Chapter 8: The Evidence Hidden in the Ruins
I didn't celebrate immediately.
I stood backstage holding my championship trophy while the auditorium the Ruins
I didn't celebrate immediately.
I stood backstage holding my championship trophy while the auditorium emptied around me, reading the anonymous message until the words seemed to blur.
* emptied around me, reading the anonymous message until the words seemed to blur.
You have no idea what you've just won.
The photograph showed the shattered trophy lying on my bedroom floor. The broken wooden base was visible, along with the small cavity where the photograph had been hidden.
WhoYou have no idea what you've just won.*
The photograph showed the shattered trophy lying on my bedroom floor. The broken wooden base was visible, along with the small cavity where the photograph had been hidden.
Whoever sent it knew about the compartment.
They knew Vanessa and Brianna had destroyed it.
And they wanted meever sent it knew about the compartment.
They knew Vanessa and Brianna had destroyed it.
And they wanted me to know they were watching.
I showed the message to Rebecca.
Her expression changed.
“Don't reply to know they were watching.
I showed the message to Rebecca.
Her expression changed.
“Don't reply,” she said.
“Why?””
“Because we don't know who sent it or what they want. Save the message and the original photograph. I'll forward both to the investigator.””
I looked,” she said.
“Why?””
“Because we don't know who sent it or what they want. Save the message and the original photograph. I'll forward both to the investigator.””
I looked toward the auditorium doors.
“Could it be Vanessa?””
“It could be someone connected to her. It toward the auditorium doors.
“Could it be Vanessa?””
“It could be someone connected to her. It could also be someone trying to frighten you into making a mistake.””
“So what do I do?””
“Exactly could also be someone trying to frighten you into making a mistake.””
“So what do I do?””
“Exactly what you've been doing. Preserve the evidence. Don't confront anyone alone. Let us investigate.””
I nodded, but my fingers what you've been doing. Preserve the evidence. Don't confront anyone alone. Let us investigate.””
I nodded, but my fingers tightened around the phone.
I had won the championship.
I had earned the scholarship.
And somehow, even standing beneath the brightest lights of my tightened around the phone.
I had won the championship.
I had earned the scholarship.
And somehow, even standing beneath the brightest lights of my life, I still felt as though someone was trying to pull me back into the dark.
Adrian approached with a small life, I still felt as though someone was trying to pull me back into the dark.
Adrian approached with a small paper bag.
“I thought you might need something to eat,” he said.
I stared at him.
“Is that how paper bag.
“I thought you might need something to eat,” he said.
I stared at him.
“Is that how you celebrate every championship?””
“Only the ones where the winner looks as though she's preparing for a you celebrate every championship?””
“Only the ones where the winner looks as though she's preparing for a police interrogation.””
Despite everything, I laughed.
It came out shakier than I intended.
He handed me the bag. Inside was police interrogation.””
Despite everything, I laughed.
It came out shakier than I intended.
He handed me the bag. Inside was a sandwich and a bottle of water.
I sat on a bench and took a bite.
Adrian remained standing nearby.
“Did you see the message?”” I asked.
“Rebecca showed me a sandwich and a bottle of water.
I sat on a bench and took a bite.
Adrian remained standing nearby.
“Did you see the message?”” I asked.
“Rebecca showed me.””
“Do you think it's connected to my father?””
“I don't know yet.””
I.””
“Do you think it's connected to my father?””
“I don't know yet.””
I swallowed.
“I'm tired of hearing that.””
“I know.””
He sat at swallowed.
“I'm tired of hearing that.””
“I know.””
He sat at the other end of the bench.
“But I would rather tell you what I don't know than invent an answer that gives you false comfort.””
I looked down at the trophy.
the other end of the bench.
“But I would rather tell you what I don't know than invent an answer that gives you false comfort.””
I looked down at the trophy.
“Can I ask you something?””
“Anything.””
“When you first found me, did you recognize me?””
He“Can I ask you something?””
“Anything.””
“When you first found me, did you recognize me?””
He took a moment to answer.
“I recognized your father's name. Then I saw the photographs from your registration. You had the took a moment to answer.
“I recognized your father's name. Then I saw the photographs from your registration. You had the same eyes as your mother.””
I looked away.
“Did you feel relieved?””
“Yes.””
“Happy?””
He considered the question.
“Relieved same eyes as your mother.””
I looked away.
“Did you feel relieved?””
“Yes.””
“Happy?””
He considered the question.
“Relieved first. Then angry. Then ashamed.””
“Why ashamed?””
“Because I had spent seventeen years believing that first. Then angry. Then ashamed.””
“Why ashamed?””
“Because I had spent seventeen years believing that if I searched hard enough, I would eventually find you. When I did, you were living with someone who had made you feel that your talent was worthless.””
if I searched hard enough, I would eventually find you. When I did, you were living with someone who had made you feel that your talent was worthless.””
He looked at the trophy in my hands.
“I couldn't give you back those years.””
I thought about my father's empty chair, the ruined dress, and the countlessHe looked at the trophy in my hands.
“I couldn't give you back those years.””
I thought about my father's empty chair, the ruined dress, and the countless nights I had spent sewing in secret.
“No,” I said.
“You couldn't.””
He nodded.
“But you can help me understand what happened.””
“I can nights I had spent sewing in secret.
“No,” I said.
“You couldn't.””
He nodded.
“But you can help me understand what happened.””
“I can.””
I took another bite of the sandwich.
“Then that's what I want.””
The next morning,.””
I took another bite of the sandwich.
“Then that's what I want.””
The next morning, Rebecca arranged for an independent investigator named Martin Ellis to examine the trophy fragments.
He met us in a small office Rebecca arranged for an independent investigator named Martin Ellis to examine the trophy fragments.
He met us in a small office near the courthouse. He was in his sixties, with a neatly trimmed beard and a habit near the courthouse. He was in his sixties, with a neatly trimmed beard and a habit of studying documents before looking at the person who had brought them.
I placed the box on his desk.
“These are of studying documents before looking at the person who had brought them.
I placed the box on his desk.
“These are the pieces I recovered,” I explained.
“The hidden compartment was forced open. The photograph and the letter were missing.””
Martin examined the fragments through the pieces I recovered,” I explained.
“The hidden compartment was forced open. The photograph and the letter were missing.””
Martin examined the fragments through a magnifying lens.
“Do you know how the compartment was constructed?””
“My father was a furniture restorer. He made it himself.””
Martin a magnifying lens.
“Do you know how the compartment was constructed?””
“My father was a furniture restorer. He made it himself.””
Martin turned the wooden base over.
“Interesting.””
“What?””
“The damage is turned the wooden base over.
“Interesting.””
“What?””
“The damage is concentrated around the seam. Whoever broke this wasn't simply dropping it. They were trying to get inside.””
My stomach tightened.
“Can you recover anything?””
“ concentrated around the seam. Whoever broke this wasn't simply dropping it. They were trying to get inside.””
My stomach tightened.
“Can you recover anything?””
“Possibly. But I need to inspect the remaining pieces carefully.””
He photographed the fragments and made notes.
Then he asked me to describe exactlyPossibly. But I need to inspect the remaining pieces carefully.””
He photographed the fragments and made notes.
Then he asked me to describe exactly what had been inside.
I told him about the photograph of my father and Adrian, the message on the back, and the reference to Vanessa.
Martin what had been inside.
I told him about the photograph of my father and Adrian, the message on the back, and the reference to Vanessa.
Martin listened without interruption.
When I finished, he removed a sheet of paper from his folder.
“There's another issue,” listened without interruption.
When I finished, he removed a sheet of paper from his folder.
“There's another issue,” he said.
“Your father's estate records contain an unexplained transfer made shortly after his death.””
Rebecca leaned forward.
“What kind of transfer?””
“A substantial sum was moved he said.
“Your father's estate records contain an unexplained transfer made shortly after his death.””
Rebecca leaned forward.
“What kind of transfer?””
“A substantial sum was moved from the account designated for Nia's education into an account controlled by her guardian.””
I stared at him.
“How much?””
He gave me from the account designated for Nia's education into an account controlled by her guardian.””
I stared at him.
“How much?””
He gave me the amount.
It was more money than I had ever earned in my life.
“Where did it go?””
“We're tracing the account. Some records the amount.
It was more money than I had ever earned in my life.
“Where did it go?””
“We're tracing the account. Some records are missing, and we'll need formal authorization to obtain the rest.””
Rebecca made a note.
“Was the transfer permitted under the trust?””
“That's what are missing, and we'll need formal authorization to obtain the rest.””
Rebecca made a note.
“Was the transfer permitted under the trust?””
“That's what we're investigating.””
I felt sick.
Vanessa had spent years telling me that I owed her for the cost of raising me.
She had made me pay for fabric from my own earnings.
She had threatened to cut off we're investigating.””
I felt sick.
Vanessa had spent years telling me that I owed her for the cost of raising me.
She had made me pay for fabric from my own earnings.
She had threatened to cut off my access to money my father had left for my education.
And now there was evidence that money intended for my future might my access to money my father had left for my education.
And now there was evidence that money intended for my future might have been diverted.
I pressed my palms against my knees.
“Why would she do that?””
Martin closed have been diverted.
I pressed my palms against my knees.
“Why would she do that?””
Martin closed the folder.
“We don't speculate about motives. We follow the records.””
I appreciated that.
I had lived too long with other people's the folder.
“We don't speculate about motives. We follow the records.””
I appreciated that.
I had lived too long with other people's explanations.
I wanted facts.
He continued.
“There's also a second name attached to the transfer authorization.””
“Whose?””
Martin explanations.
I wanted facts.
He continued.
“There's also a second name attached to the transfer authorization.””
“Whose?””
Martin turned the page toward me.
The signature was faint, but the name was legible.
*Eleanor Carter.*
My birth mother's name.
I stared turned the page toward me.
The signature was faint, but the name was legible.
*Eleanor Carter.*
My birth mother's name.
I stared at it.
“That can't be right. She died when I was a baby.””
“According to the death certificate, yes.””
“Then someone used her signature.””
“ at it.
“That can't be right. She died when I was a baby.””
“According to the death certificate, yes.””
“Then someone used her signature.””
“Possibly. We need the original authorization and a handwriting examination.””
Rebecca leaned back slowly.
“This could changePossibly. We need the original authorization and a handwriting examination.””
Rebecca leaned back slowly.
“This could change the scope of the investigation.””
I looked at the paper.
My mother had supposedly died shortly after I was born.
the scope of the investigation.””
I looked at the paper.
My mother had supposedly died shortly after I was born.
Yet years later, her name appeared on a financial transaction connected to my education.
Someone had forged it.
Or someone had liedYet years later, her name appeared on a financial transaction connected to my education.
Someone had forged it.
Or someone had lied about her death.
I felt the room tilt.
“Adrian needs to see this.””
about her death.
I felt the room tilt.
“Adrian needs to see this.””
Martin nodded.
“We'll share the verified findings with him and the attorney handlingMartin nodded.
“We'll share the verified findings with him and the attorney handling the estate.””
I stood and walked to the window.
Outside, traffic moved through the intersection. the estate.””
I stood and walked to the window.
Outside, traffic moved through the intersection. People crossed the street carrying coffee, talking into phones, hurrying toward ordinary People crossed the street carrying coffee, talking into phones, hurrying toward ordinary lives.
My life no longer felt ordinary.
It felt like a locked room full of doors.
And every time I opened one, I lives.
My life no longer felt ordinary.
It felt like a locked room full of doors.
And every time I opened one, I discovered another.
Adrian arrived that afternoon.
He examined the transfer record without speaking.
When he reached Eleanor's signature discovered another.
Adrian arrived that afternoon.
He examined the transfer record without speaking.
When he reached Eleanor's signature, his face drained of color.
“Where did you find this?””
“In the estate records,” Rebecca said.
“We're still verifying, his face drained of color.
“Where did you find this?””
“In the estate records,” Rebecca said.
“We're still verifying the transaction.””
Adrian sat down.
“Eleanor didn't authorize that transfer.””
“You're certain?”” Martin asked the transaction.””
Adrian sat down.
“Eleanor didn't authorize that transfer.””
“You're certain?”” Martin asked.
“Yes. She was already dead.””
I looked at him.
“You said she died shortly after I was born.””
“She did.””
“Then how could her name appear on a transaction years.
“Yes. She was already dead.””
I looked at him.
“You said she died shortly after I was born.””
“She did.””
“Then how could her name appear on a transaction years later?””
He rubbed his forehead.
“Because someone wanted the transfer to look legitimate.””
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
I stepped closer.
“You keep saying that.””
“Because it's true.””
“Did later?””
He rubbed his forehead.
“Because someone wanted the transfer to look legitimate.””
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
I stepped closer.
“You keep saying that.””
“Because it's true.””
“Did my father know?””
“I don't know whether he discovered the transfer. But I know he was investigating irregularities in the hospital records before he died.””
I thought of the message hidden inside the trophy.
my father know?””
“I don't know whether he discovered the transfer. But I know he was investigating irregularities in the hospital records before he died.””
I thought of the message hidden inside the trophy.
He knows what Vanessa did.
“Then maybe the money wasn't the only thing she took.””
Adrian looked at me.
“What do you mean?””
“My father might have discovered whatHe knows what Vanessa did.
“Then maybe the money wasn't the only thing she took.””
Adrian looked at me.
“What do you mean?””
“My father might have discovered what happened to me. Maybe that's why he hid the photograph.””
The room fell silent.
Martin cleared his throat.
“It's a possibility. But we need to separate what we can happened to me. Maybe that's why he hid the photograph.””
The room fell silent.
Martin cleared his throat.
“It's a possibility. But we need to separate what we can prove from what we suspect.””
I nodded.
He was right.
I had spent years wanting someone to tell me the truth.
prove from what we suspect.””
I nodded.
He was right.
I had spent years wanting someone to tell me the truth.
Now that I was finally getting close to it, I couldn't afford to mistake fear for evidence.
Rebecca gathered the documents.
“We'll request the original banking records and obtain the hospitalNow that I was finally getting close to it, I couldn't afford to mistake fear for evidence.
Rebecca gathered the documents.
“We'll request the original banking records and obtain the hospital's remaining archived files. Until then, Nia should remain somewhere secure.””
“I can stay with Mrs. Alvarez's remaining archived files. Until then, Nia should remain somewhere secure.””
“I can stay with Mrs. Alvarez,” I said.
Adrian nodded.
“That sounds sensible.””
I looked at him.
“You're not going to insist,” I said.
Adrian nodded.
“That sounds sensible.””
I looked at him.
“You're not going to insist I stay with you?””
“No.””
“Even though you've been searching for me for seventeen years?””
He met my gaze.
“Finding you doesn't give me ownership of your life.””
For a moment, I couldn't I stay with you?””
“No.””
“Even though you've been searching for me for seventeen years?””
He met my gaze.
“Finding you doesn't give me ownership of your life.””
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then I picked up the championship trophy and held it against my chest.
“I want to go home to speak.
Then I picked up the championship trophy and held it against my chest.
“I want to go home to collect my things.””
Rebecca frowned.
“Are you sure?””
“No. But I need my father's tools collect my things.””
Rebecca frowned.
“Are you sure?””
“No. But I need my father's tools, my sketchbooks, and the rest of my designs.””
“We can arrange for an officer to, my sketchbooks, and the rest of my designs.””
“We can arrange for an officer to accompany you.””
I nodded.
“Tomorrow morning.””
Adrian stood.
“I'll make sure the arrangements are in place.””
I looked at him.
“And Adrian?””
“Yes?””
accompany you.””
I nodded.
“Tomorrow morning.””
Adrian stood.
“I'll make sure the arrangements are in place.””
I looked at him.
“And Adrian?””
“Yes?””
“If you discover anything about my mother, I want to hear it from you. Not from a stranger sending me anonymous photographs“If you discover anything about my mother, I want to hear it from you. Not from a stranger sending me anonymous photographs.””
He lowered his head.
“You have my word.””
That evening, I slept at Mrs. Alvarez's house.
I placed the championship trophy.””
He lowered his head.
“You have my word.””
That evening, I slept at Mrs. Alvarez's house.
I placed the championship trophy on the bedside table and turned off the lamp.
For the first time in years, I didn't have to listen for Vanessa's footsteps outside my door.
But at 2:16 a on the bedside table and turned off the lamp.
For the first time in years, I didn't have to listen for Vanessa's footsteps outside my door.
But at 2:16 a.m., my phone rang.
It was Rebecca.
“Nia, I'm sorry to wake you.””
I sat up.
“What happened?””
“The.m., my phone rang.
It was Rebecca.
“Nia, I'm sorry to wake you.””
I sat up.
“What happened?””
“The hospital archive has responded to our request. They found a document that wasn't included in the original investigation.””
My heart began to pound.
“What document?””
“A signed statement from a hospital archive has responded to our request. They found a document that wasn't included in the original investigation.””
My heart began to pound.
“What document?””
“A signed statement from a nurse who was on duty the night you disappeared.””
I gripped the phone.
“What does it say?””
Rebecca hesitated.
“According to the statement, your mother was nurse who was on duty the night you disappeared.””
I gripped the phone.
“What does it say?””
Rebecca hesitated.
“According to the statement, your mother was alive when you were removed from the hospital.””
I couldn't breathe.
“Removed by whom?””
Rebecca's voice grew quieter.
alive when you were removed from the hospital.””
I couldn't breathe.
“Removed by whom?””
Rebecca's voice grew quieter.
“The nurse identified the person who carried you out.””
A pause.
May you like
Then she spoke the name.
“Vanessa Hayes.””
