Chapter 6 - THE WOMAN NAMED VICTORIA
The fingerprints proved it.
The woman arrested at St. Catherine's was not Victoria Lang.
Her real name was Celeste Wynn.
Thirty-four.
Former medical billing specialist.
No felony record.
No known connection to Marcus.
Until Brooks found one.
Celeste's sister, Renee, had died in a Vale-funded clinical trial seven years earlier.
The trial had been overseen by Paul Renner before he became a therapist.
"Renner was a research psychiatrist?"
"Yes."
The trial tested a sedative protocol.
Renee died from respiratory suppression.
Vale Health settled quietly.
His father had.
Elena asked, "Did Celeste blame Marcus?"
"At first."
Julian, under guard at the hospital, filled in the rest.
The real Victoria Lang had been his girlfriend.
She helped him launder shelter funds.
When Adriana discovered it, Victoria threatened to talk.
Julian claimed Victoria died from an overdose.
No autopsy.
No public record.
He and Renner buried it.
Then they needed Victoria alive on paper.
Celeste became useful.
Similar age.
Similar build.
A face altered with cosmetic work, hair, and years of curated records.
"She became Victoria."
"Yes."
"Why would Celeste agree?"
"Because Renner told her the Vales killed her sister."
"And you?"
"I told her Adriana covered it up."
A woman grieving a sister had been turned into a weapon.
That did not erase the stroller.
Nothing did.
"Celeste."
"How did she get out?"
"She didn't."
"The woman in custody is someone else."
Another identity swap.
Police rushed to the holding facility.
Paperwork signed by Dr. Paul Renner.
The transport team found the van abandoned.
Empty.
Marcus's phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
Sofia asleep in her hospital bassinet.
Taken from inside the room.
Sofia was supposed to be under guard.
Then a second message came.
YOU HIT THE WRONG WOMAN.
NOW DECIDE WHO YOU'LL HIT NEXT.
"That photo was taken this morning."
"Wait."
"My daughter is there."
"So am I."
"You don't owe me that."
May you like
"No."
"I owe Sofia."
