Chapter 7 — The Woman Who Knew Too Much
Chapter 7 — The Woman Who Knew Too Much
The first bullet struck the wooden pillar above Marcus's head.
Splinters exploded across the warehouse.
“DOWN!”
Thomas's warning came a fraction of a second before the second shot.
Marcus dropped behind the steel table.
David pulled Evelyn behind a concrete support column.
For several seconds, the warehouse became nothing but gunfire, shouting, and the sharp crash of breaking glass.
Marcus's heart hammered.
Not because he was afraid for himself.
Because Khloe was somewhere out there.
Pregnant.
Alone.
Waiting for him.
He reached for his phone.
No signal.
Of course.
They had planned everything.
The lights.
The cameras.
The communications.
Even the location.
Marcus looked toward Thomas.
“Who are they?”
Thomas pressed one hand against his bleeding shoulder.
“The people who don't want that ledger found.”
“That's not an answer.”
“It is the only answer that matters right now.”
Another bullet struck the floor.
Thomas ducked.
“We have maybe two minutes.”
David looked at him.
“There's a service tunnel beneath the building.”
Thomas nodded.
“Still open?”
“It should be.”
Marcus looked toward his mother.
“Can she walk?”
Evelyn pushed herself upright.
“Yes.”
She looked at Marcus.
“Go.”
He stared at her.
“I'm not leaving you.”
“You don't have a choice.”
“You disappeared for twelve years.”
“I know.”
“You lied to me.”
“I know.”
“You let me believe you were dead.”
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“I know.”
She stepped closer.
“But I never stopped being your mother.”
Marcus's anger faltered.
Only for a moment.
Then Thomas shouted:
“MOVE!”
They ran.
The service tunnel was narrow and cold.
Water dripped from the ceiling.
Old pipes ran along the walls.
Marcus stayed behind Evelyn while David led them forward.
Thomas followed, one hand pressed against his shoulder.
“Are you going to make it?” Marcus asked.
“I've survived worse.”
“That isn't what I asked.”
Thomas gave him a tired smile.
“I'll make it.”
They reached a metal door.
David pulled it open.
A staircase led upward.
Marcus climbed first.
He pushed through the hatch.
They emerged behind an abandoned loading dock.
Rain poured over the asphalt.
A black SUV waited nearby.
Marcus stared.
“Whose?”
Evelyn answered.
“Mine.”
He looked at her.
“You have a car?”
“I've had twelve years to prepare.”
Marcus almost laughed.
Almost.
Then his phone vibrated.
A message.
THIRTEEN MINUTES.
He stared at the screen.
Another message arrived.
THE CEMETERY. ALONE.
Marcus showed David.
David shook his head.
“They want you separated.”
“I know.”
“Then don't go.”
Marcus looked at him.
“They have Khloe.”
“I know.”
“Then I'm going.”
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Take me.”
Marcus stared.
“They expect you to come alone.”
“Exactly.”
David's eyes narrowed.
“You're not going to sacrifice yourself.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“I've already sacrificed twelve years.”
Silence.
Then she turned to Marcus.
“Let me finish what I started.”
The cemetery was almost empty.
Rain covered the stone paths.
Fog hung low over the ground.
Marcus walked between the graves.
He had been here before.
Many times.
He remembered standing beside his mother's grave as a teenager.
Crying.
Angry.
Begging God to give him one more conversation.
One more hug.
One more chance to tell her he loved her.
Now he knew the grave had been a lie.
He reached the stone.
EVELYN THORNE
His fingers touched the wet marble.
A hidden panel opened beneath the stone.
Inside was a small metal box.
Marcus pulled it out.
His heart raced.
The ledger.
He opened the box.
Nothing.
Only a folded photograph.
Marcus unfolded it.
It showed Evelyn.
Daniel Parker.
And Isabella.
All three standing together.
The date was twelve years earlier.
On the back was a sentence:
SHE KNOWS TOO MUCH.
Marcus heard footsteps behind him.
He turned.
Evelyn stood there.
“You found it.”
Marcus held up the photograph.
“You.”
Evelyn looked at it.
“Yes.”
“You knew Isabella before all of this.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Evelyn took a breath.
“Because Isabella was my informant.”
Marcus stared.
“What?”
“She worked for David.”
“That makes no sense.”
“She worked for him publicly.”
Evelyn's voice trembled.
“But secretly, she worked for me.”
Marcus looked at the photograph again.
“So she was spying on David.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did she attack Khloe?”
Evelyn's face hardened.
“Because Isabella changed sides.”
“When?”
“Years ago.”
“Why?”
“Because someone threatened her family.”
Marcus stepped closer.
“Who?”
Evelyn looked around.
“The Blackwell Group.”
Marcus's expression darkened.
“They've been manipulating everyone.”
“Yes.”
“Isabella betrayed you.”
“Yes.”
“She betrayed my father.”
“Yes.”
“She betrayed Khloe.”
“Yes.”
Marcus's voice cracked.
“Then why did you protect her?”
Evelyn looked at him.
“Because I knew what she was afraid of.”
“What?”
“Her daughter.”
Marcus froze.
“Isabella has a daughter?”
Evelyn nodded.
“She was six months old when Isabella joined us.”
“Where is she now?”
Evelyn looked away.
“I don't know.”
Marcus stared.
“You're telling me Isabella has been working for them because they have her daughter?”
“Yes.”
“And you couldn't find her?”
“I tried.”
“For twelve years?”
“Yes.”
Marcus shook his head.
“That doesn't excuse what she did.”
“No.”
Evelyn's voice was quiet.
“But it explains why she became desperate.”
Marcus looked down at the photograph.
“Where is the ledger?”
Evelyn didn't answer.
“Mom.”
She looked at him.
“The ledger isn't here.”
“What?”
“I moved it.”
“When?”
“Three years ago.”
Marcus's frustration erupted.
“Then why did you send me here?”
“Because I needed to know if they were watching you.”
Marcus stared.
“They were.”
“Yes.”
A voice came from behind them.
“You were right.”
Marcus turned.
Isabella stood beneath an umbrella.
Alone.
No guards.
No weapon visible.
Her face was pale.
Her eyes were swollen from crying.
Marcus's voice became cold.
“Where is Khloe?”
“Alive.”
“Where?”
“I can take you to her.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“You shouldn't.”
Isabella lowered the umbrella.
Rain ran down her hair.
“I've lied too many times.”
Marcus stepped toward her.
“Then tell me the truth.”
Isabella looked at Evelyn.
“She knows.”
Evelyn's expression hardened.
“Tell him.”
Isabella closed her eyes.
“I have a daughter.”
Marcus said nothing.
“Her name is Sofia.”
“How old?”
“Eighteen.”
Marcus stared.
“Eighteen?”
“She was born six months before I met your mother.”
“Where is she?”
“I don't know.”
“Then how do you know she's alive?”
Isabella's lips trembled.
“Because they send me photographs.”
She pulled out her phone.
The first photograph showed a little girl.
The second showed the same girl as a teenager.
The third showed a young woman.
Marcus looked at the latest image.
The girl stood outside a school.
Alive.
Healthy.
Terrified.
Isabella whispered:
“They told me if I disobeyed, she would disappear.”
Marcus looked at her.
“So you hurt Khloe.”
“I tried to frighten her.”
“You nearly killed her.”
“I know.”
“You lied to me.”
“I know.”
“You helped take her.”
Isabella nodded.
“Yes.”
Marcus's voice became deadly quiet.
“Then why are you here?”
Isabella looked toward Evelyn.
“Because they just told me something.”
“What?”
“They don't need me anymore.”
Silence.
Marcus understood.
“They're going to kill your daughter.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she knows something.”
Evelyn stepped closer.
“What does she know?”
Isabella looked at her.
“She found the ledger.”
Marcus's heart stopped.
“Where?”
Isabella shook her head.
“She doesn't have it.”
“Then what does she have?”
“A recording.”
“What recording?”
Isabella looked at Marcus.
“The night your father died.”
The rain seemed to stop.
Marcus stared.
“My father died of a heart attack.”
Isabella shook her head.
“No.”
His voice dropped.
“Then how did he die?”
Isabella looked directly into his eyes.
“He was murdered.”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Marcus turned toward her.
“You knew.”
She whispered:
“Yes.”
“You knew my father was murdered.”
“I knew.”
“And you still let me believe he died naturally.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
Marcus stepped back.
His eyes filled with tears.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
He laughed bitterly.
“Protect me.”
He looked at Evelyn.
“From the truth?”
She couldn't answer.
Isabella spoke.
“Your father wasn't killed because of the money.”
Marcus turned.
“Then why?”
“Because he refused to tell them where the ledger was.”
“Who killed him?”
Isabella's face went pale.
“I don't know.”
“You know.”
“I know who ordered it.”
“Who?”
Isabella hesitated.
Then whispered:
“David Sterling.”
Marcus froze.
Evelyn looked at her sharply.
“No.”
Isabella turned toward her.
“You know I'm telling the truth.”
David's voice suddenly came from the darkness.
“She's lying.”
Marcus spun around.
David stood between the cemetery gates.
His face was expressionless.
Marcus stared.
“You followed us.”
David slowly approached.
“I came to stop this.”
“Stop what?”
“The lies.”
Isabella stepped backward.
David looked at her.
“You should have stayed quiet.”
Marcus moved between them.
“Don't.”
David stopped.
Marcus's voice was shaking.
“Tell me the truth.”
David looked at him.
“I loved your father.”
“Did you kill him?”
“No.”
“Did you order his death?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
David's eyes moved toward Isabella.
“She knows.”
Isabella shook her head.
“No.”
David said:
“She was there.”
Marcus looked at Isabella.
“You were there when my father died?”
Isabella began crying.
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
She covered her mouth.
“I heard the shot.”
Marcus felt his chest tighten.
“Where?”
“Your father's office.”
“When?”
“Twelve years ago.”
“Who was there?”
Isabella looked at David.
“Your father.”
“Who else?”
“Your mother.”
Marcus looked at Evelyn.
“And?”
Isabella whispered:
“Daniel Parker.”
Marcus's blood ran cold.
“Daniel was there?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
Isabella stared at the ground.
“Your father confronted him.”
“About what?”
“The ledger.”
“What did Daniel say?”
“He said it was already too late.”
Marcus stepped closer.
“And then?”
“A gunshot.”
“Who fired it?”
Isabella closed her eyes.
“I don't know.”
“Look at me.”
She did.
“You saw someone.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Her lips trembled.
“The person standing behind your father.”
Marcus's heart stopped.
“Who?”
Isabella whispered:
“Your father wasn't alone.”
Before she could say more, a gunshot cracked through the cemetery.
Isabella fell.
Marcus caught her.
Blood spread across her shoulder.
Evelyn screamed.
David immediately pulled Marcus behind a stone monument.
“Sniper!”
Another shot struck the ground.
Marcus looked at Isabella.
“Stay with me.”
She was barely conscious.
“Your father…”
“What?”
“He knew…”
“Who?”
She grabbed his sleeve.
“The person who ordered the murder…”
Her eyes fluttered.
“…wasn't David.”
Marcus froze.
“Then who?”
Isabella's lips moved.
But no sound came.
She fainted.
Marcus looked toward the cemetery gates.
A black car sped away.
David stared after it.
Then Marcus heard a faint vibration.
Isabella's phone.
A new message.
He picked it up.
One sentence appeared:
SHE WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO SURVIVE.
Marcus stared at the words.
Then another message appeared.
NEITHER WAS YOUR MOTHER.
He looked toward Evelyn.
She had gone completely pale.
Because she knew exactly what the message meant.
The person who had ordered the murder twelve years ago had just announced that the past was no longer buried.
May you like
And whoever it was—
was coming for Evelyn next.
