Chapter 3 - The Photograph in the Locked Room
“Seal every gate.”
My voice echoed through the mansion.
Daniel spoke into his radio.
“North team, sweep the gardens. South team, check the garages.”
Maria picked up Sophia's rabbit with shaking hands.
“Where is my daughter?”
“We'll find her.”
She spun toward me.
“This happened because of you.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“Maria—”
“No.”
I raised a hand.
Daniel stopped.
Maria's eyes filled with tears.
“You brought dangerous people into this house.”
“She was already here when Brennan arrived.”
“Because you told me to leave her!”
She was right.
That made it worse.
“Maria.”
“Find my daughter.”
“I will.”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“Don't talk to me like I'm one of your employees right now. Don't promise me something because you're Ethan Cole and everybody obeys you.”
Her voice cracked.
“Bring Sophia back.”
I looked at Daniel.
“Camera feeds.”
We entered the security room.
The footage showed Sophia leaving the upstairs hall at 8:42.
Alone.
Maria stared.
“No.”
Sophia walked downstairs.
Through the kitchen.
Then into the east corridor.
She wasn't being dragged.
She was following someone.
Daniel rewound the footage.
A man appeared briefly.
Gray sweatshirt.
Baseball cap.
Sophia followed him.
Maria whispered, “Why would she follow a stranger?”
I watched again.
Then I saw it.
The man was holding something.
A stuffed animal.
“Zoom in.”
Daniel enlarged the image.
Maria gasped.
A small brown bear.
“Sophia has one like that.”
“Where?”
“At home.”
Thomas entered behind us.
His face drained when he saw the screen.
“I know him.”
I turned.
“Who?”
“Caleb Ross.”
“Who is Caleb Ross?”
Thomas swallowed.
“He worked for your father.”
My patience disappeared.
“Why is he taking Sophia?”
“He isn't after Sophia.”
“Then why take her?”
“To get to you.”
I grabbed Thomas by the coat.
“Explain.”
“Your father kept records. Accounts. Names. Payments. Everything.”
“What does that have to do with a three-year-old?”
“Caleb believes I gave those records to you.”
“Did you?”
Thomas looked toward the east wing.
“They're hidden here.”
I released him.
“Where?”
“Your father's old room.”
The room had been locked for eleven years.
I walked upstairs and opened it.
Dust covered everything.
My father's desk remained exactly where he'd left it.
Thomas moved toward a painting.
Behind it was a safe.
Daniel stared.
“You knew this existed?”
“No.”
Thomas entered the combination.
Inside were documents.
Ledgers.
Photographs.
And another envelope.
Daniel picked up a ledger.
“These names could destroy half the organization.”
I looked at Thomas.
“That's why Caleb came.”
“Yes.”
“Where would he take Sophia?”
“I don't know.”
I slammed my fist onto the desk.
Maria flinched.
Then her phone rang.
Everyone froze.
Unknown number.
Maria answered.
“Hello?”
A man's voice came through the speaker.
“Put Ethan Cole on.”
I took the phone.
“You have five seconds to tell me where she is.”
Caleb laughed.
“Still giving orders.”
“Is Sophia hurt?”
“No.”
“Let me hear her.”
Silence.
Then—
“Mr. Ethan?”
My chest tightened.
“Sophia.”
“I'm okay.”
“Are you scared?”
“A little.”
“Listen to me. I'm coming to get you.”
“Okay.”
Caleb returned.
“Bring the ledger.”
“Where?”
“Old Cumberland warehouse. Alone.”
Daniel shook his head.
I ignored him.
Caleb continued.
“One hour.”
The call ended.
Maria grabbed my arm.
“You can't trust him.”
“I don't.”
“Then what are you going to do?”
I looked at the ledger.
Then at Noodle in her hands.
“The only thing I can.”
Daniel knew that expression.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“You don't walk into an ambush alone.”
“He asked for me.”
“He asked for the ledger.”
I handed Daniel the documents.
“Make copies.”
Maria stared at me.
“You're really going?”
I met her eyes.
“She painted a butterfly on my forehead.”
Maria blinked.
“What?”
“I can't let her spend the rest of her life thinking I abandoned her after that.”
For the first time since Sophia disappeared, Maria almost smiled.
Almost.
Then she whispered:
“Bring her home.”
I picked up Noodle.
May you like
“I intend to.”
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