Chapter 4: The Photograph
596 Words
“Dead?”
Elena stared at Mrs. Whitmore.
“You said my mother was supposed to be dead.”
The older woman looked at Alexander.
“She has a right to know.”
“Go downstairs,” Alexander said.
Mrs. Whitmore hesitated, then left.
Elena turned to Alexander.
“You knew.”
“I suspected.”
“You knew my mother was connected to this family.”
“Yes.”
And you knew people believed she was dead.”
“I didn’t know where she was.”
“My mother was alive until three months ago.”
“I know.”
“How?”
Alexander finally answered.
“She contacted me two weeks before she died.”
Elena stepped closer.
“What did she say?”
“She asked me to protect you.”
“From who?”
“She didn’t say.”
“What did she give you?”
Alexander looked at the black box.
“That.”
Elena opened it.
The silver necklace caught the light.
She turned it over and found a tiny compartment.
What is this?”
She pressed it
A small piece of paper fell out.
Alexander picked it up.
Three words were written on it.
“Trust no Sterling.”
Elena looked at him.
“You’re a Sterling.”
“Yes.”
“So why should I trust you?”
“You shouldn’t trust anyone until you know the truth.”
Alexander opened a locked cabinet.
“This is everything I found after your mother contacted me.”
Elena took the folder.
Inside were old letters, photographs, newspaper clippings and financial records.
Then she saw a photograph.
Her mother stood beside Victor Sterling.
A baby was in her arms.
Elena stared at the child.
“That’s me.”
“Yes.”
“But this picture was taken before I was born.”
“I know.”
She turned it over.
A date was written on the back.
October 14.
Her birth certificate said she was born the following year.
“Someone changed my birth records.”
Alexander nodded.
“That is why your mother disappeared.”
Elena’s voice shook.
“Who am I?”
Alexander’s phone rang.
He answered.
"Yes?"
His face changed.
“What happened?”
He listened.
Then he looked at Elena.
“Your mother’s grave was opened tonight.”
Elena’s blood ran cold.
“Why?”
“They weren’t looking for her.”
“What were they looking for?”
Alexander looked at the photograph.
“Something buried with her.”
Elena grabbed her coat.
“Then we’re going.”
“To the cemetery?”
“Yes.”
Alexander followed.
As they headed downstairs, Mrs. Whitmore watched them from the hall.
Alexander.”
He stopped.
“What?”
Her eyes moved to Elena.
“Be careful.”
“Why?” Elena asked.
Mrs. Whitmore lowered her voice.
“Because the people who changed your records may already know that you are looking for them.”
Elena looked at Alexander.
“Then we better find them first.”
They left the mansion.
A message appeared on Elena’s phone.
“Stop looking.”
She stared at it.
Alexander noticed.
“What does it say?"
Elena locked her phone.
“Nothing that will make me stop.”
Across the street, the same black car waited.
Elena locked her phone.
“Nothing that will make me stop.”
Across the street, the same black car waited.
This time, Elena noticed it.
“They’ve been watching me.”
Alexander looked toward the car.
The engine started.
Then it disappeared around the corner
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