Chapter 4: The Woman They Tried to Erase
"Unless we're already too late.""
Walter's words followed me out of the security office.
I clutched the photograph of my mother as Darius led us through the hotel's private corridor. My mind kept returning to the same question.
How could someone keep a mother away from her child for twenty-four years?
And how could that mother survive knowing her daughter was somewhere in the world, believing she was dead?
Walter walked ahead of us, struggling to fasten his jacket.
"Darius, get the car ready.""
"Already done, sir.""
"Contact the residence. Tell them nobody is authorized to move Denise without my personal approval.""
Darius hesitated.
"Sir, there's a complication.""
Walter stopped.
"What complication?""
"The transfer order carries your electronic authorization.""
Walter stared at him.
"That's impossible.""
"I checked the system. It was approved using your executive credentials.""
"Someone used my account.""
Darius nodded.
"That's what I suspect.""
I stepped forward.
"Can we argue about who signed it later? My mother is being taken somewhere.""
Walter looked at me.
"You're right. Let's go.""
We reached the underground parking garage.
A black Mercedes waited near the private elevator.
Darius opened the rear door.
But before I could climb inside, a security officer hurried toward us.
"Mr. Bellmont!""
Walter turned.
"What now?""
"Miss Bellmont has ordered the building placed under restricted access.""
"On whose authority?""
"Her authority as chief executive.""
Walter's expression hardened.
"This is my hotel.""
The officer lowered his eyes.
"She says nobody is permitted to leave with company vehicles until the incident investigation is completed.""
I looked at Walter.
"She's trying to stop us.""
He nodded.
"She's trying to buy time.""
Darius took out his phone.
"Sir, I can get us another vehicle through the service entrance.""
"Do it.""
The officer looked uncomfortable.
"Mr. Bellmont, I could lose my job.""
Walter stepped toward him.
"Young man, if you help us get to a woman who has been imprisoned for twenty-four years, I will personally make sure your job is the last thing you need to worry about.""
The officer looked at me.
Then he moved aside.
"Service entrance. Two minutes.""
The private medical residence stood outside the city, surrounded by high stone walls and carefully trimmed trees.
It looked more like an expensive country hotel than a medical facility.
But something about the place unsettled me.
There were cameras at every gate.
Security guards stood beside the entrance.
And the receptionist looked frightened the moment Walter gave his name.
"Mr. Bellmont?""
"Yes. I'm here to see Denise Cole.""
The receptionist looked at her computer.
"I'm afraid Mrs. Cole is unavailable.""
Walter placed both hands on the counter.
"Where is she?""
"She's being transferred.""
"To where?""
"I'm not authorized to disclose that information.""
Walter leaned closer.
"I founded the company that pays your salary.""
The receptionist swallowed.
"Mr. Bellmont, I received instructions from the executive office. Mrs. Cole's transfer was approved this afternoon.""
"By whom?""
She glanced toward the security guard.
Then she whispered, "Miss Bellmont.""
I stepped forward.
"Please. I'm her daughter.""
The receptionist looked at me.
For a moment, her expression softened.
"You're Avery?""
My heart stopped.
"How do you know my name?""
She looked down at the desk.
"Your mother talks about you.""
I gripped the counter.
"She's here?""
The receptionist nodded.
"She was here this morning.""
"Then take me to her.""
"I can't.""
"Why not?""
Her eyes filled.
"Because the transfer team came an hour ago. They took her through the rear entrance.""
Walter's face turned pale.
"Did you see the vehicle?""
"Yes.""
"License plate?""
The receptionist shook her head.
"They covered it.""
Darius stepped forward.
"Was there a driver?""
"Two men. One woman. They showed me paperwork.""
"Did Mrs. Cole go willingly?""
The receptionist hesitated.
Then she looked directly at me.
"No.""
My stomach dropped.
"What do you mean?""
"She was crying. She kept saying she couldn't leave because her daughter was coming.""
I pressed my hand over my mouth.
"Did she say anything else?""
The receptionist reached beneath the counter.
She produced a small folded piece of paper.
"I found this in her room after they left.""
I unfolded it.
The handwriting was shaky.
If Avery comes, please tell her I waited.
Below it was a short sentence.
Tell her to look where the bells ring.
I read it twice.
"What does that mean?""
Walter's face changed.
He took the paper from me.
"Where the bells ring...""
He looked at Darius.
"The old chapel.""
I frowned.
"What old chapel?""
Walter turned toward me.
"Your mother used to visit a little chapel behind the original Bellmont property. Before the hotel was expanded.""
"Why would she leave that message?""
"I don't know.""
Darius was already reaching for his phone.
"I'll contact the police.""
Walter nodded.
"Do that. And preserve every document relating to the transfer.""
The receptionist suddenly spoke.
"There's something else.""
We turned.
She looked terrified.
"Before they took Mrs. Cole away, one of the men asked whether her daughter had arrived.""
I stepped closer.
"What did you tell him?""
"That nobody had come.""
She began crying.
"I'm sorry.""
I shook my head.
"You're not the one who should be apologizing.""
Walter looked toward the exit.
"Come on. We have somewhere to be.""
The old chapel stood behind the original hotel grounds.
It was a small brick building with a weathered wooden door and a bell tower that hadn't been used in years.
I followed Walter up the narrow path.
The evening wind moved through the trees.
"Why did my mother come here?"" I asked.
Walter walked slowly.
"She used to say the chapel was the only place where she could speak without someone listening.""
"Someone was watching her?""
"Simone had people monitoring her.""
I stopped.
"Your daughter had my mother watched?""
Walter turned.
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you stop her?""
He looked as though I'd struck him.
"I should have.""
"That doesn't answer my question.""
"No," he said quietly.
"It doesn't.""
Darius approached from behind.
"Mr. Bellmont, I've spoken with the police. They're checking the transfer vehicle.""
"Good.""
"There's also something you should see.""
He held out his phone.
A photograph showed a dark medical transport van leaving the residence.
The image was grainy.
But the timestamp was clear.
I looked at the screen.
"That's the van?""
"Yes.""
Darius enlarged the image.
A small symbol was visible on the rear door.
The Bellmont Foundation logo.
Walter went completely still.
"That's not a medical transport vehicle.""
"What is it?"" I asked.
He looked at Darius.
"It's one of our private foundation vehicles.""
"Why would it be used to move my mother?""
Walter didn't answer.
He walked toward the chapel door.
The lock was old, but the door opened when he pushed it.
Inside, dust covered the wooden benches.
Sunlight slipped through colored glass, painting red and blue shapes across the floor.
I moved toward the altar.
There was a small wooden box beneath it.
My name was written on the lid.
AVERY.
I knelt and opened it.
Inside lay a baby bracelet, a tiny knitted hat, and several photographs.
One photograph showed my mother holding me.
Another showed her standing beside a younger Walter.
And the last photograph made my blood run cold.
It showed Simone.
She was standing behind my mother.
Her hand rested on Denise's shoulder.
But it wasn't the photograph that frightened me.
It was the date written on the back.
*Three months after my supposed mother's death.*
My fingers tightened around the picture.
"She knew," I whispered.
Walter stared at it.
"Yes.""
"She knew my mother was alive.""
He nodded.
I turned the photograph over again.
There was another handwritten message.
The person who tells you I am dead is the person you must never trust.
I looked up.
"Why would my mother write this?""
Walter's expression darkened.
Before he could answer, Darius's phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
Then his face changed.
"Mr. Bellmont.""
"What?""
"The police found the vehicle.""
"Where?""
Darius swallowed.
"Abandoned beside the old railway station.""
I stood.
"Was my mother inside?""
"No.""
He looked at Walter.
"But they found blood on the rear seat.""
And somewhere beyond the chapel walls, the old bell suddenly began to ring.
Once.
Twice.
Then a third time.
Walter looked toward the tower.
May you like
His voice was barely audible.
"Someone knows we're here.""
