Chapter 18 - WHAT SOPHIE SAW
Daniel sat with Sophie in the safest room federal agents could provide.
Sarah held her hand.
A child psychologist sat nearby.
Nobody pressured Sophie.
Daniel simply asked.
"Did you ever see Mr. Crane do something scary?"
Sophie stared at her shoes.
Then nodded.
"When?"
"At the lake."
Daniel remembered Claire taking Sophie to the cabin the previous summer.
Claire claimed it was a girls' weekend.
Sophie whispered.
"There was a man yelling."
"What man?"
"I don't know."
"What happened?"
"Mr. Crane pushed him."
Daniel stayed calm.
"Where?"
"By the stairs."
Sophie swallowed.
"He fell."
Sarah's face tightened.
"Did the man get up?"
Sophie shook her head.
"Claire told me it was a dream."
Daniel felt sick.
Emily searched the insurance archive.
They found a death matching the date.
Jonathan Pierce.
A corporate attorney.
Official cause.
Accidental fall at a rental property.
Jonathan had worked for the acquiring company.
He had apparently discovered the financial manipulation.
Victor killed him.
Sophie witnessed it.
That was why Claire had become increasingly cruel toward her.
Not simply jealousy.
Claire had been trying to frighten Sophie into silence.
Victor now wanted to eliminate the last eyewitness.
Daniel refused the exchange.
Instead, federal agents built a trap.
Claire would pretend Daniel agreed.
The memory cards would be duplicated.
Sophie would never be brought near the courthouse.
Claire insisted on attending.
Ruiz objected.
Daniel did too.
Claire looked at him through the hospital room.
"Victor won't believe you without me."
"You think helping now erases what you did?"
"No."
For once, Claire did not defend herself.
"I know what I did to Sophie."
"I know I don't deserve forgiveness."
"But let me do one thing that isn't for myself."
Daniel studied her.
"Why?"
Claire cried quietly.
"Because she's eight years old."
"And I made her afraid of dinner."
Daniel looked away.
He could never forgive that.
But Noah and Caroline were running out of time.
At 11:52 p.m., Daniel and Claire entered the abandoned courthouse.
Federal agents surrounded the building from concealed positions.
Daniel carried a briefcase containing fake drives.
Claire wore a hidden transmitter.
The courtroom lights flickered.
Victor appeared behind the judge's bench.
Noah stood beside him.
Caroline was tied to a chair.
Daniel felt pure rage.
"Let them go."
Victor smiled.
"Always dramatic, Daniel."
Claire stepped forward.
"It's over."
Victor looked almost disappointed.
"Claire."
"I taught you better."
"You taught me to be afraid."
"And you learned well."
Victor pointed a gun toward Noah.
Daniel stopped moving.
Victor looked at the briefcase.
"Open it."
Daniel did.
"Drives on the table."
Daniel obeyed.
Victor smiled.
Then Claire suddenly whispered.
"I'm sorry, Sophie."
Victor frowned.
He realized too late.
Claire lunged at his arm.
The gun fired.
Caroline screamed.
Noah dropped to the floor.
Federal agents stormed the courtroom.
Victor struck Claire and ran through a side door.
Daniel reached Noah.
"Are you hit?"
Noah shook his head.
The bullet had struck the wooden bench.
Behind them, Claire lay on the floor.
Blood spread across her white hospital shirt.
Daniel stared at the wound.
Claire looked at him.
"Is Sophie safe?"
Daniel answered.
"Yes."
Claire closed her eyes.
"Good."
May you like
Then the lights went out.
And Victor Crane disappeared into the darkness.
