Chapter 5 — The Woman Before Sophia
The police arrested Sophia and Richard before midnight.
But by sunrise, Richard’s attorneys had already secured his temporary release pending further investigation.
Sophia remained in custody.
Lucas took Emily home.
The mansion still contained traces of the wedding morning.
Flowers lined the staircase.
Champagne cooled in silver buckets.
A white ribbon hung from Emily’s bedroom door.
Lucas ripped it down.
Maria helped Emily change into pajamas.
Then the little girl refused to sleep unless Lucas stayed beside her.
He lay on top of the blankets, holding her hand until her breathing softened.
At three in the morning, his phone rang.
Unknown number.
Lucas stepped into the hallway.
“Hello?”
A woman spoke quietly.
“My name is Natalie Cole. I was engaged to Richard Vale’s oldest son.”
Lucas frowned.
“I didn’t know he had a son.”
“He doesn’t anymore.”
Silence.
Natalie continued.
“Daniel died six years ago. Officially, it was a car accident.”
“And unofficially?”
“He discovered what his father was doing.”
Lucas walked downstairs.
“What was Richard doing?”
“Using marriages to take control of family-owned companies.”
Lucas stopped.
Natalie’s voice trembled.
“Daniel found records connecting Richard to three wealthy widows. Each woman married someone close to the Vale family. Each woman died within two years.”
Lucas felt cold.
“Why haven’t you gone to the police?”
“I did. The detective assigned to the case disappeared.”
Lucas looked through the dark windows.
“Why call me now?”
“Because Sophia contacted me three months ago.”
“What did she want?”
“She wanted to know how Daniel discovered the scheme.”
Lucas tightened his grip on the phone.
“Did you tell her?”
“No. But I pretended I would.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted proof.”
A message appeared on Lucas’s screen.
Natalie had sent him a photograph.
It showed Sophia meeting with a man outside a private clinic.
The man wore a doctor’s coat.
Lucas recognized him.
Dr. Aaron Wells.
Emily’s pediatrician.
Natalie whispered, “Your daughter was never supposed to reach Switzerland alive.”
Before Lucas could respond, a loud crash sounded upstairs.
He ran.
Emily’s bedroom window was open.
May you like
Maria lay unconscious on the floor.
And Emily was gone.
