The message appeared on Raven's phone at 6:14 a.m.
They're coming.
Raven stared at the words.
She had barely slept.
Eleanor was still asleep in the guest room of the penthouse after they had spent most of the night going through the information Andrea had uncovered.
The mysterious property.
Ellen Hale's name on the deed.
Her mother's former security chief.
The footage from the night Ellen died.
Too many unanswered questions.
Raven had learned one thing over the years:
When too many pieces suddenly began falling into place, someone was usually moving them.
She looked toward the hallway.
Eleanor needed rest.
For the first time since their relationship had become official, Raven felt a strange sense of peace.
Then her phone vibrated again.
Andrea:
The property is occupied.
Raven typed back.
Raven:
By whom?
The reply came quickly.
Andrea:
We're trying to confirm.
Raven stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
Andrea:
There's something else. Mark Vance left the city two hours ago.
Raven's expression hardened.
Of course.
Mark knew.
Maybe he had always known.
Raven slipped her phone into her pocket.
She wasn't going to wake Eleanor.
Not yet.
She needed answers first.
---
Eleanor woke shortly after seven.
The first thing she noticed was the unfamiliar ceiling.
Then she remembered.
Raven's penthouse.
Last night.
Their conversation.
Their confession.
Their first official step into being a couple.
A smile slowly appeared on her face.
She sat up.
Then reality returned.
Ellen.
The photograph.
The memories.
Her father.
The silver mask.
The smile disappeared.
Eleanor walked into the living room.
Raven was standing by the windows, dressed in a black suit.
"You're awake."
Eleanor looked at her.
"You look like you're about to declare war on someone."
Raven smiled.
"Maybe I am."
Eleanor walked closer.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing you need to worry about."
Eleanor immediately frowned.
"Raven."
Raven sighed.
"I received information about the property."
"The one registered under Ellen's name?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"Someone is living there."
Eleanor's eyes widened.
"Who?"
"We don't know yet."
"Then let's find out."
Raven hesitated.
"Eleanor…"
"No."
She stepped closer.
"Don't tell me to stay behind."
"I wasn't."
"You were thinking about it."
Raven smiled.
"You're getting to know me too well."
"I'm your girlfriend now. I'm allowed."
The word made Raven smile.
"Girlfriend."
Eleanor laughed.
"You like saying it."
"Very much."
Raven took her hand.
"But this could be dangerous."
"So could staying here while you investigate alone."
Raven looked at her.
Eleanor squeezed her fingers.
"If the person inside that house knows something about Ellen, I want to be there."
Raven finally nodded.
"Then you stay beside me."
"Always."
---
At the same time, Mark Vance sat inside a private room at a hotel outside the city.
Adrian stood near the window.
"You should have stopped her earlier."
Mark looked at him.
"She's my daughter."
"And Raven is becoming obsessed with finding the truth."
Mark's jaw tightened.
"She doesn't know everything."
"She knows enough."
Adrian turned.
"The property."
Mark didn't respond.
"She found it?"
"Yes."
Adrian's expression darkened.
"Then the man needs to leave."
"No."
Adrian frowned.
"What?"
"It's too late."
Mark stood.
"If he leaves now, Raven will know we were hiding something."
"She already knows."
Mark walked toward the window.
For several seconds, he watched the highway below.
Then he spoke quietly.
"I made mistakes."
Adrian laughed bitterly.
"You call them mistakes?"
Mark looked at him.
"I was trying to protect Eleanor."
"And Ellen?"
Mark's expression changed.
Adrian stepped closer.
"You always say everything was done for Eleanor."
Mark's voice became cold.
"Because it was."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"I don't care what you believe."
Adrian stared at him.
"You're losing control."
Mark turned.
"No."
He looked directly at his brother.
"I'm losing patience."
---
The drive to the Hale property took nearly two hours.
Raven drove.
Eleanor sat beside her.
Neither spoke much.
The city gradually disappeared behind them.
Buildings became smaller.
Then there were trees.
Long stretches of road.
Finally, Raven turned onto a narrow private lane.
Eleanor looked through the windshield.
"It's beautiful."
Raven nodded.
"Too quiet."
They continued until an old iron gate appeared.
The gate was unlocked.
Raven stopped the car.
Eleanor looked at her.
"That's strange."
"Very."
Raven got out.
She approached the gate.
A small plaque was attached to the stone wall.
HALE ESTATE.
Eleanor stepped beside her.
"Are you sure this belonged to Ellen?"
Raven nodded.
"My mother never mentioned it."
"Maybe she wanted it hidden."
"From whom?"
Eleanor looked at her.
"Everyone."
Raven looked toward the house.
It was large.
Beautiful.
But old.
Several windows were covered with curtains.
Smoke rose from one chimney.
Someone was definitely inside.
Raven reached for Eleanor's hand.
"Stay close."
"I will."
They walked toward the front door.
Raven knocked.
Nothing.
She knocked again.
Still nothing.
Then the door opened.
A man stood there.
Older.
Tall.
His hair had turned gray.
Raven immediately recognized him.
She had seen him in the footage.
Ellen's security chief.
Raven's voice became cold.
"Victor."
The man's face changed.
"Raven."
Eleanor looked between them.
"You know him?"
"He worked for my mother."
Victor stepped aside.
"You shouldn't be here."
Raven entered.
"Why?"
"Because your mother didn't want you to find this place."
Raven froze.
Eleanor stepped inside behind her.
"What do you mean?"
Victor looked at Eleanor.
His expression changed.
"You…"
Eleanor frowned.
"Do I know you?"
"No."
Victor stared at her for a long moment.
Then he whispered,
"You were there."
Eleanor's stomach dropped.
"Where?"
Victor looked at Raven.
"The night Ellen died."
Silence.
Raven stepped forward.
"What happened?"
Victor shook his head.
"Not here."
"Then where?"
He looked toward the hallway.
"Come with me."
---
Victor led them into a study.
Old photographs covered the walls.
Eleanor stopped.
There were photographs of Ellen.
So many.
Ellen at charity events.
Ellen with Raven as a child.
Ellen with Mark.
Ellen with Adrian.
Then Eleanor saw something that made her heart stop.
A photograph of herself as a child.
She was sitting on Ellen's lap.
Ellen was smiling.
Eleanor touched the frame.
"I don't remember this."
Victor looked at her.
"You weren't supposed to."
Raven's expression hardened.
"Who made her forget?"
Victor didn't answer.
Raven stepped closer.
"Victor."
"I can't tell you everything."
"Why?"
"Because Ellen made me promise."
Raven's eyes widened.
"My mother asked you to keep secrets from me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Victor looked at Eleanor.
"Because she believed keeping the truth from you was the only way to keep you alive."
Eleanor's breathing became shallow.
"Alive from what?"
Victor finally looked at Raven.
"From the Blackwood Circle."
Raven went still.
"You knew about them?"
"I worked for Ellen."
"And Mark?"
Victor nodded.
"Mark was involved."
"Adrian?"
"Yes."
"The woman in the silver mask?"
Victor's expression changed.
"Yes."
Raven's voice dropped.
"Who is she?"
Victor looked away.
"I can't tell you."
Raven slammed her hand onto the table.
"Everyone keeps saying that!"
Victor didn't flinch.
"Because Ellen made us swear."
Raven stared at him.
"She's dead."
Victor's eyes became sad.
"I know."
"Then her promises don't matter anymore."
"They do to me."
Raven took a breath.
"Then tell me one thing."
Victor waited.
"Did Mark kill my mother?"
Victor's expression changed.
"No."
Raven froze.
Eleanor looked at him.
"Did Adrian?"
"No."
"Then who?"
Victor looked at the photograph of Ellen.
His voice became barely audible.
"Ellen wasn't supposed to die."
Raven's heart sank.
"What happened?"
"She discovered something."
"What?"
Victor hesitated.
"An operation."
"By the Blackwood Circle?"
"Yes."
"What kind?"
Victor looked at Eleanor.
"One involving children."
Eleanor's face went pale.
Raven immediately noticed.
"What kind of children?"
Victor didn't answer.
Eleanor suddenly grabbed her head.
A memory hit her.
A hallway.
Several doors.
Children crying.
Ellen running toward her.
A woman shouting.
A silver mask.
Eleanor stumbled.
Raven caught her.
"Eleanor!"
"I remember…"
"What?"
Eleanor's breathing became uneven.
"I remember this house."
Victor closed his eyes.
"Oh God."
Raven looked at him.
"You knew she would remember."
Victor stared at Eleanor.
"Yes."
Eleanor looked at him.
"Why?"
Victor's face was filled with guilt.
"Because I was the one who took you out of here."
Raven froze.
"What?"
Victor looked at Eleanor.
"I carried you out the night Ellen died."
Eleanor's eyes widened.
"You?"
Victor nodded.
"You were unconscious."
"Why?"
Victor's voice trembled.
"Because you had been drugged."
Raven's expression hardened.
"Who drugged her?"
Victor looked toward the window.
Before he could answer, a car stopped outside.
Victor immediately went silent.
Raven moved toward the window.
A black SUV had arrived.
Two men stepped out.
Then another.
Eleanor moved beside her.
"Who are they?"
Raven's eyes narrowed.
"I don't know."
Victor looked terrified.
"You need to leave."
"Why?"
"They found you."
Raven turned.
"Who?"
Victor looked at the door.
Then came a knock.
Three slow knocks.
Victor whispered,
"Adrian."
Raven's expression became ruthless.
She stepped in front of Eleanor.
"Stay behind me."
Eleanor shook her head.
"No."
"Eleanor—"
"I'm not hiding anymore."
The door opened.
Adrian stood there.
His eyes moved from Raven to Eleanor.
Then he smiled.
"Finally."
Raven stared at him.
"What do you want?"
Adrian's smile widened.
"Not what I want."
He looked directly at Eleanor.
"What she remembers."
Eleanor's blood ran cold.
Adrian took one step inside.
"And unfortunately for all of us…"
His eyes hardened.
"She is starting to remember everything."
To be continued…