Chapter 37 - Elena’s Missing HourElena did not run.
She arrived at the house by the sea that evening and placed her phone on the table.
“I did not purchase the clinic.”
“The system says you accessed Adrian’s office,” Marcus said.
“I was in court.”
“There is a missing hour in your calendar.”
Elena looked at Victor.
“Three months ago, I woke in my car outside Northbridge. I thought I had fallen asleep.”
Mara checked behind Elena’s ear.
A small scar hid beneath her hair.
Elena closed her eyes.
“I am Orchard.”
The registry contained no record under her name.
But Celeste remembered Elias referring to a legal replacement designed to control investigations.
Elena may have been conditioned to perform specific tasks without remembering them.
“Daniel activated you,” Victor said.
“He may still be able to.”
Elena asked Marcus to restrain her.
Victor refused.
“We do not put innocent people in cages because someone used them.”
“You have children to protect.”
“And that is exactly what August said whenever he removed someone’s freedom.”
They created a false plan.
Elena would appear to bring Celeste to Orchard House.
Marcus’s team would follow at a distance.
The real Celeste remained with Ethan and Noah.
Mara took her place.
Before leaving, Elena handed Victor a sealed letter.
“Open it if I do not return.”
At Orchard House, Daniel waited in a glass atrium.
Samuel stood beside him.
Elena entered with Mara.
Daniel immediately knew.
“You brought the wrong Celeste.”
Mara removed her coat.
“There was never a right one.”
Daniel pressed a remote.
Elena stopped moving.
Her face became blank.
She turned toward Mara and raised a pistol.
Daniel gave one order.
“Finish what you were made to do.”
Elena aimed.
Then she fired through the glass wall behind Daniel.
Marcus’s team entered.
May you like
Elena smiled faintly.
“I remembered the missing hour.”
