Chapter 12 - the child who would not follow
Sophie did not move.
Julian stood in the doorway of Vincent’s private office while Mrs. Bell and Dr. Chen watched him cautiously.
“Mr. Moretti asked me to bring Sophie to the depot,” he said.
Mrs. Bell stepped between them.
“Vincent said she was to remain here.”
“The situation changed.”
“Then he can call us.”
“The phone system is down.”
Dr. Chen reached for the desk phone.
There was no signal.
Julian held out his hand again.
“Come with me, Sophie.”
She looked at his cuff links.
The lions had two black eyes now.
“Where’s Vincent’s pin?” she asked.
Julian frowned.
“What?”
“When Vincent wants me to go somewhere, he gives me his pin.”
“This is not a game.”
“I know.”
Julian’s voice became firmer.
“Your mother is waiting.”
“What color is her coat?”
The question surprised him.
“Blue.”
Mara had not worn a coat when she was taken.
Sophie backed away.
“You’re lying.”
Julian stepped forward.
Mrs. Bell picked up a heavy lamp.
“Do not come closer.”
Julian sighed.
“I had hoped to avoid frightening her.”
Two men entered behind him.
Dr. Chen pressed an alarm button beneath the desk, but the light did not activate.
Julian had already disabled it.
Sophie climbed onto Vincent’s chair.
“What do you want from me?”
“The bell.”
“I lost it.”
“No, you didn’t.”
He crossed the room.
Sophie pressed a button hidden beneath the armrest.
Nothing happened.
Julian reached her.
Then steel shutters dropped over every door and window.
Vincent’s chair rotated backward into the wall, carrying Sophie into a concealed safe room.
Julian grabbed for her, but the panel closed between them.
Inside the compartment, Sophie found a secure phone and a monitor showing the office.
Vincent had designed the room years earlier for emergencies.
She called the only programmed number.
Tony answered.
“Sophie?”
“Julian is here.”
“We can see him. Stay inside.”
“He has Mrs. Bell and Dr. Chen.”
Tony looked toward Vincent.
They were still inside the St. Agnes depot.
“We’re twelve minutes away,” he said.
Julian searched the office for another entrance to the safe room. When he could not find one, he looked directly into the security camera.
“Vincent,” he said, certain they were watching. “Bring Mara and the drive to Bellavista. You have ten minutes.”
Mara leaned toward the monitor.
“He won’t hurt Sophie while she’s behind the wall.”
“He has Mrs. Bell,” Vincent replied.
On screen, Julian placed Mrs. Bell in a chair. He did not harm her, but one of his men stood beside her.
Julian continued.
“The city believes Vincent Moretti kidnapped Mara Reyes after she uncovered financial crimes. Every police department is searching for him. If he does not surrender, innocent people will pay for his pride.”
Sophie’s voice came through the secure line.
“He can hear us, can’t he?”
“Not inside the room,” Tony said.
“Can I hear him?”
“Yes.”
Sophie watched Julian pacing.
Then she remembered the microphone hidden inside Luna. Her mother had placed it there months earlier so Sophie could record school projects.
Luna remained outside the safe room, lying beneath the desk.
Sophie activated the remote recorder through her small tablet.
Julian spoke to one of his men.
“Dario failed at the depot. Tell the Architect we’ll move to the original location.”
“Which location?”
“The winter table.”
Mara heard him through the live feed.
Her face drained of color.
“The café.”
Vincent turned toward Tony.
“He wants us away from Bellavista.”
“Why?”
Mara looked at the map in her memory.
“The café, the foundation, St. Agnes, and Bellavista are all connected by tunnels. If he moves Sophie to the winter table, he can enter the central line.”
“What is in the central line?” Tony asked.
Mara finally understood the purpose of Elena’s map.
“The original ledger.”
The office feed suddenly froze.
Julian had found Luna’s recorder.
He lifted the stuffed rabbit and looked into its button eye.
Then he turned toward the safe-room wall.
“You inherited your grandmother’s courage, Sophie.”
He placed Luna on the desk.
“But courage will not open this door.”
A mechanical sound came from inside the wall.
The safe room began filling with white vapor.
Sophie coughed and covered her mouth.
May you like
Julian smiled at the camera.
“Fear will.”
