Chapter 6 - THE MOTHER WHO LIED
Rachel had not spoken to her mother in three weeks.
Not because they were fighting.
Because Diane Bennett had suddenly stopped answering calls.
Rachel had assumed she was traveling.
Now that silence felt sinister.
She called.
Straight to voicemail.
Again.
Voicemail.
Nicholas watched from across the cabin.
“Where does she live?”
“Dallas.”
Daniel was already checking.
Thirty seconds later he looked up.
“She hasn’t been in Texas for nine days.”
Rachel’s pulse jumped.
“Where is she?”
“Unknown.”
Rachel returned to the letter.
Thomas Bennett had written that Diane knew enough to protect Rachel if anything happened.
But another sentence frightened her more.
Do not trust anyone who tells you Antonio Valenti ordered my death.
Nicholas read over her shoulder.
“My father was blamed.”
Rachel nodded.
“Maybe that was the point.”
They opened the metal box.
Inside were old banking records connecting millions of stolen dollars to a company called Northstar Civic Development.
Rachel searched the name.
Dissolved in 2011.
But one officer was still listed.
ELIAS VALE.
Nicholas swore quietly.
Rachel looked at him.
“You know him?”
“He was my father’s attorney.”
“Was?”
“He disappeared after my father died.”
Rachel froze.
“When did Antonio die?”
“2012.”
“One year after Northstar dissolved.”
Nicholas nodded.
The pattern was becoming clear.
Thomas had discovered the theft.
Thomas died.
Northstar disappeared.
Antonio died.
Vale vanished.
Someone had spent years erasing everyone connected to the truth.
Daniel suddenly raised a hand.
“Quiet.”
Headlights moved through the trees.
Nicholas killed the lamps.
A vehicle stopped outside.
Rachel’s heart hammered.
A car door opened.
Footsteps crossed the snow.
Nicholas positioned himself beside the entrance.
Daniel drew his weapon.
Three knocks.
Then a woman’s voice.
“Rachel?”
Rachel stopped breathing.
“Mom?”
She rushed toward the door.
Nicholas caught her.
“Wait.”
But Rachel knew that voice.
They opened the door carefully.
Diane Bennett stood on the porch.
She looked older than Rachel remembered from only a month before.
Terrified.
Exhausted.
And holding a gun.
“Mom?”
Diane lowered it.
Then saw Nicholas.
Her expression changed.
“You look exactly like Antonio.”
Nicholas said nothing.
Rachel stepped forward.
“Where have you been?”
Diane’s eyes filled.
“Running.”
“From who?”
“Evan.”
Rachel recoiled.
Diane entered and locked the door.
“He came to Dallas asking about your father’s records. When I refused, two men followed me home.”
Rachel’s anger replaced fear.
“You knew about all this.”
“Yes.”
“For seventeen years?”
“Yes.”
Rachel’s voice cracked.
“Why?”
Diane reached into her coat and removed a small velvet pouch.
Inside was another key.
Not the one from Rachel’s photograph.
A different one.
“I promised your father I would never give you this unless the old network came after you.”
She placed it in Rachel’s hand.
“What does it open?”
Diane looked at Nicholas.
“A private deposit box in Chicago.”
“What’s inside?”
Diane swallowed.
“Proof of who killed your father.”
Rachel stared at her.
May you like
Diane’s next words changed everything.
“And the killer is still inside Nicholas Valenti’s organization.”
