“It means the man you married may not be the same man who disappeared in Baltimore.”
She stared at him.
“No.”
“Mara—”
“No.”
She turned away.
Her hands were shaking.
“Get out.”
Vance remained seated.
“You need to hear the rest.”
“Get out.”
“He may not be working against you.”
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“Because we didn't know whether he remembered.”
Mara turned.
“Remembered what?”
Vance said quietly, “You.”
The word hung between them.
Mara looked toward the photograph.
Young Mara.
Daniel.
Atlas.
Three people standing together before everything changed.
She picked up the photograph.
“Where was this taken?”
“Baltimore.”
“When?”
“Six years ago.”
“Before the operation?”
“During.”
She studied Daniel's face.
He looked younger.
But his eyes were the same.
The eyes of the man who brought her coffee every morning.
The man who knew how she took her tea.
The man who slept beside her.
The man who had told her countless times that they had met through ordinary circumstances.
The man she now realized might have been lying to her for years.
Her phone vibrated again.
Mara looked down.
One message.
HE REMEMBERS EVERYTHING.
She stared at it.
Vance saw her expression.
“What did you receive?”
She didn't answer.
Another message appeared.
ASK HIM ABOUT THE BLUE DOOR.
Mara's heart began pounding.
She remembered the blue door.
She had not told Vance about it.
She looked at him.
“Did you send that?”
“No.”
“Do you know about a blue door?”
Vance's face changed.
“Yes.”
“What is behind it?”
He stood.
“Nothing you want to see.”
Mara's eyes hardened.
“Then I'm going.”
“No.”
“You don't give me orders.”
“Mara, listen to me.”
“No.”
She grabbed her coat.
Vance blocked the doorway.
“You cannot go to Daniel yet.”
She stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because whoever has been sending these messages wants you to.”
“Maybe.”
“It's a trap.”
“Everything tonight is a trap.”
She opened the door.
Vance caught her arm.
Mara immediately looked down at his hand.
He released her.
“I'm sorry.”
“Don't touch me.”
He nodded.
She walked out.
Vance followed.
Outside, rain had started.
Mara crossed the parking lot toward her car.
She stopped halfway.
A black sedan was parked across the street.
Engine running.
Lights off.
She watched it.
The driver's door opened.
Daniel stepped out.
Mara froze.
He stood beneath the rain in a dark coat.
His face was calm.
Too calm.
He looked at her.
She didn't move.
Neither did he.
Then he walked across the street.
“Mara.”