
But the photograph showed something different.
She had been standing beside Daniel.
And she had been smiling.
Why would my father lie about her?
Daniel answered.
Because Eleanor knew what we were doing.
What were you doing?
Daniel hesitated.
Trying to expose Charles.
Nora stood.
My father committed a crime?
Daniel looked at her.
Your father did more than one thing.
Then tell me everything.
I can't.
Why?
Because the person who helped us is still alive.
Nora stared at him.
Who?
Daniel reached into his coat.
He removed a second photograph.
This one was newer.
Much newer.
Nora looked down.
It showed a house.
A woman stood on the porch.
Older now.
But unmistakable.
Eleanor.
Nora's aunt.
The woman everyone said had died before Nora was born.
Nora's hands began to shake.
Where is she?
Daniel looked at David.
David said quietly.
We found her three days ago.
Nora whispered.
Where?
David did not answer.
Instead, he looked at Julian.
Julian stood.
We need to leave.
Nora frowned.
Why?
Julian looked toward the chapel doors.
May you like
Because your father just called someone.
And whoever he called is already here.
