Chapter 16 - The Abandoned Church
Daniel was found alive the next morning.
A truck driver discovered him beside a county road.
He had been beaten.
His left arm was broken.
But he could talk.
At the hospital, Daniel finally gave police Victoria’s location.
An abandoned church outside the city.
Victoria had chosen it because Natalie and Marcus had once considered holding their wedding there before choosing another venue.
Even her hiding place belonged to Natalie’s story.
Police surrounded the church before noon.
Marcus was ordered to stay away.
He did not.
He remained behind the outer barricade with Detective Cole’s reluctant permission.
Elena stayed at the hospital with the baby.
For the first time in days, Marcus felt certain he had made the correct decision.
His son needed a calm person nearby.
Elena was that person.
Victoria was inside the church.
Alone.
At least police believed she was.
Negotiators contacted her.
She refused to surrender.
Then she asked for Marcus.
Cole shook his head.
“No.”
Marcus looked at the church.
“What does she want?”
“To talk.”
“She has been trying to talk for eleven years.”
“That does not mean you walk inside.”
Victoria sent a photograph.
She stood near the church altar.
In her hand was Natalie’s original consent form.
The message said:
Come alone or I burn everything.
Marcus almost laughed.
“The police already have copies.”
Cole nodded.
“She knows.”
“Then this isn’t about evidence.”
“No.”
“It’s about me.”
Cole looked at him.
“Yes.”
Eventually, police arranged a controlled conversation through the church’s open doorway.
Marcus stayed outside.
Victoria stood twenty feet inside.
She looked exhausted.
Her clothes were wrinkled.
Her hair was loose.
For the first time Marcus could remember, she did not resemble Natalie at all.
“Marcus.”
He said nothing.
Victoria smiled weakly.
“You came.”
“Where else would I be?”
“With Elena?”
The jealousy in her voice was immediate.
Marcus frowned.
“This was never about Elena.”
“It became about her.”
“She saved my son.”
“She took my place.”
Marcus stared at her.
“You never had a place to take.”
Victoria’s face changed.
The words struck deeply.
“I was there for you.”
“Yes.”
“When Natalie died, who helped you?”
“You did.”
“When the baby came, who stayed?”
“You did.”
“Who learned everything he needed?”
“You.”
“Then why wasn’t it enough?”
Marcus was silent.
Victoria’s voice cracked.
“I did everything correctly.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“You did everything strategically.”
“That’s not the same thing.”
Victoria stared at him.
“You loved Natalie because she got there first.”
Marcus finally understood there was nothing he could say that would make Victoria see reality.
Natalie had not won Marcus.
Elena had not stolen a position.
Love was not a competition.
Victoria had built her entire life around refusing that truth.
Marcus stepped closer to the police line.
“My son could have died.”
Victoria’s eyes filled.
“He wasn’t supposed to.”
“But he could have.”
“Elena was there.”
“And what if she hadn’t been?”
Victoria opened her mouth.
No answer came.
Marcus continued.
“That is the difference between you and every person you tried to replace.”
Victoria’s expression hardened.
“You think Elena is better than me?”
“I think Elena jumped into a pool without thinking about herself.”
Victoria’s hands trembled.
“And you?”
Marcus said.
“You stood there and watched.”
For the first time, Victoria looked ashamed.
Then a siren sounded in the distance.
Victoria panicked.
She stepped backward.
May you like
Police moved.
And Victoria reached inside her coat.
