Chapter 10 - The Photograph Vincent Was Never Supposed to See
The pediatric appointment was the first ordinary thing Claire and Vincent had done together since the storm.
That made it strangely painful.
They sat on opposite sides of a cheerful waiting room while Ethan slept between them.
A cartoon whale was painted on the wall.
Vincent looked completely out of place.
Claire noticed him watching another father prepare a bottle.
“You’ve never made one,” she said.
Vincent looked at her.
“A bottle?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
She handed him the diaper bag.
“Learn.”
He blinked.
“Now?”
“Unless your corporate empire has a meeting.”
He almost smiled.
Claire showed him.
Measure.
Water.
Formula.
Shake gently.
Test temperature.
Vincent followed every instruction as if negotiating an international acquisition.
“You’re taking this very seriously,” Claire said.
“I don’t want to poison my son.”
“It’s formula, Vincent.”
“That doesn’t answer my concern.”
She laughed.
Again.
It happened too easily.
After Ethan’s exam, the pediatrician declared him healthy.
Nine pounds.
Strong lungs.
Good reflexes.
Vincent asked eleven questions.
Claire counted.
In the parking garage, Vincent helped secure Ethan’s carrier.
Then his body suddenly went still.
“What?”
He looked beyond Claire.
A man stood beside a concrete pillar.
Camera raised.
Vincent moved between them instantly.
The man ran.
Security chased.
Claire stayed with Ethan.
Minutes later Owen returned carrying a camera.
“No ID.”
“Photos?” Vincent asked.
Owen checked.
His expression changed.
“What?”
“There are pictures going back weeks.”
Claire’s stomach dropped.
Of her apartment.
Hospital.
Rebecca.
Ethan.
Then one photograph stopped them.
It showed Marcus Marlowe meeting Adrian Vale.
In the background stood Elise.
And behind Elise—
a uniformed police officer.
Mara identified him hours later.
Detective Paul Renner.
He had worked on the Samuel Pierce death investigation.
He was also one of the officers assigned to Claire’s recent threats.
The danger was inside the investigation.
Claire felt sick.
“We can’t trust the department.”
“Not entirely,” Mara said.
Federal investigators were contacted.
Renner disappeared before they reached him.
That night Claire sat across from Vincent in Mara’s conference room.
For once neither fought.
“We need to move Ethan,” Claire said.
“Yes.”
“Somewhere Marcus doesn’t know.”
“Yes.”
“And I decide where.”
Vincent nodded.
“Yes.”
She stared at him.
“You’re making this difficult.”
“How?”
“You’re agreeing.”
He almost smiled.
“I can argue if that helps.”
“It might.”
Mara rolled her eyes.
“Divorcing couples are exhausting.”
Claire chose a location no one expected.
A cabin owned by Rebecca’s sister in rural Vermont.
No connection to Vincent.
No connection to Baltimore.
No digital bookings.
Nora would go with Claire.
Vincent would remain away.
That last condition hurt him.
Claire saw it.
“You’re the obvious person for Marcus to follow.”
“I know.”
“Then say it.”
“I’m the obvious person for Marcus to follow.”
She softened slightly.
“Thank you.”
Vincent looked at Ethan.
“How long?”
“Until Marcus is found.”
He nodded.
At the door, Claire stopped him.
“Vincent.”
“Yes?”
“Be careful.”
Something changed in his face.
Claire regretted the words immediately because she knew what hope looked like on him.
“This doesn’t mean—”
“I know.”
He saved her from finishing.
“It means be careful.”
“Yes.”
“I will.”
Two days later Claire reached Vermont.
Snow had begun early.
The cabin sat beside a quiet lake surrounded by maple trees.
For three weeks, nothing happened.
Claire studied.
Cared for Ethan.
Walked beside the frozen shoreline.
Slowly, she remembered what peace felt like.
Then a package appeared on the porch.
No delivery truck.
No footprints visible because fresh snow had fallen.
Nora brought it inside.
Claire opened it carefully.
One photograph.
Vincent.
Leaving Greyhaven.
A red circle drawn around his chest.
On the back:
Tell him to stop looking, or Ethan grows up without a father.
Claire stared at the message.
Nora whispered, “Call him.”
Claire did.
Vincent answered.
“Claire?”
“Stop the investigation.”
Silence.
“What happened?”
“Stop.”
“Tell me.”
She read the message.
Vincent went quiet.
Then:
“No.”
Her anger ignited.
“This is not your decision.”
“If I stop, Marcus doesn’t become safe. He learns threats work.”
“He’s threatening you.”
“I know.”
“And Ethan.”
“I know.”
Claire’s voice broke.
“Vincent, I will not let my son lose his father.”
The words hung between them.
Neither breathed.
Vincent spoke softly.
“Say that again.”
“Don’t.”
“Claire—”
“This is about Ethan.”
“I know.”
She closed her eyes.
But both understood something had changed.
Vincent was no longer only the man who had betrayed her.
He was Ethan’s father.
And despite everything, Claire did not want him dead.
Vincent said, “I’m going to end this legally.”
“Promise.”
“Yes.”
“No private retaliation.”
“I promise.”
“No disappearing people.”
A faint pause.
“Vincent.”
“I promise.”
Claire almost smiled.
“Good.”
He hesitated.
“Claire?”
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what this time?”
“For making you care whether I live after giving you every reason not to.”
Her throat tightened.
“Don’t make me regret it.”
“I won’t.”
But forty-eight hours later, Owen called Claire.
His voice was strained.
“Vincent is missing.”
And suddenly the choice Claire thought belonged only to her past had returned.
May you like
This time, someone else’s life depended on what she did next.
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