CHAPTER 9 – THE SHADOW BEHIND THE GRAVESTONE
CHAPTER 9 – THE SHADOW BEHIND THE GRAVESTONE
The west chapel had been closed for forty years.
A trapdoor beneath the altar led to an underground chamber.
Rows of metal cabinets filled the space.
Each drawer contained a file on a child.
Across every cover appeared one word.
CANDIDATE.
Emily opened Sophia Ashford's file.
Inside was a custody agreement signed by William Ashford.
It exchanged one daughter's legal identity for relief from the Ashford family's debts.
Daniel studied the signature.
"This is forged."
Margaret agreed.
William had never formed the letter W that way.
Thomas found a hidden recorder beneath the desk.
It activated when Emily touched the file.
A woman's voice filled the chamber.
"You think this was about money."
"It never was."
"I was the second child."
Emily looked at Daniel.
The voice continued.
"The greatest lie was not who Emily is."
"It was who Sophia became."
A security officer shouted from the chapel entrance.
They had found Vanessa unconscious near the cemetery wall.
She had been shot in the shoulder.
May you like
Before losing consciousness, she repeated one name.
Sophia.
