Chapter 5 - THE FUNERAL THAT NEVER HAD A BODY
Alexander Vale had buried his wife eleven months earlier.
At least, he'd believed he had.
The funeral had been private.
The casket closed.
The medical records signed.
And the grief so overwhelming that he'd never questioned the arrangements.
Now he realized something terrible.
He had never seen Sofia's body.
Not once.
He had trusted Victor Kane to handle everything.
The hospital paperwork.
The funeral.
The security.
The private investigation into her death.
And Victor had assured him there was nothing suspicious.
Alexander stared at the photograph.
"Why would someone fake her death?"
Daniel looked grim.
"To remove her from your life."
"But why?"
Leah spoke quietly.
"Maybe she was hiding."
Both men turned.
The little girl looked embarrassed.
"Mom said sometimes people have to pretend they're gone so bad men stop looking."
Alexander studied her.
"Did she say that about Sofia?"
Leah nodded.
"I think so."
His chest tightened.
"Leah, did your mother ever tell you what happened to her?"
"No."
"Anything?"
Leah thought carefully.
"She said she helped a woman escape from a place where people weren't allowed to leave."
Alexander went still.
"What place?"
"A hospital."
The word landed heavily.
Sofia had supposedly died in a private maternity clinic.
Alexander had accepted the explanation without question.
Complications after childbirth.
An unexpected medical emergency.
Nothing more.
Now the story seemed impossible.
Daniel contacted investigators.
Hospital records were requested.
The clinic's ownership structure was examined.
And several discrepancies emerged.
The facility was controlled by a medical investment group connected to Victor Kane.
Alexander stared at the documents.
For years, Victor had been stealing from his company.
Now he might have been using those funds to control a private clinic.
Daniel continued.
"The medical certificate was signed by Dr. Adrian Mercer."
Alexander's jaw tightened.
"I know him."
"How?"
"He treated Sofia during her pregnancy."
Daniel nodded.
"He's also connected to Victor's investment group."
Alexander looked toward Noah's medical observation room.
Everything had been planned.
The baby.
The disc.
The false funeral.
The threats.
And Elena Bennett, the woman everyone believed died in a warehouse fire.
She was at the center of it.
That evening, Leah asked whether she could call Aunt Celia again.
A social worker helped her.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Then someone answered.
"Hello?"
Leah froze.
"Aunt Celia?"
A woman's voice trembled.
"Leah?"
Tears filled the girl's eyes.
"Aunt Celia!"
"Oh, sweetheart."
Leah began crying.
"Mom's missing."
The woman gasped.
"What?"
Leah told her everything.
The black car.
The kitchen.
The flight.
Alexander.
The baby.
Then Celia went silent.
"Leah, listen carefully."
The girl's stomach tightened.
"Yes?"
"Are you with Alexander Vale?"
Leah glanced toward him.
"Yes."
Celia took a shaky breath.
"Then you need to tell him something."
"What?"
A pause.
"Tell him your mother didn't steal from him."
Leah frowned.
"What?"
Celia continued.
"Tell him she took something from his house six years ago."
Alexander slowly stepped closer.
Leah looked up at him.
"What did she take?"
May you like
Celia's voice broke.
"She took the evidence proving that Victor Kane murdered Alexander's younger brother."
