Chapter 10 - The Gala
Victor Crane smiled for cameras like a man who had never destroyed anything.
White hair.
Perfect tuxedo.
American flag pin.
Donors lined up to shake his hand.
Nobody saw us enter through the service corridor.
Marco had arranged everything.
Sophie wore a black dress and a dark wig.
I carried no weapon.
Only the photograph.
Vanessa had given police enough evidence to begin warrants, but Marco believed Victor would run before they arrived.
We needed him talking.
Sophie needed answers.
And we needed Noah’s location.
Marco placed a tiny microphone beneath my collar.
“Do not threaten him.”
“I’m not promising anything.”
“Daniel.”
“He killed Amelia.”
“We need him alive and talking.”
I looked through the ballroom doors.
Victor stood ten yards away.
Laughing.
I hated that laugh instantly.
I walked toward him.
His eyes found me.
The smile disappeared.
“Daniel Reed.”
“Victor Crane.”
He shook my hand for the cameras.
“You’ve had a difficult evening.”
“You heard.”
“I hear everything.”
“I know.”
His eyes sharpened.
I pulled out the photograph.
For the first time, Victor lost control.
“Where did you get that?”
“Amelia.”
“Give it to me.”
“No.”
His security men moved closer.
Marco appeared behind me.
Victor looked annoyed.
“Mr. Stallone.”
“Victor.”
“You never learned when to retire.”
“You never learned cameras got smaller.”
Victor’s eyes flicked toward Marco’s jacket.
Smart man.
He knew.
So he changed his tone.
“I have nothing to hide.”
A woman stepped from behind a marble column.
Sophie removed her wig.
Victor stopped breathing.
Guests nearby began turning.
Sophie spoke loudly enough for them to hear.
“Hello, Father.”
Victor stared.
One second.
Two.
Then he smiled.
“Sophie.”
Whispers exploded through the room.
Phones came out.
Victor walked toward her.
“My poor daughter.”
Sophie stepped back.
“Don’t touch me.”
“I have searched for you for years.”
She laughed.
“You told the world I was dead.”
“That was for your protection.”
“You locked me in a clinic.”
“You were unwell.”
“You killed my mother.”
The room went silent.
Victor’s face changed.
Only slightly.
“You’re confused.”
“And Amelia?”
His jaw tightened.
“You caused her crash.”
“Careful.”
“You kidnapped Noah.”
Victor glanced at me.
Then at Marco.
“You’ve been filling her head with nonsense.”
Sophie held up the medical record.
“This is Lily’s birth report.”
That did it.
Victor’s composure cracked.
He whispered:
“Put that away.”
“No.”
“Now.”
“Why?”
Her voice rose.
“Because Lily proves I survived?”
Victor stepped close.
“You don’t understand what will happen.”
“To your company?”
“To her.”
Sophie froze.
“What did you say?”
Victor leaned closer.
“If Lily’s identity becomes public, there are people much more dangerous than me who will come for her.”
I watched his face.
For the first time, I saw fear.
Not fake fear.
Real fear.
Marco heard it too.
“Who?” I asked.
Victor looked at me.
“You think this story ends with me?”
“Yes.”
He laughed quietly.
“Then Amelia died for nothing.”
Sophie grabbed his arm.
“Where is Noah?”
Victor looked at her hand.
Then back at her.
“Alive.”
“Where?”
“Where he has been safe for six years.”
“Safe?”
“You locked him away!”
“I kept him alive.”
“From who?”
Victor leaned toward her.
“From the man Noah was investigating.”
Marco said, “You.”
Victor shook his head.
“No.”
Then the ballroom lights went out.
Screams filled the room.
Marco grabbed me.
“Move!”
Gunshots cracked.
Emergency lights came on.
May you like
Victor Crane was gone.
And Sophie was gone with him.
