Chapter 8 - THE WOMAN WHO REMEMBERED EVERYTHING
"Daniel took his daughter away."
Nomi stared at the cassette recorder.
The words seemed impossible.
"My father took Sofia?"
Caroline Price nodded slowly.
"To protect her."
"Then why did everyone say he stole money?"
"Because Salvatore needed a reason for both families to hunt him."
Tristan stood beside the desk.
He had spent eleven years believing the Mercer scandal began with stolen funds.
Now he was beginning to understand that the missing money had been a convenient story.
The real dispute involved a frightened mother, her little girl, and a dangerous man who believed his family belonged to him.
Nomi looked at Caroline.
"Is Sofia alive?"
"As far as I know."
"Does she know what happened?"
"I don't know."
Tristan examined the cassette.
"Rebecca said my mother tried to stop this. What did she mean?"
Caroline looked uncomfortable.
"Your mother knew more about the harbor operation than Anthony realized."
Tristan's throat tightened.
"My father said she left because she couldn't bear the danger."
"She left because she'd discovered what he was helping conceal."
The words struck harder than Tristan expected.
For years, he'd carried quiet resentment toward his mother.
She had disappeared from his daily life when he was still young enough to need her.
Anthony had told him she'd chosen comfort over family.
Tristan had believed him.
Now Caroline was telling him another story.
"Did she know about Daniel?"
"Yes."
"Did she help him?"
Caroline nodded.
"She paid for temporary housing and medical treatment for several people who escaped the docks."
Tristan sat down.
He remembered his mother keeping envelopes in her sewing basket.
He remembered his father mocking her charitable donations.
He remembered one terrible argument when she'd told Anthony there were things money couldn't excuse.
He'd been seventeen.
He hadn't understood.
Now he did.
Nomi sat beside him.
For a moment, she forgot her own pain.
"Your mother was trying to help."
Tristan stared at the floor.
"And I believed she abandoned us."
Caroline quietly returned the recorder to the desk.
"Anthony made certain that was the story you heard."
Nomi reached for Tristan's hand.
He accepted it.
Neither spoke.
Then Nomi asked, "Where is the rest of my mother's recording?"
Caroline frowned.
"That's everything."
"No."
Nomi pointed to the cassette.
"The tape hasn't finished."
Caroline pressed PLAY again.
The hiss returned.
Then Rebecca's voice emerged.
"Daniel, if you're listening instead of Nomi, I know you'll be angry that I made this."
A faint laugh.
"I've never been particularly good at following instructions."
Nomi smiled through her tears.
That sounded exactly like her mother.
Rebecca continued.
"Elena has agreed to give her statement. Raymond has copied the payment records. And Anthony's wife says she will confirm what she witnessed."
Tristan leaned forward.
"There's one thing I'm afraid of," Rebecca said. "Salvatore knows Elena wants to leave him. He believes the child belongs to him, no matter what Elena says."
Another pause.
"If Elena cannot get away, Daniel, promise me you won't leave Sofia behind."
The tape clicked.
Nomi stared at the recorder.
"That's why Dad took her."
Caroline nodded.
"He was keeping Rebecca's promise."
Tristan looked toward the old photograph.
The young woman holding the baby appeared exhausted.
But she was smiling.
"Where did Elena go?"
Caroline's face tightened.
"She tried to reach a safe location in Pennsylvania. She never arrived."
Nomi closed her eyes.
"And Sofia?"
"Daniel took her somewhere Salvatore couldn't find her."
"Where?"
Caroline shook her head.
"Raymond never told me."
Tristan stood.
"But Marcus knows."
"Perhaps."
"He knew about the payments. He knew about this building. He's been protecting something."
Nomi looked at him.
"Or somebody."
Tristan nodded.
Elias appeared at the doorway.
"Boss, we have a problem."
Tristan turned.
"What happened?"
"Vincent Vargo went to the estate."
Nomi's face drained.
"How did he get through security?"
"He didn't. The guards kept him outside."
"Then what's the problem?"
"He brought someone."
Elias held out his phone.
On the screen was a security image from the estate's front gate.
Vincent stood beside a middle-aged woman wearing a dark green coat.
Her hair was streaked with gray.
She looked frightened but determined.
Nomi studied her face.
Something about the eyes seemed familiar.
"Who is she?"
Elias swallowed.
"She says she's Elena Greco."
Caroline gripped the back of the armchair.
"That's impossible."
Tristan looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because Raymond told me Elena had been killed thirteen years ago."
Nomi stared at the woman on the screen.
If Elena was alive, she could explain what happened at Pier 9.
She might even know where Daniel went.
"Call the estate," Nomi said.
Tristan looked at her.
"I already asked Elias to make sure she's safe."
"No. I need to speak to her."
Elias connected the security office through his phone.
A guard answered.
"Sir?"
"Put the woman on."
There was movement.
Then a woman's voice.
"Hello?"
Nomi took the phone.
"My name is Nomi Mercer."
The woman inhaled sharply.
"Rebecca's daughter?"
"Yes."
There was a long silence.
Then Elena began crying.
"Oh, sweetheart."
Nomi gripped the phone.
"Do you know my father?"
"Yes."
"Where is he?"
Elena didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she asked, "Are you safe?"
Nomi looked at Tristan.
"For the moment."
"Listen carefully. Vincent doesn't know everything. He's frightened because Salvatore has started questioning the old accounts."
"Why are you with Vincent?"
"Because I asked him to bring me to you."
Nomi frowned.
"Why would he help?"
Elena's voice trembled.
"Because Vincent is my nephew."
Tristan exchanged a stunned glance with Elias.
Vincent Vargo wasn't simply a Moretti earner.
He was connected by blood to the woman Daniel Mercer had tried to protect.
Nomi thought of the bruises on her ribs.
"Vincent hurt me."
There was silence.
Then Elena whispered, "I know."
Nomi's grip tightened.
"You knew?"
"He told me yesterday. He said he'd done something terrible and couldn't undo it."
Nomi felt anger rise.
"Then why are you standing beside him?"
"Because I made him bring me here before Salvatore found me."
"Where have you been all these years?"
"Hiding."
"From your husband?"
"Yes."
Nomi looked at the photograph of Elena holding baby Sofia.
"Did my father help you escape?"
"Not directly. He helped my daughter. Raymond helped me afterward."
"Where is Sofia now?"
Elena began crying again.
"She's safe."
"Do you see her?"
"No. That's the price I've paid for keeping her alive."
Nomi closed her eyes.
A mother had spent thirteen years separated from her child.
A daughter had grown up without knowing why.
And her father had been caught between them.
"Elena," she whispered, "what happened to my dad?"
The woman took a shaky breath.
"I need to tell you in person."
Nomi looked at Tristan.
He nodded once.
"Come to Harbor Light," he said. "Elias will arrange a safe route. Vincent can remain outside."
Elena hesitated.
"There's something else."
"What?"
"I have Raymond's final letter."
Nomi's breath caught.
"He left you a letter?"
"Yes. He made me promise not to give it to anyone until I found Rebecca's daughter."
"Why?"
Elena began crying harder.
"Because it explains why Daniel never came home."
The connection crackled.
Vincent's voice sounded faintly in the background.
"Aunt Elena, we have to move."
Nomi heard Elena take a breath.
Then the woman spoke again.
"Your father didn't abandon you, sweetheart."
Nomi closed her eyes.
"I know."
"No," Elena whispered. "You don't."
A long pause followed.
May you like
Then came the words Nomi had spent eleven years longing to hear.
"Daniel Mercer is alive."
