Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD
Leah had spent four days wondering whether her mother was alive.
Now a stranger was telling her that he believed Elena Bennett had died six years earlier.
She stared at Alexander.
"That's impossible."
He nodded slowly.
"I understand."
"No, you don't."
Her voice trembled.
"Mom made pancakes last Friday."
Alexander's eyes softened.
"Then someone lied to me."
Leah folded her arms.
"Why?"
He looked toward Daniel.
"That's what I intend to find out."
The plane landed at a regional airport after an urgent diversion.
Emergency personnel met the aircraft.
Noah was examined.
The black disc was carefully secured by trained authorities for analysis.
Investigators began interviewing passengers and crew members.
Leah and Maya were taken to a quiet family room with airport police and child protection personnel while arrangements were made to contact a responsible adult.
Alexander remained nearby.
He didn't attempt to take control of the girls.
Instead, he asked whether they needed food.
Leah's stomach growled before she could answer.
Maya woke up rubbing her eyes.
"Leah?"
"I'm here."
The little girl reached for her sister.
Leah hugged her tightly.
"Everything's okay."
But she knew that wasn't true.
Their mother was missing.
Someone had been watching their apartment.
And now the man from the news was looking at her as though she carried a secret he couldn't understand.
A social worker brought sandwiches, fruit, and juice.
Maya ate quickly.
Leah barely touched hers.
Alexander sat across from her.
"Leah, may I ask you some questions?"
She nodded.
"Did your mother tell you why she bought the plane tickets?"
"She said Aunt Celia could help if anything bad happened."
"Did she tell you what kind of bad thing?"
Leah shook her head.
"Only that we should never go with strangers."
Alexander nodded.
"That was good advice."
She looked at him suspiciously.
"You're a stranger."
A faint smile touched his face.
"Yes."
"And everyone says you're dangerous."
He didn't deny it.
"People have reasons to be afraid of me."
Leah stared.
"Did you hurt my mom?"
The question struck him.
For several seconds, he didn't answer.
Then he said:
"I don't believe I did. But I know she was frightened of people connected to my businesses."
Leah looked down.
"She was always scared when black cars came down our street."
Alexander's jaw tightened.
"Did you see the license plates?"
She nodded.
"I wrote one down."
Daniel immediately looked up.
"Where?"
"In my notebook."
Leah opened her backpack.
Inside were colored pencils, a small stuffed rabbit, two passports, and a blue notebook.
She turned to the final page.
A license plate number was written carefully beneath a drawing of a black car.
Alexander examined it.
His expression changed.
He recognized the first three letters.
They belonged to a private security fleet once used by Vale International.
A fleet he'd ordered replaced two years earlier.
"Daniel," he said quietly.
Daniel leaned closer.
Then went still.
"Sir..."
Alexander nodded.
"I know."
Leah looked between them.
"What?"
Alexander took a slow breath.
"That car may belong to someone who used to work for me."
"Who?"
He hesitated.
Then answered:
"Victor Kane."
Daniel's expression hardened.
Alexander continued.
"Victor was my former head of security."
Leah stared.
"Why did he stop working for you?"
Alexander's voice became cold.
"Because I discovered he was stealing money."
Leah looked down.
Then slowly turned another page in her notebook.
There was a drawing.
A man with dark hair.
A scar across his chin.
And a black coat.
She pointed.
"Is this him?"
Alexander stared.
His stomach tightened.
The resemblance was unmistakable.
"Yes."
Leah swallowed.
"Then I know who took Mom."
Alexander leaned forward.
"What?"
Her eyes filled with tears.
"He came to our apartment four nights ago."
She gripped Maya's hand.
"And before they took Mom away, he said something."
Alexander's voice softened.
"What did he say?"
May you like
Leah looked directly at him.
"He said she should have told you the truth about your son."
