Chapter 6 - MarcusMarcus Dean came to Celeste's house voluntarily.
He arrived after midnight.
No lawyer.
No publicist.
He looked twenty years older than he had on the red carpet.
Celeste let him into the study.
Nora was staying elsewhere under private protection.
“You leaked her address,” Celeste said.
“No.”
“Then who did?”
“I think your mother.”
Celeste laughed coldly.
“You've lied to me for sixteen years. Forgive me if your theories no longer impress me.”
Marcus nodded.
“I deserve that.”
“Start talking.”
He did.
At twenty-four, Marcus had been Helena's assistant.
He scheduled appointments.
Carried contracts.
Handled problems.
He knew about the pregnancy.
He knew Helena wanted it hidden.
But he claimed he did not know about New Horizons until after Nora's birth.
“When you were in surgery, Helena told me the baby had died.”
“The same lie.”
“Yes.”
“When did you learn?”
“Two weeks later.”
Marcus had entered Helena's office and seen documents.
Placement records.
A payment.
Julia Bennett's name.
“I confronted her.”
“And?”
“She told me you'd agreed before delivery and changed your mind afterward.”
Celeste stared.
“You believed that?”
“I wanted to.”
“Why?”
“Because the alternative meant I was working for someone who stole a baby.”
“So you stayed.”
“Yes.”
Marcus's voice broke.
“I stayed.”
Years later, he discovered the forged signatures.
By then Celeste was famous.
Helena told him exposing the truth would destroy Celeste, Nora, Julia and the studio.
Marcus accepted that logic.
Cowardice disguised as protection.
“You were with me every year on her birthday.”
“I know.”
“You watched me drink myself unconscious on her tenth birthday.”
“I know.”
“You knew she was alive.”
Marcus cried.
“Yes.”
Celeste wanted to hit him.
Instead she remained seated.
“Why are you telling me now?”
Marcus took out a flash drive.
“Because Helena isn't the person you need to fear most.”
The drive contained copies of old Meridian correspondence.
Arthur Bell had supervised more than one illegal placement.
The network apparently existed partly to eliminate “career complications” for actresses under contract.
Babies were moved.
Records changed.
Money exchanged.
Sometimes mothers were pressured into signing.
In at least three cases, documents appeared forged.
“Why did you keep these?”
“Insurance.”
Celeste gave him a disgusted look.
“Against Helena?”
“Against everyone.”
Marcus continued.
When Evan started investigating, Bell panicked.
Helena wanted to tell Celeste.
Bell stopped her.
That caught Celeste's attention.
“My mother wanted to confess?”
“For about twelve hours.”
It did not absolve Helena.
But it changed the shape of the story.
Bell threatened to destroy Celeste's career and expose Helena's role.
He also claimed Evan was unstable and dangerous.
After Evan died, everyone became afraid.
“Are you saying Bell killed him?”
“I can't prove it.”
Marcus looked at the drive.
“But there are payments to a security contractor three days before Evan's accident.”
Celeste felt cold.
“Who?”
“David Sloane.”
Cross later confirmed Sloane had been in France when Evan died.
Now they had something law enforcement could investigate.
Celeste asked Marcus one final question.
“Why did you look afraid when Nora showed me the bracelet?”
Marcus answered immediately.
“Because I knew your mother had kept it.”
“What?”
“She told me years ago she'd destroyed everything.”
Marcus shook his head.
“If Nora had the original bracelet, someone inside New Horizons must have given it to Julia.”
Meaning someone had deliberately preserved evidence.
Someone who may still be alive.
The former nurse.
Her name was Maria Keene.
And according to government records, she was living quietly in Oregon.
The next morning, Celeste and federal investigators went to find her.
Maria opened the door.
She was seventy-two.
When she saw Celeste, she began crying before anyone said a word.
“I wondered how long it would take.”
Celeste's heart pounded.
“You remember me?”
Maria nodded.
“I remember your daughter.”
Then she said something none of them expected.
“And I remember the woman who tried to stop them from taking her.”
Celeste stared.
“Who?”
May you like
Maria looked directly at her.
“Your mother.”
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