Chapter 6 - SOPHIE'S SECRET NOTE
Daniel met Marcus at the office that afternoon.
Sarah stayed with Sophie.
Marcus spread documents across the conference table.
"Claire sent these from an encrypted account."
Daniel read the messages.
The language was cautious.
But the meaning was clear.
Claire had promised the acquiring company that Daniel's resistance would not be a problem.
She had guaranteed his vote.
In exchange, someone had promised a payment through an offshore consulting company.
Three million dollars.
Daniel stared at the number.
"She sold my vote."
"Worse."
Marcus tapped another page.
"She promised to force the transaction at a lower valuation."
Daniel understood immediately.
The reduced valuation would cost shareholders millions.
Claire would make three million personally while everyone else lost much more.
"Can we stop it?"
"Yes."
"If we prove this."
Marcus leaned closer.
"But whoever is working with her may destroy the evidence."
Daniel thought of Victor Crane.
"Then we move quickly."
His phone vibrated.
Sarah had sent a message.
Come home now.
He left immediately.
When Daniel arrived, Sophie was sitting at the dining table with a folded piece of paper in front of her.
Sarah looked shaken.
"She found this in her dollhouse."
Daniel opened it.
The handwriting belonged to Claire.
IF D ASKS, SAY S WAS ANGRY.
IF POLICE ASK, SAY MOMMY SARAH SCARED YOU.
Daniel's hands tightened.
Claire had been coaching Sophie to lie.
But another line was written beneath it.
In a different handwriting.
DO NOT TRUST THE MAN WITH THE RED RING.
Daniel stared at the words.
"Who wrote this?"
Sophie pointed toward the front door.
"The lady."
"What lady?"
"The lady who came when Claire wasn't home."
Sarah frowned.
"When?"
"Lots of times."
"What did she look like?"
Sophie thought carefully.
"Brown hair."
"Glasses."
"She smelled like oranges."
Daniel had no idea who she meant.
"What did she do?"
"She checked the cameras."
"And she gave me cookies."
Sarah asked.
"Did Claire know?"
Sophie shook her head.
"She said Claire couldn't know."
Daniel looked again at the warning.
The man with the red ring.
Victor Crane wore a large ruby signet ring.
Daniel had noticed it during the custody hearings.
Sarah noticed the same thing.
"Crane."
Daniel nodded.
Then Sophie added something.
"The lady said he hurt her too."
"Who?"
"The man with the red ring."
Daniel crouched.
"Did she tell you her name?"
Sophie nodded.
"Emily."
Sarah suddenly stood.
Daniel looked at her.
"What?"
Sarah's face had gone white.
"Emily Crane."
"Who is that?"
May you like
Sarah swallowed.
"Victor Crane's daughter."
