Simon closed his eyes.
Evelyn stared.
“How much?”
“Five million.”
James whispered something under his breath.
Evelyn looked at Simon.
“To disappear?”
“To sign a confidentiality and release agreement.”
“You tried to buy my sister.”
“I tried to prevent thirty-year-old misconduct by a dead man from destroying thousands of employees’ livelihoods.”
“It’s always the company.”
“You have never been responsible for anything larger than yourself.”
James immediately said, “Enough.”
Evelyn held up one hand.
“No.”
She looked at Simon.
“You’re right.”
He seemed surprised.
“I’ve never run Caldwell Holdings.”
She leaned forward.
“I’ve also never needed to steal someone’s life to keep my job.”
Simon looked away.
“What happened after she refused?”
Harold answered.
“Nora became overwhelmed.”
“She left?”
“Through the private elevator.”
“Then where?”
“She called me from the garage.”
“And?”
“She said she couldn’t see you.”
Evelyn’s heart sank.
“Why?”
“She believed the trust would make you think she wanted money.”
“That is insane.”
“She had known you only through photographs for eight months.”
Harold’s expression softened.
“She had spent thirty-one years learning that people with money decided what happened to her.”
Evelyn said nothing.
“What did you tell her?”
“To meet you.”
“Did she?”
“No.”
Harold reached into his pocket.
“She gave me her phone.”
“Why?”
“She asked me to make sure Simon couldn’t track her.”
Simon stared.
“I never—”
Harold silenced him with one look.
“She went somewhere she felt safe.”
“Where?”
“The Bells’ old house.”
Rebecca knew the address.
They drove to Milwaukee immediately.
Evelyn insisted on taking Maisie.
James drove.
Rebecca sat in the back with the child.
Margaret followed but was told not to enter unless Nora invited her.
The house stood on a quiet residential street lined with maple trees.
Small.
Red brick.
White shutters.
The front garden had not been maintained.
Rebecca explained that the property had been empty since Elaine Bell entered assisted living the previous year.
Nora still had a key.
Evelyn stepped out of the car.
Her heart was pounding so hard she felt dizzy.
Maisie took her hand.
“You nervous?”
Evelyn looked down.
“Yes.”
“Me too.”
They walked toward the porch.
Before Evelyn could knock, the door opened.
The woman standing there looked like a mirror that had lived another life.