“Those records were destroyed in the fire at the clinic archive.”

“The originals were,” Evelyn agreed.

“But Arthur kept copies for his own protection.”

“He kept them in his private safe at the downtown restaurant.”

“The safe that Daniel and Emily unlocked yesterday.”

I stared at Evelyn in surprise.

We had indeed found a locked steel box in the basement office of the downtown venue.

Daniel had taken it to his office to crack the combination.

“Did Daniel open it?” I asked.

“He did,” Evelyn said, her eyes never leaving Helen’s face.

“And what he found inside is far worse than a fake death certificate.”

“It is a detailed paper trail of how you and Arthur tried to erase me.”

The wind howled off the bay, throwing cold salt spray against my face.

Helen took a step back, her heel catching on a crack in the pavement near the edge of the dock.

Brooke steadied her, looking confused and frightened.

“Mom?” Brooke asked. “What is she talking about?”

Helen did not answer her daughter.

She was staring at the leather folder in Evelyn’s hand as if it were a weapon.