Chapter 23 - Marcus Comes Home
Marcus appeared at Rachel’s front gate before sunrise.
Isaac spotted him first and called across the street.
Rachel watched through the upstairs window as Marcus placed both hands on the gate and looked toward the house.
His clothes were dirty. One side of his face was swollen, but there was no visible blood. He carried no bag and wore no coat despite the cold.
Tessa told Rachel not to open the door.
Marcus sat on the pavement.
“I’ll stay here until she listens,” he called toward Isaac.
Police arrived ten minutes later. Marcus surrendered without resistance.
Because of the outstanding fraud investigation, officers took him into custody. Before entering the car, he asked to speak with Rachel under supervision.
They met in an interview room at the courthouse.
Marcus looked smaller than Rachel remembered. The confident man who had once issued rules inside her kitchen now struggled to hold a paper cup without shaking.
“Did you tell me the truth about seeing my mother?” Rachel asked.
“I saw a woman who looked like the photographs in your study.”
“Where?”
“At Victor’s house.”
“When?”
“The first night he explained the plan.”
Marcus described a private meeting held six months before the wedding. Victor had shown him property records, photographs of Rachel, and a detailed summary of her finances.
A woman entered halfway through the meeting.
She was older than Rachel’s mother had been when she died, but Marcus recognized the same eyes, posture, and green-stone ring.
“She told Victor not to involve you emotionally,” Marcus said.
“You married me.”
“I know.”
“You spent two years convincing me you loved me.”
“At first, I was supposed to make you sign a refinancing agreement. Then you trusted me, and I—”
“Do not turn this into a confession about your feelings.”
Marcus lowered his eyes.
Rachel placed the glass-folder photographs on the table.
“Who are these people?”
“Owners of properties connected to the underground system.”
“Where are they now?”
“I don’t know.”
“Their faces were crossed out.”
Marcus studied the images.
“I saw this folder in Victor’s office. There was another photograph behind yours.”
“Whose?”
“Olivia’s.”
Rachel did not react.
Marcus leaned closer.
“She wasn’t recruited to introduce us. She recruited Victor.”
“Olivia admitted she was paid.”
“She was paid afterward. The money made her look like an intermediary rather than the person who started it.”
“Why would she target me?”
“I don’t know. She said you took something that belonged to her family.”
Rachel remembered Eleanor Vale’s name.
“Is Olivia related to the Vales?”
“She told me her mother changed their surname.”
Before Marcus could say more, Tessa entered the room holding her phone.
The secure hotel had been searched.
Marjorie Pike was safe with police.
Olivia was gone.
May you like
On the hotel mirror, someone had written a message in red lipstick.
RACHEL HAS THE WRONG SISTER.
