Chapter 9 - The Woman With Evelyn’s Face
David did not believe in ghosts.
He did not believe his mother had returned from dead.
So Emma had either mistaken another woman or seen manipulated image.
Claire checked devices.
Hidden app had been installed on her phone.
Removed itself after use.
Cybersecurity recovered fragment.
Video caller wore short gray hair and red glasses.
Facial similarity to Evelyn was strong.
But woman was older than Evelyn at death.
Could be relative.
David’s mother had one sister.
Margaret Bennett Shaw.
Alive.
Seventy-one.
Estranged from family for twenty years.
David had not seen her since funeral.
Margaret was located in Vermont.
Photograph matched Emma’s description.
Short gray hair.
Red glasses.
Why would David’s aunt secretly video-call Claire’s phone?
Margaret admitted it.
“I was trying to reach Claire.”
“How did you get into her phone?”
“I didn't. Someone sent me link and said Claire needed warning.”
Who?
Anonymous.
“What warning?”
“Don't let capsule go back to Meridian.”
“How did you know about it?”
“Evelyn told me before she died.”
There.
Evelyn knew File Nine.
Margaret said Evelyn discovered Kessler study used samples from her children without proper consent.
She confronted William.
Their marriage nearly ended.
William shut home clinic and created reserve.
But he did not expose company publicly.
Why?
Board threatened collapse, lawsuits, lost jobs.
William chose internal compensation and secrecy.
Morally compromised.
Margaret hated him for it.
Then David asked:
“Why did Emma think you were my mother?”
Margaret smiled sadly.
“We were sisters. People said we looked alike.”
No resurrection.
No supernatural twist.
But why anonymous person connected Margaret now?
Someone wanted capsule preserved.
Another faction wanted it destroyed.
David’s family was caught between.
Then Helen Ward was found.
Not kidnapped.
She had voluntarily checked into hotel under another name.
She returned with attorney.
“I didn't order destruction.”
“Your note said CAST RECOVERED?”
Helen explained anonymous caller told her stolen capsule was hidden in child’s orthopedic cast.
She wrote question after seeing security alert.
Who was caller?
Voice altered.
Helen believed insider.
Then she revealed something larger.
File Nine had already been copied.
Three months ago.
The same day Emma’s fake authorization profile was created.
Meaning whoever used Emma’s identity was not simply destroying evidence.
They first duplicated it.
Why?
Leverage.
Blackmail.
Insurance against company.
Then Helen produced audit.
A series of payments over seven years:
$95,000 annually.
Recipient:
C. LAWSON.
Claire’s maiden name.
Total:
$665,000.
David slowly turned toward wife.
Claire stared at page.
“I've never received that money.”
May you like
Helen replied:
“Then somebody has been receiving it in your name.”
