Chapter 11 - The Woman Who Knew Her Name
Emily did not go alone.
She told no one where she was going.
But she left the location on her phone so Callahan could find her.
The meeting place was a quiet café outside the city.
A woman sat in the corner.
She looked older than Emily expected.
Her hair was silver.
Her posture was rigid.
When Emily approached, the woman looked up.
“Emily.”
Emily stopped.
“How do you know my name?”
The woman smiled sadly.
“I knew your mother.”
“Who are you?”
“My name is Clara.”
Emily sat.
“What do you know about my mother?”
Clara looked around.
“She was investigating the company.”
“I know.”
“No. You don't.”
Clara pushed a photograph across the table.
It showed a young woman holding a little girl.
Emily stared.
The little girl was her.
And the woman was her mother.
Emily touched the photograph.
“Where was this taken?”
“Six months after everyone believed she had died.”
Emily's hands trembled.
“She was alive.”
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
Clara's expression changed.
“She was hiding.”
“From Eleanor?”
“From everyone.”
“Why?”
“Because she discovered the truth.”
“What truth?”
Clara leaned closer.
“Your mother learned that someone had been using your identity since you were a child.”
Emily froze.
“Why?”
“To move money.”
“Who?”
Clara looked toward the café entrance.
Then she whispered:
“Your father.”
Emily stood.
“That can't be true.”
Clara reached into her bag.
“He wasn't the mastermind.”
She placed another envelope on the table.
“He was trying to undo it.”
Emily opened it.
Inside was a copy of a letter.
Her father's handwriting.
Emily read the first line.
Then she stopped.
May you like
Because the letter began:
If anything happens to me, Emily must never learn what I did to protect her.
