Chapter 3 - The Ghost in the RecordsThree days later, Liam sat in his study, the room smelling of stale Scotch and expensive leather. His security chief, Marcus, stood before him, looking deeply unsettled.
“It’s not adding up, Liam,” Marcus said, tossing a folder onto the desk. “Sophie Miller. Born in a small town in Ohio. There’s a record of her birth, her schooling, and her medical history. But there’s a six-year gap in her twenties—no employment, no tax records, no travel. It’s like she didn't exist until she showed up in Manhattan three months ago.”
Liam flipped through the pages. The photos of ‘Sophie’ were everywhere, but they were taken from a distance. She was a ghost. A ghost with Amelia’s face.
“The hospital records from Boston,” Liam said, his voice cold. “Are you sure about the body?”
“The identification was done by a family friend, Liam. You were too devastated to look at her yourself. You let the funeral director handle the casket.”
The world tilted. Liam remembered that day. He had been so overcome with agony he hadn't wanted to see her cold, lifeless face. He had trusted the process. He had trusted the tragedy.
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“What if she didn't die?” Liam whispered.
“If she didn't die,” Marcus said quietly, “then someone went to a lot of trouble to make sure you thought she did.”
