Chapter 15 - SOPHIE REMEMBERS
Sophie had not understood the importance of Noah's words.
To her, they were part of a game.
Three months earlier, Noah had whispered that "bad people knew the cemetery."
So he moved his favorite thing somewhere safer.
"Where?"
Daniel asked gently.
Sophie thought.
"He said where nobody listens."
Sarah crouched beside her.
"What place is that?"
Sophie shrugged.
"The loud place."
Daniel tried to think like a child.
A playground.
An arcade.
A train station.
Rebecca suddenly whispered.
"The bowling alley."
Everyone looked at her.
"Andrew used to take Noah bowling every Sunday."
"There was an old bowling alley near our apartment."
"It was always loud."
The building was closed now.
Police searched it.
Behind a loose panel inside locker 108, they found the music box.
No insurance file.
Daniel's hope disappeared.
Then Sophie touched the box.
"It opens wrong."
Rebecca stared at her.
"What?"
"Noah showed me."
Sophie turned the winding key backward three times.
A hidden compartment released.
Inside was a tiny microSD card.
Rebecca began crying.
"Andrew."
The card contained everything.
Insurance payments tied to suspicious deaths.
Medical consultants.
Fake toxicology results.
Car repair invoices.
Victor's network extended far beyond family court.
One entry stopped Daniel.
VANCE, DANIEL.
STATUS: PENDING.
METHOD: CARDIAC EVENT.
DATE: SEPT 18.
Daniel stared at the screen.
That was the original board meeting date.
Claire's drugging had never been intended merely to make him confused.
Victor planned to kill him.
Sarah covered her mouth.
Marcus whispered.
"My God."
Another file showed payment authorization.
Not from Claire.
From an executive at the acquiring company.
The acquisition itself had been built on conspiracy.
Emily looked through the records.
"This is federal."
Rebecca nodded.
"That's why Victor killed Andrew."
Daniel looked at Sophie.
A child had unknowingly protected evidence capable of destroying an entire criminal network.
Then the doors of the bowling alley burst open.
Federal agents entered.
A woman in a dark jacket displayed credentials.
"Daniel Vance?"
"Yes."
"Agent Elena Brooks."
"We're taking custody of the evidence."
Ruiz, despite his suspension, immediately appeared suspicious.
"Who authorized federal involvement?"
Brooks looked at him.
"Washington."
Emily whispered to Daniel.
"Don't give her the card."
Daniel looked at her.
"Why?"
Emily's eyes were fixed on Agent Brooks's hand.
A ruby-red stone sat on her ring finger.
Not identical to Victor's.
But close enough.
Emily whispered.
"My father gives those rings to people he owns."
Daniel closed his hand around the card.
Agent Brooks stepped closer.
"Mr. Vance."
"Hand it over."
Daniel slowly backed away.
"No."
The agents around her reached toward their weapons.
Then Ruiz shouted.
"Nobody moves."
The room became completely still.
Brooks smiled.
"You just made a serious mistake."
Daniel looked directly at her.
May you like
"No."
"I finally stopped making them."
