Chapter 6 - The Passenger Who Did Not Exist
"That isn't my daughter's legal name," I told Vega. "Her last name is Bennett."
"Someone knew who her father was," the detective replied. "And someone wanted a record showing you planned to leave the country."
Nathan pulled up the airline's customer-service number. The booking had been made through a corporate travel agency, paid for with a card belonging to Hale Events, Victoria's company.
Victoria had described the tickets as a wedding expense.
"It wasn't enough to make me look unstable," I said. "They wanted to make me look like I was running away. Again."
Vega checked the reservation information. "The travel agency confirms the tickets were issued. Neither passenger has checked in. I've asked them to preserve the booking records."
For the first time all day, something inside me settled. Facts could be kept. Facts could be proved.
Then my phone rang. The screen showed a number I hadn't seen in five years: Edward Pierce's office.
"Don't answer," Nathan said.
"I want the detective to hear."
Vega nodded. I put the call on speaker.
"Grace," Pierce said smoothly, "we can make today's unpleasantness disappear. Drop the complaint, sign the release, and the family will pay for your treatment."
"What treatment?"
"Your mental health care. The evaluation is already prepared."
"You mean the evaluation I never attended?"
There was silence. Then a sigh.
"You're making the same mistake you made five years ago."
"No," I said. "Five years ago, I believed you."
Pierce hung up.
Vega requested the phone recording and asked whether anyone had access to my health records. Before I could answer, a hospital clerk came through the curtain holding a fax.
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"Someone sent this to the admitting desk," she said. "It says we're supposed to release Lily to a private medical escort."
Across the top was the seal of a clinic that had closed eleven months ago.
