Chapter 10 - The Red Cloak
Forensic testing on Celeste’s red cloak took time.
The stain contained human blood.
That alone transformed the case.
A DNA profile was partial but sufficient to compare with Alexander.
The laboratory could not establish identity with absolute certainty from the degraded sample.
But the genetic markers were consistent with the blood coming from Alexander’s biological mother.
Celeste.
Alexander read the report alone.
Then he called Elena.
“You were right.”
She closed her eyes.
“I wish I wasn’t.”
He apologized that afternoon.
Not for questioning her payment.
For reducing her entire life to it.
“I used your worst decision to avoid my father’s.”
Elena looked at him.
“You weren’t wrong about mine.”
“No.”
“Good.”
He almost smiled.
“No easy forgiveness?”
“I’ve had enough fake documents.”
That made him laugh.
The first real laugh since the brooch broke.
Detective Foster obtained a warrant authorizing a limited forensic examination of the sealed East Lift Two chamber.
Sebastian’s attorneys immediately challenged it.
St. Aurelia’s board panicked.
The opera house had performances scheduled.
Reporters gathered outside.
Sponsors threatened withdrawals.
One trustee called Elena personally.
“You’ve put hundreds of jobs at risk.”
Elena stared at the phone.
“Sebastian put them at risk thirty years ago.”
The trustee hung up.
Power loved blaming the person who opened the door rather than the person who started the fire.
Then something worse happened.
Luis Moreno recanted.
His lawyer issued a statement saying Luis was elderly, confused, and had been pressured by “wealthy interested parties.”
Alexander was furious.
“He was clear.”
Miriam said, “Someone got to him.”
Elena knew exactly how.
Luis had grandchildren.
A house.
A pension.
Everyone had something.
Detective Foster said the warrant would probably survive because other evidence remained.
But Sebastian’s legal team appealed.
The search was delayed.
Victoria’s career continued unraveling.
Her European tour postponed two dates.
A luxury brand ended its endorsement.
The opera board announced it was “reviewing governance and historical property matters.”
Victoria called Elena late one night.
“You happy?”
“No.”
“You should be.”
“Why?”
“You wanted consequences.”
“I wanted truth.”
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“Truth is just consequences with better branding.”
Elena said nothing.
Victoria continued.
“I worked since I was eight.”
“I believe you.”
“My father paid for opportunities. Fine. But he didn’t sing for me.”
“No.”
“He didn’t spend six hours a day learning how to breathe.”
“No.”
“He didn’t perform with pneumonia in Vienna.”
“No.”
Victoria’s voice cracked.
“Then why does everybody act like I’m fake?”
Elena softened.
“Because you lied when the brooch broke.”
Silence.
“You knew it mattered.”
“Yes.”
“You tried to run.”
“Yes.”
“You offered me money.”
Victoria’s breathing changed.
Elena continued.
“Your father may have built the room, Victoria. You still made choices inside it.”
The line stayed silent.
Then Victoria whispered, “I hate you.”
“I know.”
“No. I hate that you’re right.”
She hung up.
The next morning, Maya discovered an old wardrobe ledger from 1996.
One line had been written by Elena herself.
C. REED — red velvet cloak. Returned 12:18 a.m. torn at shoulder, clasp missing. Hold for repair.
Elena stared at her younger handwriting.
“Clasp.”
Maya nodded.
“The brooch?”
“No. Cloak clasp.”
“Where is it?”
“I don’t know.”
Maya searched subsequent pages.
A week later:
CLOAK RELEASED BY ORDER OF S. MARLOWE.
No repair completed.
Evidence had been removed from Elena’s department.
Again.
Alexander’s lawyers also uncovered an insurance statement Sebastian gave in 1997 concerning the missing brooch.
He claimed he had “never seen the item personally.”
Victoria laughed when she read it.
“He kept it for thirty years.”
That was a provable lie.
But the greater revelation arrived from old banking microfilm.
A payment dated October 15, 1996.
$900,000.
From Harbor Meridian Trust.
To Orpheus Holdings.
Authorized by Richard Reed.
Memo:
RESOLUTION.
Alexander stared.
“The morning after my mother vanished.”
Miriam nodded.
“One interpretation is Richard bought Sebastian’s cooperation.”
“Another?”
“He paid a debt.”
Elena whispered, “Resolution.”
Alexander’s face hardened.
“My father put a price on everything.”
Then Detective Foster called.
“The warrant is back on.”
Alexander stood.
“When?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
Elena’s breath caught.
East Lift Two would finally be opened.
But someone else learned first.
At 11:43 that night, a fire alarm erupted inside St. Aurelia’s east basement.
Sprinklers activated.
Security found smoke near the sealed lift wall.
No major fire developed.
But fresh tool marks covered the masonry.
Someone had tried to reach the chamber before police could.
May you like
And security cameras showed one person entering the basement thirty minutes earlier.
Victoria Marlowe.
