Chapter 8: What Her Mother Hid
Maya stood frozen in the narrow passage.
The words echoed in her head.
*He's looking for you.*
“Why?””
Evelyn shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“You know something.””
“No.””
“You've lied to me all night.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
Maya pulled her arm free.
“I don't need protection. I need the truth.””
Evelyn stared at her.
Then slowly sat against the wall.
“Your mother found the records.””
“What records?””
“The original ones.””
“Original what?””
“Your birth records.””
Maya frowned.
“I already have a birth certificate.””
“No.””
Evelyn's voice trembled.
“The one you have was changed.””
Maya stopped.
“What?””
“Your mother's name was removed.””
“That’s impossible.””
“I watched it happen.””
“Who changed it?””
Evelyn looked toward the passage.
“Raymond.””
Maya's stomach turned.
“Why would he change my birth certificate?””
“Because you weren't supposed to exist.””
Maya stared at her.
“That doesn't make sense.””
Evelyn reached into her coat.
She pulled out a folded paper.
“I kept this for twenty-two years.””
Maya unfolded it.
It was a photocopy of a hospital record.
At the top was her birth date.
Her name was handwritten beneath it.
*Maya Alana Brooks.*
Maya's fingers shook.
Underneath her name was a second line.
*Mother: Alana Brooks.*
And beneath that was another name.
Maya read it twice.
Then looked up.
“Who is Raymond Cole?””
Evelyn whispered, “Your biological father.””
The passage seemed to tilt.
Maya stared at her.
“No.””
“He was.””
“My father was James Brooks.””
“James raised you.””
“That doesn't mean—”
“Your mother was married to James. Raymond was the man who threatened her.””
Maya looked down at the document.
“No.””
“She discovered she was pregnant.””
Maya's eyes filled.
“And Raymond knew?””
“He found out.””
“Then why didn't my mother tell me?””
“She wanted you to have a normal life.””
Maya laughed bitterly.
“A normal life?””
Evelyn's eyes closed.
“She tried.””
A crash shook the wall.
Maya jumped.
Victor shouted from the restaurant.
“RUN!””
Raymond answered.
“There's nowhere left to run.””
Maya looked at Evelyn.
“We have to go.””
They hurried through the passage.
At the end was a small door opening into the restaurant's storage area.
Maya pushed it open.
Bright chandelier light spilled across the floor.
The dining room was nearly empty now.
Chairs were overturned.
A wine glass rolled slowly across the marble.
Denise stood behind the hostess podium.
She was crying.
Maya rushed toward her.
“Where is Victor?””
Denise shook her head.
“He told me to get everyone out.””
“Where is my mother?””
“I don't know.””
“Raymond?””
Denise pointed toward the kitchen.
“He went after Victor.””
Maya looked at the photograph in her hand.
“What does he want?””
Denise stared at it.
Then her face changed.
“You opened it.””
Maya frowned.
“What?””
“The photograph.””
“You know what's on it?””
Denise nodded.
“I've known for twenty-two years.””
Maya stepped closer.
“Then tell me.””
Denise looked toward the kitchen.
“I can't.””
“You can.””
“No.””
“Denise, please.””
The hostess began crying.
“Your mother made me promise.””
Maya's voice softened.
“She trusted you.””
Denise nodded.
“She did.””
“Then help me.””
Denise took a deep breath.
“Your mother didn't disappear that night.””
Maya stared.
“What?””
“She escaped.””
“Where?””
“She had someone waiting for her.””
“Who?””
Denise shook her head.
“I never saw his face.””
Maya's heart sank.
“Another man?””
“No.””
Denise looked directly at Maya.
“A woman.””
Maya frowned.
“Who?””
Denise whispered, “Your mother’s sister.””
Maya stopped.
“My mother didn't have a sister.””
“That’s what Raymond wanted everyone to believe.””
Maya's face went pale.
“Then where is she?””
Denise glanced toward the kitchen.
“She’s the reason your mother survived.””
A loud crash echoed from the back.
Then Victor stumbled into view.
His suit was torn.
Blood ran from his forehead.
Maya rushed toward him.
“Victor!””
He grabbed her shoulders.
“Where’s the photograph?””
“I have it.””
“Give it to me.””
“No.””
His expression changed.
“Maya, listen to me.””
“Not until you tell me where my mother is.””
Victor looked toward the restaurant entrance.
Then toward the photograph.
“She’s coming.””
Maya stared.
“What?””
Victor nodded.
“She told me she would come here when the photograph was finally in your hands.””
A car horn sounded outside.
Then another.
Denise looked toward the glass entrance.
Her face turned white.
Victor whispered, “She's here.””
Maya turned.
A woman stood outside the restaurant doors.
Older.
Gray-haired.
And wearing a coat identical to the one Evelyn had worn when she arrived.
Maya looked at Evelyn.
Then back at the woman outside.
Evelyn whispered one word.
“Alana.””
The woman lifted her hand.
She pointed directly at Maya.
Then Raymond's voice came through the restaurant's speakers.
“Now you finally understand why I couldn't let her find you.””
May you like
The lights flickered.
And every door in the restaurant locked at once.
