Chapter 6 - The Sister Julian Never Knew

Silver Pines was forty minutes away.

Julian drove.

Anthony sat beside him.

Sophia and Albert followed in another car.

Michael was not invited.

The residence stood behind iron gates.

Private.

Quiet.

Expensive.

A nurse met them at the entrance.

Julian gave the name.

“Rachel Moore.”

The nurse’s expression changed.

“Family?”

Julian answered:

“Yes.”

For the first time.

Rachel was fifty feet down a sunroom.

Thirty-four.

Dark hair streaked with silver at one temple.

Thin.

A blanket over her knees.

She was drawing.

Julian stopped at the doorway.

Anthony stopped behind him.

Rachel looked up.

Her eyes were Julian’s.

Exactly.

Anthony made a sound.

Almost a sob.

Rachel stared at Julian.

Then smiled.

“You came.”

Julian froze.

“You know me?”

She tapped the page.

A black eagle.

The same shape as Julian’s tattoo.

His arm felt suddenly heavy.

“Who taught you that symbol?”

Rachel said:

“Mother.”

Anthony closed his eyes.

Julian walked closer.

“Claire?”

Rachel nodded.

“She said my brother would wear it one day.”

Julian sat across from her.

“I’m Julian.”

“I know.”

“How?”

Rachel pointed to a stack of magazines beside the chair.

His face was on two covers.

Julian almost laughed.

Of course.

She had been watching too.

Anthony stepped forward.

Rachel looked at him.

Her smile disappeared.

Anthony stopped.

“I’m Anthony.”

Rachel stared.

Julian watched her carefully.

Then she whispered:

“Father?”

Anthony broke.

He covered his face.

Rachel looked confused.

“I’m sorry.”

Anthony shook his head.

“No.”

He knelt beside her.

“No, I am.”

Julian looked away.

There are reunions too private even when you are standing inside them.

After several minutes, Rachel reached into a drawer.

She removed a small envelope.

“My mother said give this to my brother.”

Julian took it.

The handwriting was Claire’s.

JULIAN.

His hands shook.

Inside was a letter.

And a key.

Claire had written:

If you are reading this, then someone finally told you Rachel lived.

Do not blame Robert before you hear everything.

Julian stopped.

Anthony saw his face.

“What?”

Julian continued reading.

Robert did terrible things for Dominic.

But one thing he did not do was order my death.

Julian stared.

Sophia entered the room with Albert.

Julian looked at the lawyer.

“You said Robert knew.”

Albert nodded.

“I said he knew about Rachel.”

Julian held up the letter.

“My mother says he didn’t kill her.”

Anthony frowned.

“Then who did?”

Julian read the next line.

The man who arranged the brakes was not a Russo.

It was a Bell.

Sophia’s face went white.

Anthony turned slowly.

“Michael.”

Julian continued reading.

Then stopped.

No.

Claire had written one more name.

Not Michael.

She wrote:

Ask Sophia’s mother what she did.

Sophia stared.

“My mother?”

Julian looked at her.

“Where is she?”

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Sophia whispered:

“At the gala.”