Chapter 4 - What Vincent Owed the Dead
Vincent moved before Sophia could turn.
He shoved her behind him.
Marco stood ten feet away.
But the gun wasn't in Marco’s hand.
One of the guards had drawn it on Elias.
Vincent snapped, “Lower it.”
The guard obeyed.
Marco stared at the photograph.
“That’s not what it looks like.”
Vincent’s voice became dangerously quiet.
“Then explain.”
Marco admitted meeting Daniel.
Daniel had suspected Mercer and asked Marco for help independently.
“Why hide it?”
“Because Daniel made me promise.”
Vincent stepped closer.
“You work for me.”
“I worked for your father first. Daniel knew loyalty around this family could get complicated.”
Vincent looked ready to strike him.
Sophia interrupted.
“Did you kill my husband?”
Marco met her eyes.
“No.”
“Did you know someone planned to?”
“No.”
“Then prove it.”
Marco removed his phone and displayed an archived message from Daniel.
If I don't call by noon tomorrow, give Sophia the blue file. Not Vincent. Sophia.
“Blue file?” Sophia asked.
Marco nodded.
“I never found it.”
Vincent turned toward Elias.
“You came here for something.”
Elias smiled faintly.
“Adrian is back.”
“You expect me to believe you aren't working together?”
“My son stopped listening to me years ago.”
“Convenient.”
“He wants the ledger.”
“So does everyone.”
“No.” Elias looked toward Mia. “He wants the child.”
Sophia’s blood froze.
Vincent stepped between Elias and the house.
“Why?”
“Because Daniel hid something in her name.”
The hospital bracelet.
Sophia remembered it.
They examined the bracelet.
Inside its clasp was a microscopic engraving:
CR-1107.
Vincent recognized it.
“Central Registry.”
“What is that?”
“A private records vault Daniel helped audit.”
Elias nodded.
“Whatever Daniel found, he registered it under Mia’s birth date.”
Sophia stared at him.
“You've known for two years?”
“I knew enough to stay away. Adrian didn't.”
“Why now?”
“Because Mercer is dying.”
Vincent narrowed his eyes.
“Cancer. Months, perhaps weeks. Dying men become careless.”
“And Adrian?”
“Wants everything Mercer has before he dies.”
Vincent ordered Elias detained—not harmed, merely watched.
Then he turned to Sophia.
“You and Mia leave tonight.”
“No.”
“Not negotiable.”
“You don't own me.”
“No. But I own enough aircraft to put an ocean between Mia and Adrian Voss.”
Sophia almost shouted.
Instead she said quietly, “Daniel died because he tried to finish this alone. I'm not repeating his mistake.”
Something in Vincent’s expression softened.
“You sound like him.”
“Maybe that's why he married me.”
That night Sophia found Vincent alone on the terrace.
“Why do you feel responsible?”
He stared into the darkness.
“Daniel called me at 7:12 the morning he died.”
Sophia waited.
“I was angry with him. He had ignored my instructions. I told him if he wanted to play hero, he could solve it himself.”
Vincent swallowed.
“He died at 8:03.”
Sophia understood.
“You think if you'd answered differently—”
“I could have sent men.”
“You don't know that.”
“I know he called.”
“You aren't God, Vincent.”
“No.”
For once, he sounded tired rather than dangerous.
“Men like me sometimes forget that.”
Sophia touched his hand.
Only for a moment.
Neither moved.
Then Mia’s scream came from upstairs.
They ran.
Her room was empty.
The balcony doors stood open.
Sophia rushed outside.
“Mia!”
Nothing.
Then the bathroom door opened.
Mia emerged.
“I peed.”
Sophia nearly collapsed.
Vincent closed his eyes.
Mia looked between them.
“Why everybody crazy?”
A laugh escaped Sophia.
Even Vincent smiled.
Then Mia held out a blue envelope.
“Auntie gave me this.”
Sophia stopped.
“What auntie?”
“The lady in my room.”
Vincent’s smile disappeared.
There was no woman in the room.
Sophia opened the envelope.
Inside was a single photograph of Daniel.
On the back:
ASK VINCENT WHAT HE DID AT HARBOR POINT BEFORE DANIEL FOUND HIM.
Vincent stared at it.
Sophia turned.
“What did you do?”
Before he could answer, the bedroom closet door moved.
May you like
Someone was still inside.
And the handle began to turn.
