CHAPTER 6: The First Lie

The answer did not come from Thomas. It came from Ruth Gray's old address book, which Detective Morgan found in a storage box Lena still kept under her rented bed. Between grocery lists and faded photographs was a phone number written beside one name: C. Vale.
Celeste denied everything at first. She said wealthy families attracted liars, that grief made Thomas vulnerable, that Lena's foster mother must have stolen the bracelet from a pawn shop.
But Detective Morgan had waited years for men and women like Celeste to say too much.
"Ruth Gray received monthly cash deposits for thirteen years," Morgan said. "The account was opened under a shell company tied to your family's office."
Celeste's composure cracked by a single breath.
Thomas turned toward her. "You knew?"
She did not answer.
He stepped closer, and the whole room seemed to pull away from them.
"You stood beside me at every memorial," he said. "You held my hand while I begged the public for information. You let me mourn a child you knew was alive."
Celeste lifted her chin. "I saved you from a scandal."
Lena felt cold spread through her body.