The message from Andrea remained on Raven's screen.
He's in Italy.
Raven read it twice.
Then a third time.
Eleanor noticed the change in her expression.
"What is it?"
Raven turned the phone toward her.
Eleanor read the message.
Her face immediately tightened.
"Italy?"
Andrea called before either of them could say anything else.
Raven answered.
"Tell me everything."
Andrea's voice came through the speaker.
"His name is Dr. Alexander Cross. He's been living in Italy for the last three years."
"Where?"
"Florence."
Eleanor's eyes widened.
"Florence?"
Raven looked at her.
"You know something?"
Eleanor shook her head.
"No. I just… I remember that name.
Andrea continued.
"He operates a private medical research facility outside Florence. Very exclusive.
Almost impossible to access without an appointment."
Raven frowned.
"Why is he there?
"That part is complicated."
"Explain."
Andrea paused.
"His official reason is medical research. But we've traced several financial transfers from accounts connected to Mark Vance to his Italian foundation."
Raven's expression hardened.
"How much?"
"Enough to make him more than a former family doctor."
Eleanor looked at Raven.
"Do you think he's still working for my father?"
Andrea hesitated.
"I think he's working for someone."
Raven immediately understood.
"Blackwood."
"We can't prove it yet."
"Then prove it."
"I knew you'd say that."
Raven ended the call.
Victor looked at her.
"You're going to Italy."
It wasn't a question.
Raven looked toward Eleanor.
"Yes."
Eleanor's eyes met hers.
"I'm coming."
Raven didn't argue.
"Pack a bag."
They left the Hale estate before sunrise.
Victor stayed behind with instructions to secure Ellen's files.
Raven's private jet was waiting.
Eleanor sat beside her near the window as the aircraft climbed above the clouds.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Then Eleanor reached across the space between them.
Raven took her hand.
"Are you scared?" Raven asked.
"Yes."
"Me too."
Eleanor looked at her in surprise.
"You?"
Raven smiled faintly.
"I'm not afraid of many things."
"And this?"
"Losing you."
Eleanor squeezed her hand.
"You won't."
Raven looked at her.
"You can't promise that."
"I know."
Eleanor smiled.
"But I'm going to try very hard to make sure it doesn't happen."
Raven laughed softly.
"That's my girlfriend."
Eleanor smiled.
"I like hearing you say that."
"I like saying it."
Their smiles faded when Eleanor remembered the doctor.
"Raven?"
"Hmm?"
"What if he knows why my memories were erased?"
"Then we'll make him tell us."
"What if he knows what happened to Ellen?"
"Then we'll find out."
"And if he knows who killed her?"
Raven looked directly at her.
"Then whoever did it will answer for it."
By the time they arrived in Italy, the sun was beginning to set.
The drive from the airport to Florence was quiet.
Eleanor stared through the window.
The city looked beautiful.
Old buildings.
Warm lights.
Narrow streets.
But she couldn't appreciate any of it.
Her mind was still trapped in the past.
When they reached the hotel, Andrea had already sent the location of Dr. Cross's facility.
It was approximately forty minutes outside Florence.
A private estate surrounded by high walls.
Raven studied the photograph on her tablet.
"He doesn't make himself easy to find."
Eleanor sat beside her.
"Maybe he doesn't want to be found."
Raven looked at her.
"That's what makes me think we're close."
The following morning, Raven and Eleanor drove toward the facility.
The property was enormous.
A large stone building stood behind iron gates.
Security cameras covered almost every corner.
Raven parked several streets away.
"We walk from here."
Eleanor looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want them knowing we're coming."
They walked quietly.
As they approached the gates, Eleanor suddenly stopped.
Raven turned.
"What?"
"I've been here."
Raven's heart stopped.
"You've been here?"
"I think so."
Eleanor looked toward the building.
"I don't remember when."
She closed her eyes.
A memory came.
A little girl.
A long corridor.
Italian sunlight coming through a window.
Ellen holding her hand.
A man in a white coat.
Eleanor opened her eyes.
"Raven."
"What did you remember?"
"He brought me here."
"Who?"
"Dr. Cross."
Raven's expression hardened.
"When?"
"I don't know."
Eleanor touched her forehead.
"But I remember Ellen being with me."
Raven looked toward the facility.
"Then this place is connected to everything."
They found a side entrance.
Raven's security skills made the lock easy to bypass.
Inside, the building was silent.
Too silent.
Eleanor whispered,
"Are you sure this is a medical facility?"
"No."
Raven looked around.
"Not anymore."
They walked down a long hallway.
Photographs lined the walls.
Scientists.
Doctors.
Patients.
Then Eleanor stopped.
One photograph caught her attention.
It showed Dr. Cross standing beside several people.
Mark Vance was there.
Adrian was there.
And another person.
Eleanor stared.
"I know her."
Raven looked at the photograph.
"Who?"
"My mother's friend."
Raven studied the woman.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Eleanor pointed at the picture.
"She used to visit our house."
Raven's eyes narrowed.
"What was her name?"
Eleanor struggled.
"I can't remember."
Then another memory surfaced.
The woman laughing with Sofia.
Ellen entering the room.
The woman's smile disappearing.
Ellen whispering,
"Don't trust her."
Eleanor's eyes widened.
"Raven…"
"What?"
"I remember Ellen warning my mother about her."
Before Raven could respond, footsteps echoed down the corridor.
They immediately hid behind a doorway.
Two men walked past.
One spoke quietly.
"Dr. Cross is expecting them."
The second man stopped.
"Raven Hale and Eleanor Vance?"
The first nodded.
"They arrived last night."
Eleanor looked at Raven.
They knew.
Raven whispered,
"We've been expected."
They followed the men deeper into the building.
Eventually, they reached a large office.
The door opened.
Dr. Alexander Cross stood behind a desk.
He was older than Eleanor remembered.
Silver hair.
Sharp eyes.
Calm expression.
He looked directly at Eleanor.
Then Raven.
A small smile appeared.
"I wondered when you'd come."
Raven stepped inside.
"You know who I am."
"I knew your mother."
"You knew Ellen."
"Yes."
Eleanor stared at him.
"You treated me."
Dr. Cross looked at her.
"You remember?"
"Not everything."
He smiled sadly.
"You were very young."
Raven stepped forward.
"What happened to Ellen?"
Dr. Cross didn't answer.
"Did you know she was going to die?"
"No."
"Did you help someone kill her?"
"No."
"Did you erase Eleanor's memories?"
Dr. Cross looked at Eleanor.
Then back at Raven.
"Yes."
Eleanor's breath caught.
Raven's entire body went still.
"You what?"
Dr. Cross remained calm.
"I erased certain memories."
"Why?"
"Because Ellen asked me to."
Eleanor stepped forward.
"My mother asked you?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Dr. Cross looked at her.
"Because she knew what would happen if you remembered."
Raven's voice became cold.
"What would happen?"
Dr. Cross opened a drawer.
He removed an old photograph.
Then placed it on the desk.
Eleanor looked at it.
Her face went pale.
It showed Ellen.
Sofia.
Mark.
Adrian.
Dr. Cross.
And the woman Eleanor had recognized from the hallway.
But there was something else.
A little girl.
Eleanor.
Standing beside Ellen.
And behind them was a fifth man.
Someone Eleanor had never seen before.
Dr. Cross spoke quietly.
"Your mother didn't ask me to erase your memories because she was afraid you would remember her death."
Raven stared at him.
"Then why?"
Dr. Cross looked directly at Eleanor.
"Because you witnessed something much worse."
Eleanor's heart pounded.
"What?"
Dr. Cross's expression became grave.
"You witnessed the person who ordered Ellen Hale's death."
Silence.
Raven's voice was barely a whisper.
"Who?"
Dr. Cross looked at Eleanor.
"She remembers the face."
Eleanor shook her head.
"No."
"Yes."
"I don't."
"You will."
Raven moved closer.
"Tell us."
Dr. Cross looked toward the window.
"I can't."
Raven's expression hardened.
"Why?"
"Because that person knows you're here."
Eleanor froze.
"What?"
Dr. Cross turned toward the door.
"They've known since the moment you arrived in Italy."
Raven immediately reached for Eleanor's hand.
Dr. Cross's voice dropped.
"And if they discover that your memories are returning…"
A loud crash came from somewhere outside.
Everyone froze.
Dr. Cross looked at Raven.
"You need to leave."
Raven shook her head.
"Not without answers."
"You don't understand."
Another crash.
Then the lights went out.
Complete darkness swallowed the room.
Eleanor felt Raven's hand tighten around hers.
Somewhere in the hallway, footsteps began approaching.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Dr. Cross whispered,
"They found you."
Raven's voice became cold.
"Who?"
Dr. Cross didn't answer.
The office door slowly opened.
A figure stood in the darkness.
Eleanor couldn't see the face.
Then the lights flickered once.
Just enough for Eleanor to see something hanging from the figure's hand.
A silver mask.
Eleanor's breath caught.
The figure stepped forward.
And a familiar woman's voice whispered:
"Hello, Eleanor."
To be continued…