Chapter 15 - The Return of Claire
Claire Bennett entered the hospital room shortly after sunrise.
Victoria stood outside the door.
For eleven years, she had imagined this moment in a thousand different ways.
In some versions, Claire screamed at her.
In others, she embraced her.
Nothing prepared Victoria for reality.
Claire looked older than forty.
Her hair was streaked with gray.
There were fine lines around her eyes.
Her body seemed fragile.
But the way she looked at Victoria was unmistakably Claire.
“Vicky.”
Victoria began crying.
“I’m sorry.”
Claire stared at her.
“That’s a small sentence for eleven years.”
“I know.”
Victoria did not move closer.
“I’m still sorry.”
Claire’s eyes filled.
“I called you seven times.”
“I know.”
“You promised.”
“I know.”
“I waited.”
Victoria covered her mouth.
“I know.”
Claire looked away.
Sophie entered behind Victoria.
Everything changed.
Claire’s face collapsed.
“My baby.”
Sophie stopped in the doorway.
She had imagined her mother as the young woman in the photograph.
The woman in the hospital bed looked almost like a stranger.
Then Claire whispered something.
“Moonlight.”
Sophie’s eyes widened.
Margaret Bennett had told her that Claire used to call her Little Moonlight as a baby.
Sophie ran forward.
Claire wrapped her arms around her daughter.
Both of them cried.
Victoria stepped into the hallway and closed the door.
Some reunions did not belong to her.
Ethan stood nearby.
“My father would have wanted to see this.”
Victoria looked at him.
“He tried to help her.”
“He tried.”
Ethan swallowed.
“He just didn’t know who he could trust.”
Claire later told investigators what happened after escaping Saint Agnes.
Evelyn helped her disappear.
Martin Keane provided money and false identities.
Nora Ellis handled her medication withdrawal and recovery.
Claire stayed away from Sophie because Walsh repeatedly threatened Margaret.
Then Claire found evidence that Charles intended to destroy the private archive during the hotel sale.
She returned to Los Angeles.
Walsh captured her.
Martin tried to negotiate her release.
Walsh killed him.
Claire also confirmed the worst suspicion.
Walsh had arranged Evelyn Hale’s death.
He made it resemble an overdose.
Victoria listened without speaking.
Her mother had died because she finally tried to choose her daughters over Charles.
The realization nearly destroyed her.
Claire reached across the hospital bed.
“You can’t change what happened.”
Victoria looked at her.
“I should have believed you.”
“Yes.”
Claire’s honesty hurt.
But Victoria welcomed it.
“I don’t know if I can forgive you.”
“I understand.”
Claire studied her.
“But Sophie says you protected her.”
“I tried.”
“She also says you screamed at her and accused her of stealing.”
Victoria lowered her eyes.
Claire almost smiled.
“That sounds like a Hale.”
Victoria laughed through tears.
Then Claire became serious.
“Walsh still has the archive.”
Federal agents were searching the city.
Airports were monitored.
Walsh’s home was empty.
His phone had gone dark.
Then Sophie entered holding the old photograph.
“There’s something we forgot.”
She turned it over.
Beneath Claire’s handwritten message was another line almost completely faded.
Victoria held it beneath the lamp.
Slowly, the words became visible.
WHEN THE LIGHTS GO DARK, GO TO THE ROOF.
Claire stared at the message.
“I wrote that before Room 617.”
Victoria understood.
“The hotel roof.”
May you like
Claire nodded.
“The last copy.”
