Julian's Fate

The county jail was a concrete purgatory, smelling of industrial cleaner and hopelessness. Sarah walked through the metal detector, her lawyer, a sharp-eyed woman named Ramirez she had hired with the last of her savings, flanking her.

"They're charging him with accessory to kidnapping," Ramirez said, her heels clicking on the linoleum. "Arson. Reckless endangerment. And fraud."

"But he saved us," Sarah said. "He stopped Elena."

"The law doesn't care about heroics, Sarah. It cares about intent. And Julian—Caleb—blew up a private jet."

They reached the visitation room. It was divided by a thick glass partition, scratched and cloudy.

Caleb was already there. He was wearing an orange jumpsuit that hung loose on his frame. His face was bruised, a butterfly bandage over one eye, but his eyes were clear.

He looked up as Sarah sat down.

"You look like hell," he said, picking up the receiver.

"You look worse," Sarah said, mirroring his action.

"Fair."

He leaned back, wincing slightly. His ribs were probably broken.

"How is she?" he asked. "Your mom?"

"Stable," Sarah said. "She's awake. Confused, but awake. The doctors say the drugs Elena used were... experimental. It'll take time to clear her system."

"And Maya?"

"Safe," Sarah said. "She's with Agnes. They're staying at a hotel near the hospital."

Caleb nodded. He looked down at his hands, tracing the scars on his knuckles.

"And Chloe?"

Sarah hesitated. "She's in protective custody. They're trying to figure out who she is. Legally, she doesn't exist. Her birth certificate was forged by Miller."

"She's going to need help," Caleb said. "Reintegrating. Learning how to be a person, not a product."

"I know," Sarah said. "I'm working on it."

She looked at him. At her brother. The man who had been her enemy, her rival, her tormentor for thirty years. And who had turned out to be the biggest victim of them all.

"Why did you do it?" she asked. "Why did you come back?"

Caleb shrugged. "I tried to run. I got as far as the woods. But then I saw the police convoy. And I knew Elena wouldn't go quietly."

He looked at Sarah.

"I spent my whole life trying to be what she wanted," he said. "Trying to be perfect. Trying to be worthy of the name Vance. But it was all a lie. I was just spare parts."

He laughed, a bitter sound.

"Funny thing is, I always hated you. Because you were free. You didn't have the weight of the legacy on your shoulders. You were just... Sarah."

"I wasn't free," Sarah said. "I was invisible."

"Maybe," Caleb said. "But invisible is better than owned."

He leaned forward, pressing his hand against the glass.

"I have to plead guilty, Sarah."

"No," Sarah said immediately. "We can fight this. Duress. Coercion. You were a victim of abuse."

"I blew up a plane," Caleb said. "I kidnapped a judge's daughter—even if it was to save her. I have to pay for that."

"But Elena—"

"Elena is going to prison for the rest of her life," Caleb said. "That's enough. I don't need to be innocent. I just need to be done."

Sarah felt a lump in her throat. He was right. He was tired. He had been fighting a war since the day he was born.

"I found the key," Sarah said. "The one in the diary."

Caleb’s eyes widened slightly. "You opened it?"

"Not yet," Sarah said. "I'm going to Zurich next week."

"Good," Caleb said. "There's enough in that box to rebuild everything. The estate. The reputation. Your life."

"Our life," Sarah corrected.

Caleb shook his head. "No. That money is yours. It was always yours. Thomas knew that. That's why he hid it."

"He hid it from Elena," Sarah said. "But he left the key for us. All of us."

She put her hand on the glass, matching his.

"We're family, Caleb. You, me, Chloe, Rachel. We're the only ones left. And I'm not leaving anyone behind."

Caleb stared at her. For a moment, the mask of indifference cracked. She saw the boy he could have been. The brother she should have had.

"Rachel," he whispered. "The fourth child."

"We're going to find her," Sarah said. "Maya and I are going to Boston."

"St. Jude’s," Caleb said, remembering the photo.

"Yes."

He nodded slowly. "Find her, Sarah. Bring her home."

The guard stepped forward. "Time's up."

Caleb hung up the phone. He stood.

"Goodbye, Sarah," he mouthed.

"Not goodbye," Sarah mouthed back. "See you soon."

She watched him walk away, the orange jumpsuit a stark contrast to the grey walls. He didn't look back.

Sarah stood up. She felt lighter. The weight of the past was still there, but it was shifting. Changing.

She walked out of the jail, into the bright sunlight of the parking lot.

Ramirez was waiting by the car.

"Well?" the lawyer asked.

"He's pleading guilty," Sarah said.

Ramirez sighed. "It's the smart move. With his cooperation against Elena, he'll likely get a reduced sentence. Five years, maybe less with good behavior."

"Get him the best deal you can," Sarah said. "I don't care what it costs."

"I will," Ramirez said. "And what about you? What's your next move?"

Sarah looked at the sky. It was a clear, brilliant blue. The storm had finally passed.

"I have a flight to catch," Sarah said.

"Zurich?"

"No," Sarah said, pulling the car keys from her pocket. "Boston."

She got into the car. On the passenger seat was the manila envelope she had found in the attic.

And the photo of the four babies.

She picked it up.

Rachel.

The lost sister.

Sarah started the engine.

The hunt wasn't over. It had just changed targets.