Chapter 3 - THE PHOTOGRAPH
Lorenzo opened Sophia's private dressing room for the first time since her funeral.
Her perfume was still there.
That nearly stopped him.
Hunter stood behind him holding Leo.
"You don't have to do this."
"Yes."
Lorenzo whispered.
"I do."
He opened a drawer beneath Sophia's jewelry case.
Letters.
Photographs.
Old invitations.
Then he found it.
A faded picture.
Two teenage girls stood beside Rebecca Lane.
One was unmistakably Sophia.
Hunter stared.
"That's my mother."
Lorenzo nodded.
"Who's the other girl?"
Hunter turned the photograph over.
Three names were written on the back.
REBECCA.
ELENA.
SOPHIA.
Hunter's heart began pounding.
"Who's Elena?"
"I don't know."
Lorenzo looked at Sophia's handwriting.
"But my wife did."
Leo stirred against Hunter.
She rocked him instinctively.
Lorenzo watched.
Then something fell from behind the photograph.
A folded piece of paper.
Hunter picked it up.
It was a letter.
Only half remained.
The bottom had been torn away.
Sophia's handwriting filled the page.
Lorenzo,
There's something about my family I never told you.
My father made sure Rebecca disappeared before I was old enough to understand why.
I found her daughter.
Her name is—
The page ended.
Hunter couldn't breathe.
Lorenzo looked at her.
Neither needed to say it.
Hunter.
Someone had torn away the part containing her name.
But why?
A sound came from the hallway.
Hunter turned.
Someone ran.
Lorenzo pulled his gun.
"Stay here."
He chased the footsteps.
Hunter held Leo tighter.
Thirty seconds passed.
Then a minute.
Suddenly smoke entered beneath the door.
Hunter smelled gasoline.
Her heart stopped.
Fire exploded through the hallway.
"LORENZO!"
She grabbed Leo.
The door handle burned her hand.
Locked.
Someone had locked her inside.
Flames crawled toward the curtains.
Hunter backed away.
"No."
Not again.
Not another baby.
She wrapped Leo in a thick blanket.
"You're getting out."
Glass shattered.
Hunter screamed.
Lorenzo came through the adjoining balcony window.
Blood covered his hand.
"Give me Leo!"
Hunter handed him the baby.
He climbed back onto the balcony.
Then reached for her.
"Jump."
The fire climbed behind Hunter.
She looked down.
Three stories.
"I can't."
"Yes, you can."
"Lorenzo—"
"Trust me."
Hunter stared into his eyes.
Then jumped.
He caught her.
They crashed onto the balcony.
The window behind them exploded.
Lorenzo covered Hunter with his body.
Glass rained around them.
Leo screamed.
Hunter grabbed him.
"He's okay."
Lorenzo touched Hunter's face.
"You?"
"I'm okay."
He exhaled.
Then saw something painted across the outside wall.
Three words.
WELCOME HOME, HUNTER.
Lorenzo's face changed.
Hunter stared.
"Whoever is doing this..."
Her voice trembled.
"...knows who I am."
Lorenzo looked at the burning room.
"No."
May you like
He said quietly.
"They've known longer than we have."
