Chapter 12 - THE LAST PERSON IN THE PHOTOGRAPH
Nora couldn't stop staring at the photograph.
Her father's face was unmistakable.
Alive.
Standing beside David.
Beside Claire.
And Julian.
All four were looking directly into the camera.
“What is this?”
Julian swallowed.
“The last photograph anyone has.”
“Where was it taken?”
“Chicago.”
“When?”
“Three months after your father was declared dead.”
Nora looked at the date again.
“Who took it?”
“David.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why keep it?”
“Because Claire gave it to me.”
Nora's voice became quiet.
“Why?”
“She said one day you would need it.”
Nora looked at the photograph.
There was something strange.
A reflection in the window behind them.
A fifth person.
Nora zoomed in.
“Who is that?”
Julian looked.
His expression changed.
“I don't know.”
“Look.”
He stared.
The reflection showed a woman.
Dark hair.
A pale face.
A familiar posture.
Nora whispered:
“Claire?”
Julian shook his head.
“No.”
“Then who?”
Before he could answer, Sienna called.
Nora answered.
“I found the account.”
“Whose?”
“The one you asked me about.”
“Who owns it?”
“That's the problem.”
“What?”
“It doesn't belong to Claire.”
Nora frowned.
“Then who?”
Sienna hesitated.
“It belongs to Nora Bennett.”
Nora went completely still.
“That’s impossible.”
“That's what I thought.”
“When was it created?”
Sienna checked the file.
“Twenty-three years ago.”
Nora's eyes widened.
“I was twelve.”
“I know.”
“Who opened it?”
“There’s no signature.”
“Then how?”
Sienna's voice dropped.
“Nora, there’s another problem.”
“What?”
“The account was accessed last night.”
“By whom?”
“I don't know.”
Nora looked at Julian.
He was staring at the photograph.
Then he whispered:
“Someone knows we found it.”
Nora heard a sound outside.
A car engine.
She looked through the window.
A black SUV was parked at the end of the driveway.
No license plate was visible.
The vehicle remained there for several seconds.
Then it drove away.
May you like
Nora turned back.
Julian was gone.
