A simple melody.
Four notes, then a rise, then a fall.
Claire’s hand went to her mouth.
“I know that,” she said.
“I’ve hummed that my whole life.
I never knew where it came from.”
Richard closed his eyes.
“She’s still here,” he said.
“In you.
She’s always been in you.”
They stood in the doorway for a long moment.
The ballroom was empty now.
The lights were dimming.
A staff member collected abandoned glasses from the nearest table.
Claire looked back at the room where her old life had ended.
“I built everything on a lie,” she said.
“My name.
My engagement.
My whole life.”
“You built everything on survival,” Richard said.
“That’s not a lie.
That’s what your mother gave you.
A chance to survive and become someone.”
Claire looked at the envelope in her hands.
“Can I keep this?”
“It was always yours.”
They walked out together.
The night air was cold and clean.
The black SUV was still parked at the entrance.
Agent Morrow stood beside it, waiting.
“Colonel.
Miss Hale.” He opened the back door.
“Where to?”
Richard looked at Claire.
“Home,” Claire said.
“Take us home.”
Morrow nodded and closed the door.
The SUV pulled away from the curb.
Behind them, the ballroom lights went dark one by one.
The Prescott charity gala was over.
The name Prescott would be in the news by morning.
The diamonds, the society pages, the smiles — all of it would be gone by the weekend.
Claire leaned her head against the window.
The city lights passed in streaks.
“Dad.”
“Yes.”
“Tell me about her.
Everything.
Start from the beginning.”
Richard was quiet for a moment.
Then he began.
