Chapter 6 - My Sister’s Lie
Rebecca had been protecting Sophie in her home.
I called the police before I called her.
By the time officers arrived, the house was empty.
No Rebecca.
No Sophie.
Her phone sat on the kitchen counter.
My granddaughter’s rabbit was on the floor.
I stopped functioning.
Ruiz caught me before I collapsed.
“Where is she?”
“We’ll find her.”
“WHERE IS SHE?”
Every unit in the county received Sophie’s description.
Amber Alert.
Traffic cameras.
Airports.
Stations.
Rebecca’s car was found thirty minutes later in a supermarket parking garage.
Empty.
Then my phone rang.
Sophie.
“Nana?”
I nearly screamed.
“Sweetheart, where are you?”
“Aunt Rebecca said we’re playing hide-and-seek.”
“Can you see anything?”
“A big clock.”
“Anything else?”
“Trains.”
Ruiz was already signaling officers.
Central station.
Then Rebecca’s voice appeared.
“Diane?”
“You took my granddaughter.”
“Listen to me.”
“Put Sophie somewhere safe and walk away.”
“I am trying to keep her safe.”
“From whom?”
“Harrison.”
The name confirmed everything.
Rebecca had known Harrison was alive.
For years.
She had met him through a medical charity after his supposed death.
At first, she believed he was hiding because of financial crimes.
Later she discovered the clinics.
By then, he had enough evidence of her involvement to destroy her.
“What involvement?”
Rebecca started crying.
“I moved money.”
“You laundered it?”
“I didn’t know what it was for.”
“Melissa did.”
Silence.
“You knew Melissa was investigating.”
“Yes.”
“And you didn’t warn her?”
“I tried!”
The anger nearly blinded me.
Rebecca continued.
“Melissa wouldn’t stop. She said people were being hurt.”
“Did you tell Harrison?”
“No!”
“Brent?”
Another silence.
That was the answer.
She had told Brent.
She believed he would protect his wife.
Instead, Melissa died.
“Where is Sophie?”
“I’m taking her to someone who can prove everything.”
“Who?”
Before Rebecca answered, a man shouted in the background.
Then Sophie screamed.
The call dropped.
Police flooded Central Station.
I ran through the terminal with Ruiz.
Then Sophie appeared from behind a bench.
Alone.
I grabbed her.
“Where’s Aunt Rebecca?”
Sophie pointed toward Platform 6.
“Grandpa’s daddy took her.”
Harrison.
Ruiz ran.
A train was already departing.
Then Sophie reached into her pocket.
“Aunt Rebecca gave me this.”
A memory card.
I handed it to Ruiz.
It contained financial records, names and surgical schedules.
At the bottom was a folder titled:
MELISSA MERCER — MATCH CONFIRMED.
I opened it.
And finally understood why my daughter had been cut open.
May you like
She had not been selected randomly.
Someone had needed her specifically.
