Chapter 18 - THE SECOND PARTNER
Detective Ruiz examined the photograph.
The reflection was too distorted to identify the other figure standing beside Samuel.
Forensic technicians enhanced the image.
A woman appeared near the edge of the glass.
She wore a hospital identification badge.
Claire recognized her.
“Doctor Evelyn Shaw.”
Ethan looked at her.
“Who is she?”
“She delivered Sophie.”
Doctor Shaw had helped Claire escape after she fled the mountain shelter.
She had arranged false medical records.
She had hidden Claire and Sophie for months.
Claire had trusted her completely.
Ruiz searched the doctor’s history.
Evelyn Shaw had worked at the Vermont clinic during the year Victor was brought there.
Her employment records had been erased.
A warrant team reached her apartment.
It was empty.
They found passports, cash, and files documenting every location where Claire had hidden.
Ethan stared at the map.
“She gave Eleanor the addresses.”
Claire shook her head.
“Not all of them.”
“Then how did she know?”
“She chose them.”
The realization hurt more than Claire expected.
Evelyn had not rescued her.
She had controlled where Claire went.
She had kept Sophie within reach.
Ruiz found a flight reservation under one of Evelyn’s aliases.
The destination was Montreal.
Departure time was less than two hours away.
Police surrounded the airport.
Claire insisted on joining Ruiz.
Ethan stayed with Sophie and Margaret at the secured hospital wing.
Evelyn was found near the international departure gate.
She wore a red coat and carried no luggage.
When she saw Claire, she did not run.
“You finally understand.”
Claire stopped several feet away.
“You worked for Samuel.”
“I worked with him.”
“You helped Eleanor imprison me.”
“I helped you survive Eleanor.”
“You gave her my locations.”
“I gave her locations after you had already left them.”
“Why?”
“To keep her attention away from Sophie.”
Claire stared at her.
“That makes no sense.”
Evelyn lowered her voice.
“Samuel wanted the child.”
“Eleanor wanted the trust.”
“They were not working toward the same goal.”
“What did Samuel want with Sophie?”
“Her blood.”
Claire felt cold.
Evelyn looked toward the officers.
“I can explain everything.”
“Then start.”
“Samuel believed the Hawthorne succession documents contained one final protection.”
“A biological trigger.”
Ruiz frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“Victor’s father created an encrypted account tied to genetic verification.”
“Only a direct descendant born after Ethan could access it.”
Claire understood.
“Sophie.”
Evelyn nodded.
“The account contains ownership certificates, patents, and evidence of the original theft from the Mercer family.”
“Samuel needed Sophie alive.”
“Eleanor needed her removed from the succession.”
“So they turned against each other.”
“They were always going to.”
Ruiz stepped forward.
“You are under arrest.”
Evelyn raised her hands.
Before the officers reached her, a shot rang through the terminal.
Evelyn fell.
Passengers screamed and dropped to the floor.
Claire saw a man running toward a service corridor.
He wore a maintenance uniform.
A black stone ring flashed on his finger.
Samuel was supposed to be in federal custody.
Ruiz checked Evelyn’s wound.
“She’s alive.”
Claire looked toward the fleeing man.
“That wasn’t Samuel.”
The shooter turned briefly before disappearing through the corridor.
May you like
Claire recognized the face.
It belonged to the surgeon treating Victor Hawthorne.
