Chapter 7 - The Aunt Who Was Supposed to Be DeadNora drove to a public library in Santa Monica.
Not a secret house.
Not a police station.
A library.
“She works here?” Mia asked.
“No.”
Nora parked.
“She doesn't know we're coming.”
“Then why here?”
“Cameras. People. Multiple exits.”
Mia looked at her differently.
Nora had done this before.
Inside, they sat near the children's section.
Nora made one phone call.
“June?”
Pause.
“Nora Bell.”
Longer pause.
“I have Mia.”
The person on the other end said something loud enough Mia heard fear.
Nora lowered her voice.
“Come alone.”
Twenty-five minutes later, a woman entered.
Brown hair.
Forty, maybe.
Simple jeans.
No makeup.
She stopped ten feet away.
Her eyes landed on Mia.
Then the guitar.
She covered her mouth.
“Oh my God.”
Mia immediately stood.
“Don't recognize the song.”
The woman laughed through tears.
“That sounds like Anna.”
“Who are you?”
“June Mercer.”
Mia stared.
“You're my aunt?”
“Yes.”
“My mom said she didn't have a sister.”
“She had reasons.”
“Everybody says that.”
June flinched.
Fair.
Mia stayed beside Nora.
“Prove it.”
June opened her phone.
Photographs.
Anna as a child.
June beside her.
Their mother.
Birthday cakes.
School uniforms.
Then a photograph of Anna holding newborn Mia.
June beside the hospital bed.
Mia stared.
“You knew me?”
“Until you were eleven months old.”
“What happened?”
“Anna disappeared.”
“With me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
June looked toward Nora.
Nora nodded.
June sat.
“Because Julian died.”
Mia's heart tightened.
“Charlotte said car accident.”
“Charlotte says many things.”
“Was she there?”
June's expression changed.
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“I don't know everything.”
“Mom did.”
“Probably.”
Mia took Anna's note from her sock.
June cried before finishing the first line.
“She wrote this recently?”
“I don't know.”
June read.
Then looked at Mia.
“Do you have the drive?”
Mia stepped backward.
June immediately raised both hands.
“Don't tell me.”
Mia watched.
June understood.
Good.
Nora said,
“We need Lena.”
June nodded and called from a prepaid phone.
Thirty minutes later, Detective Lena Ortiz arrived in plain clothes.
She was in her late forties.
Dark hair streaked with gray.
Tired eyes.
No dramatic badge flash.
She sat across from Mia.
“I've been looking for you.”
Mia didn't trust that.
“What did the bird do?”
Lena's eyes filled.
“It flew home.”
Mia finally exhaled.
The detective leaned forward.
“When did you last see Anna?”
“Nineteen days ago.”
“Where?”
Mia gave the motel.
Lena's jaw tightened.
“We checked that room.”
“When?”
“Eighteen days ago.”
Mia stared.
“What did you find?”
“Blood.”
June covered her mouth.
Mia stopped breathing.
Lena immediately continued.
“Not enough to indicate someone died.”
“Mom?”
“We don't know whose yet. The room was cleaned.”
“Two men came.”
Lena leaned closer.
“You saw them?”
“No. I heard.”
“What did they say?”
Mia closed her eyes.
Memory.
One voice:
“She left the kid.”
Another:
“Then find the guitar.”
Lena looked at Nora.
“The guitar.”
Nora nodded.
Mia touched the case.
Lena didn't ask what was inside.
Smart.
Instead she said,
“You cannot go back to Charlotte.”
Mia almost laughed.
“I know.”
June said,
“She'll know Nora took her.”
Nora looked at her phone.
Already twelve missed calls.
Then a text.
CHARLOTTE: BRING MIA BACK. NOW.
Another.
CHARLOTTE: MY FATHER KNOWS.
Lena stood.
“We're moving.”
Mia asked,
“Where?”
“Somewhere Victor Sterling doesn't own half the security staff.”
They headed toward the parking structure.
Halfway there, Lena stopped.
A man in a dark jacket stood near Nora's car.
Another near the exit.
Lena's hand moved toward her holster.
“Back inside.”
Mia's heart pounded.
Too late.
The first man saw them.
Spoke into his sleeve.
June grabbed Mia.
They ran.
Library security shouted.
People turned.
Lena pushed through an emergency exit.
Nora followed.
They emerged onto a side street.
A black SUV accelerated toward them.
Lena drew her weapon.
“STOP!”
The SUV stopped.
Rear door opened.
Charlotte stepped out.
Not Victor.
Not Graham.
Charlotte.
She looked directly at Mia.
“Mia, come with me.”
“No.”
Charlotte's face broke.
“You don't understand.”
“You lied.”
“Yes.”
The admission surprised everyone.
Charlotte continued.
“But if Victor gets you first, you won't get another chance to be angry with me.”
Lena aimed her weapon lower.
“Stay where you are.”
Charlotte ignored her.
“Mia, your grandfather knows about the drive.”
Mia's stomach dropped.
She hadn't told Charlotte she found it.
Charlotte saw the reaction.
And smiled sadly.
“Anna always used the same hiding place.”
Mia looked at the guitar.
Charlotte continued.
“If Victor gets that card, your mother is dead.”
Mia froze.
May you like
Charlotte looked directly into her eyes.
“And this time I know Anna is alive.”
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