Chapter 8 - Eleanor's Promise
They escaped through the passage and emerged behind an old building several blocks from the chapel.
The veterans surrounded them.
David ordered everyone into two vehicles.
Nora remained frozen.
She could hear Charles's words in her mind.
Ask him what he promised Eleanor.
Julian approached.
Nora stepped back.
What did you promise her?
Julian looked down.
I promised I would find you.
Why?
Because she asked me to.
When?
Before I met you.
Nora's eyes widened.
How did she know me?
Because she knew you would eventually become the person who could expose everything.
Nora shook her head.
This makes no sense.
Julian looked at Daniel.
He nodded.
It is time.
Daniel walked toward Nora.
Eleanor contacted us six years ago.
Nora stared.
Six years?
We thought she was dead.
She wasn't.
Where is she?
Daniel hesitated.
She disappeared again.
Nora's heart sank.
Then what do we have?
A message.
David removed a small recorder from his pocket.
He pressed play.
A woman's voice filled the vehicle.
Nora.
Nora recognized it immediately.
Even though she had never heard it before.
Her aunt.
If you are hearing this, something has gone wrong.
Nora covered her mouth.
Eleanor continued.
Your father will tell you that I abandoned the family.
He will tell you I was unstable.
He will tell you that Daniel betrayed us.
None of those things are true.
The recording crackled.
There is something buried beneath the Montgomery name.
Something your father has spent twenty years protecting.
Nora looked at Daniel.
Eleanor continued.
But the worst part is not what Charles did.
It is what he believed he was protecting.
The recording stopped.
Nora stared at the device.
What does that mean?
Daniel shook his head.
We don't know.
Then why are we running?
Because Charles does.
David looked through the window.
A black SUV had appeared at the end of the street.
Everyone went silent.
Julian whispered.
They found us.
The vehicles accelerated.
Nora looked back through the rear window.
The SUV followed.
David's voice remained calm.
There is another safe location.
Nora asked.
Where?
David looked at Julian.
Julian answered.
The Bell family house.
Nora frowned.
I thought it burned down.
Julian shook his head.
That is what Charles wanted everyone to believe.
The SUV gained on them.
Then David noticed something.
A symbol painted on its windshield.
His expression changed.
Nora saw it.
What is that?
May you like
David whispered.
The same symbol we found in Eleanor's files.
