Chapter 3 - The Photograph Adrian’s Uncle Never Wanted Found

Adrian placed the photograph on the bed.

Victor Morel.

His father’s younger brother.

Alive.

Smiling.

Standing beside Camille’s father.

The date was two days before Evelyn disappeared.

Adrian stared.

“My uncle told me he was in London that week.”

Robert shook his head.

“He was here.”

Evelyn nodded.

“He followed your father.”

Adrian looked at her.

“You said Father and Camille’s father worked together.”

“They did.”

“Doing what?”

“Moving money.”

“For whom?”

Evelyn pointed to the ledger.

Adrian opened it.

Accounts.

Dates.

Amounts.

Companies he recognized.

Morel Holdings.

Russo Capital.

Several charities.

Several shell corporations.

Adrian’s eyes narrowed.

“This is laundering.”

“Yes.”

Robert said.

“Your father wanted out.”

Adrian looked up.

“After helping build it.”

Evelyn did not soften it.

“Yes.”

He looked at her.

“Camille’s father?”

“Wanted control.”

“And Victor?”

“Wanted everything.”

Silence.

Adrian turned pages.

One entry was marked in red.

317.

He frowned.

“What is this?”

Evelyn answered:

“Room 317 was a meeting code.”

Adrian stared.

“Not just a room.”

“No.”

“Every transfer marked 317…”

“Was money used to pay people to stay silent.”

Adrian stopped.

Police.

Lawyers.

A doctor.

A judge.

Then one name.

Robert Hayes.

Adrian looked at him.

Robert did not move.

“You were paid.”

“Yes.”

“How much?”

“Fifty thousand.”

“For what?”

“To erase hotel records.”

Silence.

Evelyn looked at Robert.

Adrian’s face hardened.

“You erased the evidence of her disappearance.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Robert looked ashamed.

“Because her life depended on it.”

Adrian laughed once.

“Everyone’s crimes have such noble explanations.”

Robert accepted it.

“I know.”

Adrian returned to the ledger.

Another name.

Helena Russo.

Payment.

Two hundred thousand.

Adrian froze.

“Camille’s mother was paid too.”

Evelyn shook her head.

“No.”

“It is here.”

“That money was planted.”

Adrian stared.

“How do you know?”

“Because I was with her when the transfer appeared.”

Robert nodded.

“Someone wanted it to look like Helena betrayed Evelyn.”

Adrian looked at the photograph.

“Victor.”

Evelyn said:

“We thought so.”

“Thought?”

She looked at Robert.

He took out a second photograph.

A bank lobby.

Three years after Evelyn disappeared.

Camille’s father.

Victor.

And a woman Adrian did not recognize.

Adrian frowned.

“Who is she?”

Robert answered:

“Victor’s accountant.”

“Name?”

“Mara Voss.”

Adrian stared.

The name was familiar.

Then he remembered.

Mara Voss had died seven years ago in a house fire.

Robert continued.

“She handled every 317 payment.”

Adrian’s expression hardened.

“So she knew everything.”

“Yes.”

“Why show me this now?”

Evelyn whispered:

“Because she may not be dead.”

Adrian looked at her.

“What?”

Robert handed him a hotel registration.

Four weeks earlier.

Guest name:

MARA VOSS.

Room 512.

Adrian stared.

“She came here?”

“Yes.”

“Same time Camille’s mother rented 317?”

“Yes.”

Adrian looked at Robert.

“Did Helena know?”

Robert shook his head.

“No.”

Evelyn said:

“Mara contacted me first.”

Silence.

Adrian stared.

“She is why you came back.”

“Yes.”

“What did she say?”

Evelyn reached into the metal case.

One note.

ONLY ONE OF THE MEN WHO DESTROYED YOUR LIFE IS DEAD.

Adrian read it twice.

“My father is dead.”

“Yes.”

“Camille’s father is dead.”

“Yes.”

“Victor is alive.”

“Yes.”

Adrian’s eyes sharpened.

“So she meant Victor.”

Evelyn shook her head.

“No.”

Adrian frowned.

“What do you mean?”

Evelyn handed him the cassette.

“There were four men.”

Adrian looked at the old photograph again.

His father.

Camille’s father.

Robert.

Victor.

He looked at Robert.

“You.”

Robert’s face went pale.

Adrian stared.

Evelyn said:

“She did not mean Robert.”

Adrian turned.

“Then who?”

Evelyn pointed to the mirror in the photograph.

A reflection.

A fifth man.

Barely visible.

Older.

Tall.

Adrian leaned closer.

He knew the face.

Everyone did.

Former Judge Lawrence Russo.

Camille’s grandfather.

Adrian whispered:

“He died twelve years ago.”

Robert looked at him.

“No body was ever shown.”

Silence.

Adrian’s phone rang.

Camille.

He answered.

Her voice shook.

“Adrian.”

“What?”

“My mother is gone.”

His face changed.

“What do you mean?”

“She left the ballroom.”

“With who?”

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Camille started crying.

“I think my grandfather.”