Chapter 16: The Truth About Rachel
The darkness came instantly.
One second, I was holding the photograph.
The next, the bookstore disappeared into shadows.
Dr. Harris grabbed my arm.
“Don’t move.””
My heart pounded.
Not because of the darkness.
Because of the timing.
Someone knew exactly where I was.
Someone knew exactly when to interrupt.
A flashlight appeared near the front entrance.
Then another.
People moved between the shelves.
Searching.
Dr. Harris whispered:
“She found us.””
I looked at her.
“Rachel?””
She didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
A voice echoed through the bookstore.
“Emily.””
Rachel.
My chest tightened.
“Rachel, what are you doing?””
Her footsteps moved closer.
“I’m trying to keep you alive.””
The sentence made me angry.
Because everyone who betrayed me had said something similar.
Damon.
Victoria.
Claire.
Everyone claimed they were protecting me.
I stepped into the light.
“You followed me.””
“Yes.””
“You lied to me.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Rachel stopped.
Her face looked exhausted.
Not guilty.
Exhausted.
“Because your mother asked me to.””
The world went silent.
“What?””
Rachel looked at Dr. Harris.
Then back at me.
“She knew I would find you.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Emily—”
“No.””
I backed away.
“You don’t get to use my mother’s name.””
Rachel’s expression broke.
“I knew her before you knew me.””
I stared.
“You were involved.””
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt.
“How?””
Rachel took a breath.
“Your mother was investigating Victoria. She knew she needed someone who could access information without being noticed.””
“And that person was you?””
“I was young.””
“You were my mother’s spy?””
The word sounded cruel.
But it was true.
Rachel looked down.
“I was her assistant.””
I froze.
My mother had never mentioned Rachel.
Because Rachel wasn’t supposed to exist in that part of my life.
“She made me promise something.””
“What?””
“To watch over you.””
I laughed bitterly.
“So all these years, you were pretending to be my friend?””
“No.””
Rachel stepped closer.
“I became your friend because I wanted to.””
I looked away.
“I don’t know what to believe anymore.””
“I know.””
Her voice softened.
“That’s what they did to you.””
She pointed toward the photograph in my hand.
“Look closer.””
I looked down.
The picture of my mother.
The person beside her.
Rachel.
But something was wrong.
The person’s hand looked different.
The watch.
The angle.
I studied it carefully.
Then I realized.
The image had been altered.
I looked at Dr. Harris.
“This was edited.””
She looked surprised.
“What?””
Rachel stepped forward.
“Someone wanted you to think it was me.””
My heart raced.
“Why?””
“Because the easiest way to destroy someone is to make them doubt the person helping them.””
I looked at Rachel.
“Then who was with my mother?””
Rachel reached into her bag.
She pulled out another photo.
A clearer one.
The same moment.
The same location.
This time, the person’s face was visible.
I stared.
And my blood went cold.
It wasn’t Rachel.
It wasn’t Damon.
It wasn’t Victoria.
It was someone I never expected.
Claire’s father.
A man who had supposedly been dead for years.
“Impossible.””
Rachel nodded.
“That’s what everyone thought.””
Dr. Harris looked at me.
“Victoria told everyone he died.””
“Why?””
Rachel answered.
“Because he knew everything.””
The pieces began connecting.
Victoria.
The forged documents.
The money.
The fake identities.
Claire’s involvement.
Her family.
They weren’t just hiding one secret.
They were hiding an entire history.
My phone buzzed.
A message.
From Damon.
*Where are you?*
I stared at it.
Then another message came.
*Your mother trusted the wrong person. Don’t make the same mistake.*
I showed Rachel.
Her face changed.
“He knows about the photos.””
“How?””
She looked toward the door.
“Because someone is still working with him.””
The bookstore suddenly felt too small.
Too many secrets.
Too many people.
I looked at Rachel.
“Tell me everything.””
She nodded.
“Then we need to leave.””
“Why?””
“Because Damon isn’t trying to scare you anymore.””
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A pause.
“He’s trying to make sure you never testify.””
