Chapter 10 - The Grandmother
Eleanor had supposedly been living in Switzerland.
That was another lie.
She was inside a private medical estate forty miles away.
Dying.
My mother-in-law had always despised me.
But she adored Melissa.
Or I thought she did.
The genetic records told a different story.
Eleanor needed a transplant.
Thomas was incompatible.
Melissa was a potential match.
Sophie was an even stronger one.
I stared at Thomas through the interview-room glass.
“You let them test your daughter for your mother.”
He cried.
“I never agreed to hurt Melissa.”
“You disappeared for eleven years to work with these people.”
“I was trying to get out.”
“You always seem to be trying after somebody else pays.”
That silenced him.
Harrison’s plan was becoming clear.
Melissa had discovered the network at exactly the wrong time.
Once Harrison realized her genetic value, evidence and opportunity became the same problem.
Wade performed the illegal procedure.
Thomas participated.
Brent brought Melissa there.
All three were guilty.
But none seemed to have intended her death.
That distinction mattered legally.
It did not matter to me.
Then Agent Cole received an emergency call.
Eleanor’s estate was empty.
Medical equipment abandoned.
Harrison had moved her.
Wade had resurfaced with him.
They were preparing something.
For Eleanor.
And Sophie remained the best match.
Federal protection around my granddaughter doubled.
That afternoon, a package arrived at the FBI office.
Sophie’s stuffed rabbit.
But her rabbit was already beside her.
Identical copy.
Inside was a phone.
It rang.
Harrison.
“Mrs. Bennett.”
“You murdered my daughter.”
“No.”
“You operated on her.”
“Wade did.”
“You ordered it.”
Silence.
Then:
“Melissa’s death was unnecessary.”
My hand tightened.
“You say her name again and—”
“Your daughter made a choice.”
“What choice?”
“She chose Sophie.”
I stopped.
Harrison claimed Melissa had discovered Sophie’s compatibility first.
She knew the network would eventually target her child.
So she offered herself.
Testing.
Tissue samples.
Anything that would remove Sophie from consideration.
But after the procedure, Melissa stole evidence.
Harrison refused to let her leave.
Thomas intervened.
Brent panicked.
Wade tried to repair the damage.
Everything collapsed.
“Where are you?”
Harrison laughed softly.
“Ask Sophie.”
The line disconnected.
Sophie was staring at me.
“What?”
She whispered:
“Mommy says flowers.”
“Flowers?”
“White flowers.”
My mind jumped to the funeral.
White lilies.
The black bag had been hidden behind them.
Then Sophie said:
“The man put something in Mommy’s flowers.”
Police retrieved the funeral arrangements before disposal.
Inside one vase was a waterproof capsule.
A key.
Engraved with a number.
The same number as Melissa’s train-station locker.
But this key opened something else.
A private safety-deposit box.
Inside was a handwritten letter from Melissa.
May you like
The first line read:
Mom, if Sophie told you about the flowers, then Harrison still doesn’t understand what she can do.
