Chapter 17 - The Bride Without a Name
Victoria's passport had been flagged, and officers were checking transportation records. She wasn't at the airport, her penthouse, or any of the places she had once loved to be photographed.
Miles was detained for questioning about the credit pledge and the threats against Eli. His attorney insisted he was only protecting investors. The evidence showed a different pattern: secret payments, unauthorized documents, and instructions to erase hotel logs.
Nathaniel went to Eleanor's apartment. She was sitting in her favorite chair, wrapped in the same blue shawl she'd worn before the wedding.
"I keep thinking about the ceremony," he admitted. "How happy I was. I didn't see any of it."
"You saw the woman she wanted you to see," Eleanor said. "That is not the same as choosing to be blind forever."
He sat beside her. "I should have listened when you asked questions."
"Then listen when someone else asks them. That's how you make this mean something."
Across town, Rose was closing up Harbor House's kitchen when Sonia found an unsigned card in the donation box. It said, in neat blue handwriting: YOU SAVED THE WRONG PERSON.
Rose handed it to Torres. A security officer stayed until the building closed, and she did not travel home alone.
For once, fear didn't win. Eli called about his exam grade, and Rose laughed so hard she had to sit down on a flour sack.
Then Detective Torres called Sonia back.
"We have a reason to believe Victoria is using another identity," she said. "Did your front desk receive a visitor asking about Eleanor?"
Sonia checked the log. A woman wearing sunglasses had signed in as Claire Morgan.
May you like
Her photograph from the entry camera was clear.
It was Victoria.
