Chapter 18 - THE EMPTY CHAIR
Gavin called Nora seventeen times.
Nothing.
Evelyn called.
Nothing.
Police were dispatched immediately.
By the time officers reached the apartment, Nora and Taylor were gone.
No forced entry.
No obvious struggle.
Security footage showed Nora leaving voluntarily.
Taylor holding her hand.
A woman walked beside them.
Priscilla.
Gavin stared at the image.
“What?”
Priscilla had supposedly been taken from federal transport.
Now she was calmly escorting Nora and Taylor from the building.
Rebecca shook her head.
“That isn’t what it looks like.”
Gavin turned on her.
“You’ve said that about everything tonight.”
Rebecca did not flinch.
“Look at Nora.”
He replayed the footage.
Nora looked frightened.
But not of Priscilla.
She kept glancing behind them.
Priscilla held Taylor’s red rabbit.
Then a fourth figure entered frame.
Man.
Baseball cap.
Gavin zoomed.
Marcus.
He joined them at the elevator.
Gavin stared.
“Why is Marcus there?”
Rebecca’s eyes narrowed.
“Because they’re running from Helena.”
Another camera.
Parking garage.
Marcus opened an SUV.
Nora climbed in with Taylor.
Priscilla entered.
They drove away.
No Helena.
No obvious coercion.
Gavin’s phone finally rang.
Nora.
He answered immediately.
“Where are you?”
“We’re safe.”
Her voice was whispering.
“Define safe.”
“Moving.”
“Where?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Nora.”
“Gavin, listen.”
“Priscilla came to the apartment.”
“She said Helena was on her way.”
“Marcus confirmed it.”
“You trusted Marcus?”
“No.”
“But he knew the surveillance frequency Helena was using.”
“They showed me proof.”
“Where are you going?”
Nora paused.
“To Daniel’s last safe place.”
Gavin looked at Rebecca.
She heard.
Her face changed.
“What safe place?”
Nora answered.
“A cabin east of Julian.”
Rebecca whispered.
“No.”
Gavin heard.
“Why?”
Rebecca grabbed the phone.
“Nora.”
“Do not go there.”
“Why?”
“Helena owns it.”
Silence.
Nora’s breathing changed.
“What?”
“The property was purchased through a Voss trust company.”
“I thought Daniel owned it.”
“He did.”
“Originally.”
“Helena bought the mortgage after his death.”
Nora looked through the windshield.
Marcus was driving.
Priscilla sat beside him.
“Marcus.”
He glanced at her.
“What?”
“Who owns the cabin?”
Marcus went silent.
Priscilla turned.
“What?”
Nora felt cold.
“Stop the car.”
“Nora.”
“Stop the car.”
Marcus did.
Nora grabbed Taylor.
“Get out.”
Priscilla opened her door.
“What’s happening?”
“Helena owns the cabin.”
Marcus cursed.
“I didn’t know.”
Nora laughed bitterly.
“You know everything.”
“Not that.”
They stood on a dark mountain road.
No nearby houses.
Rain had stopped.
Taylor was sleepy.
“Mommy?”
“It’s okay.”
It wasn’t.
Priscilla looked at Marcus.
“What now?”
He checked his phone.
“No signal.”
Nora almost laughed.
Of course.
Then headlights appeared behind them.
One vehicle.
Far away.
Approaching slowly.
Marcus looked.
“Move.”
They climbed back into the SUV.
He accelerated.
The headlights followed.
Faster.
Priscilla turned.
“Is it Helena?”
Marcus shook his head.
“No idea.”
Nora held Taylor down against the seat.
The pursuing vehicle closed distance.
Marcus took a dirt road.
Trees.
Darkness.
The SUV bounced violently.
Taylor started crying.
Nora held her.
“I’m here.”
“I’m here.”
Priscilla looked back.
The other vehicle followed.
Marcus cursed.
“There’s an old ranger station.”
“Where?”
“Three miles.”
“Why do you know?”
“I used to hide money for criminals.”
“Useful skill set.”
Marcus almost smiled.
“Thank you.”
They reached the abandoned station.
Marcus drove behind it.
Killed lights.
Everyone waited.
The pursuing vehicle slowed on the main road.
Stopped.
Nora held her breath.
A door opened.
Footsteps.
Priscilla grabbed a heavy flashlight.
Marcus whispered.
“Stay inside.”
He stepped out.
A voice came from darkness.
“Marcus?”
Everyone froze.
Evelyn.
Nora opened the door.
“Evelyn?”
Gavin’s mother emerged holding a flashlight.
Behind her was Raymond Cole.
Nora nearly collapsed.
“How did you find us?”
Evelyn held up a tablet.
“Taylor’s emergency bracelet.”
Nora looked at her daughter.
The small bracelet Gavin’s building security had given her earlier contained a locator beacon.
Taylor smiled.
“Grandma Lady found me.”
Evelyn hugged them both.
Then slapped Marcus.
Hard.
He blinked.
“What was that for?”
“Pick one.”
Raymond laughed.
Then headlights appeared again.
Another vehicle.
Everyone turned.
This time Helena stepped out.
Alone.
No weapon visible.
No hurry.
She looked toward Taylor.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
Nora moved in front of her daughter.
“Do not speak to her.”
Helena smiled sadly.
“She has Daniel’s eyes.”
Nora’s hands curled.
“You don’t get to say his name.”
Helena stopped.
Pain crossed her face.
Real pain.
“My son hated me.”
“He had reasons.”
“Yes.”
The answer surprised Nora.
Helena looked at Marcus.
“You disappoint me.”
“Mutual.”
Priscilla stepped forward.
“You used my father.”
Helena laughed.
“Your father used himself.”
Then Gavin arrived with federal agents.
Helena looked around.
No escape.
For the first time, the architect of the conspiracy appeared cornered.
Gavin approached.
“It’s over.”
Helena smiled.
“No.”
“It’s public.”
“The ledger exists.”
“Arthur confessed.”
“Rebecca is cooperating.”
“Charles is exposed.”
“Marcus will testify to save himself.”
Marcus raised one finger.
“Accurate.”
Helena looked at Taylor.
“You think this is about evidence.”
“It has always been about ownership.”
Nora tightened her hold on her daughter.
“You’re not getting her trust.”
Helena smiled.
“I don’t need to.”
Everyone went quiet.
Helena reached into her coat.
Agents raised weapons.
She slowly removed a legal document.
“The Voss trust automatically transfers controlling authority when the designated heir reaches adulthood.”
“Until then, authority belongs to the surviving legal parent.”
Nora stared.
“I’m her parent.”
“Yes.”
Helena smiled.
“Unless Daniel Bell was never legally married to you.”
Nora’s face emptied.
Helena unfolded a marriage certificate.
“Daniel used a false identity.”
“Under California law, your marriage may be void.”
“And if his legal identity remained David Voss, there is another problem.”
“What?”
Helena looked toward Priscilla.
“David Voss was married before he met Nora.”
Nora stopped breathing.
“That’s a lie.”
Helena smiled.
“I have the certificate.”
Then another woman stepped from Helena’s vehicle.
Around thirty-five.
Dark hair.
Pale face.
She looked directly at Nora.
“My name is Claire Voss.”
May you like
And then she said the words that threatened to destroy what remained of Nora’s understanding of Daniel.
“I was Daniel’s wife.”
