Chapter 4 - The Church Where the Dead Woman Waited
Elena didn't sleep that night.
By morning, she had made a decision.
She wasn't going to walk into an abandoned church alone because an anonymous message told her to.
She had spent too much of her life trusting strangers who promised answers.
Instead, she photographed the messages and contacted an attorney through a legal assistance organization.
Her name was Rebecca Ellis.
Rebecca listened carefully.
Then said something Elena desperately needed to hear.
"You don't owe these people access to your life simply because they claim to be family."
Elena exhaled.
"Thank you."
Rebecca continued.
"If you want to pursue this, we can arrange an independent investigation and voluntary DNA testing."
"What about the church?"
"Don't go alone. Give the information to the police."
Elena agreed.
That afternoon, she met Detective Sarah Mitchell, who specialized in missing-person investigations.
Mitchell examined the photograph and messages.
"Do you recognize the woman?"
Elena shook her head.
"No."
"But you believe she may be your mother?"
"I don't know what to believe."
The detective nodded.
"That's reasonable."
Elena looked down at the photograph.
"Can you find her?"
"We can investigate the records and attempt to identify her."
For the first time since the restaurant incident, Elena felt a small measure of control.
She wasn't being ordered.
She wasn't being threatened.
Someone was finally asking what she wanted.
That evening, Aleandro called.
She stared at the screen before answering.
"Hello?"
"Elena."
His voice was deep and controlled.
"Are you safe?"
She hesitated.
"Why?"
"Someone contacted my grandmother claiming Lucia is alive."
Elena froze.
"What?"
Aleandro continued.
"They demanded money in exchange for information."
Her stomach tightened.
"How much?"
"Five million dollars."
Elena nearly dropped the phone.
"Five million?"
"Yes."
"Who contacted her?"
"We don't know yet."
Elena swallowed.
Then made a decision.
"Someone contacted me too."
Aleandro went silent.
"What did they say?"
"That my mother is alive."
His breathing changed.
"Did they give you an address?"
"Yes."
"Elena, don't go there."
"I'm not planning to."
For the first time, he sounded relieved.
"Good."
She stared at the photograph on her table.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Anything."
"Why did your father tell everyone Lucia was dead?"
Aleandro was quiet for a long moment.
"That's what I intend to find out."
"Did you know her?"
"Yes."
His voice softened.
"She used to read to me when I was little."
Elena felt a strange ache.
"What was she like?"
Aleandro hesitated.
"Kind. Stubborn. She hated the violence surrounding our family."
Elena smiled faintly.
"That sounds familiar."
"It does."
Another silence followed.
Then Aleandro said something unexpected.
"My grandmother has been keeping a room ready for Lucia for twenty-two years."
Elena closed her eyes.
Isabella had never stopped hoping.
Just like Elena.
"What if we're not related?" she whispered.
"Then you deserve the truth about your necklace anyway."
The answer surprised her.
Then Aleandro continued.
"And if we are family, nobody gets to decide what that means for you."
Elena felt tears gathering.
"Thank you."
After the call, she opened the envelope again.
The photograph had a faint crease near the bottom.
She carefully unfolded it.
Behind the image was a second photograph.
A man standing beside Lucia outside Saint Jude's.
Elena stared.
The man was young.
Dark-haired.
With familiar amber eyes.
At first, she thought it was Aleandro.
Then she looked closer.
It wasn't him.
It was his father.
Antonio Moretti.
The man who had supposedly declared Lucia and her baby dead.
May you like
And on the back of the photograph were four handwritten words.
Antonio knew she escaped.
