Chapter 10 - Sophia’s war
Sophia Vance was not at St. Agnes.
She was not at the family cemetery.
She was not at any Vance property.
Dominic finally found the clue inside his own childhood.
He remembered his mother taking him and Isabella to a small house near Oyster Bay when they were children.
They had been told it belonged to a cousin.
They visited only twice.
Both times Vincent was away.
Dominic had forgotten the address.
Isabella remembered.
The house still existed.
It belonged to a trust created under Sophia’s maiden name.
Dominic arrived just before sunset.
No guards.
No visible vehicles.
The front door was unlocked.
Inside, the rooms were clean.
Maintained.
Waiting.
Dominic moved quietly.
Isabella followed.
Caroline and Elena stayed close.
They found Sophia in the kitchen.
She was sitting at a wooden table.
Her head was bandaged.
A cup of tea rested before her.
She looked at them.
“You took longer than I expected.”
Dominic stared.
“You left the hospital.”
“Yes.”
“You vanished while half the city wants you dead.”
“I have been dealing with men who want me dead since before you learned to tie your shoes.”
Isabella almost smiled.
Dominic did not.
“Where are Emma and Marcus?”
Sophia’s expression changed.
“I don’t know.”
“Richard?”
“No.”
“Vanessa?”
“No.”
Elena stepped forward.
“Did you know my father?”
Sophia looked at her.
The room softened.
“Daniel’s daughter.”
Elena stopped.
“You knew.”
“I suspected.”
Sophia stood slowly.
She touched Elena’s cheek.
“You have his eyes.”
Elena’s composure broke for a moment.
“You met him.”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“The year before he died.”
Elena swallowed.
“Did he hate us?”
Sophia looked toward Dominic and Isabella.
“No.”
“He had every reason.”
“He had anger. That is different.”
Elena looked away.
Sophia returned to the table.
Dominic did not allow the moment to distract him.
“Samuel told us to ask you who was above Richard.”
Sophia froze.
Isabella noticed.
“You know.”
Sophia sighed.
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Sophia looked at her children.
“Your father’s closest friend.”
Dominic laughed without humor.
“That describes Richard.”
“No.”
“Then who?”
“Judge Theodore Grant.”
Dominic stared.
Judge Grant had been dead five years.
He had served on the federal bench.
A family friend.
He had attended birthdays.
Weddings.
Vincent’s funeral.
Sophia continued.
“Theodore built the political protection network around the family. Richard was only one part of it.”
“But Grant is dead.”
“Yes.”
“Then who runs it now?”
Sophia whispered, “His daughter.”
Dominic knew the name.
Catherine Grant.
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
One of the most powerful federal prosecutors in the country.
A woman publicly celebrated for fighting organized crime.
A woman who had prosecuted three Vance rivals.
A woman Dominic had assumed was his enemy.
Sophia said, “She has never been your enemy.”
Isabella frowned.
“What?”
“She has been protecting you.”
Dominic stared.
“By prosecuting everyone around me?”
“By removing the people Richard planned to use against you.”
Elena asked, “Then why didn’t she expose Richard?”
“Because Richard had the ledger.”
Dominic understood.
“Part of it.”
“Yes.”
“Where is Catherine now?”
Sophia looked toward the window.
“Coming here.”
Dominic’s hand went toward his weapon.
Sophia said, “Don’t.”
“Why should I trust her?”
“Because your father did.”
Dominic laughed.
“That recommendation has aged badly.”
Headlights appeared outside.
A black sedan stopped.
Catherine Grant entered alone.
Forty seven.
Dark suit.
Calm expression.
She looked at Dominic.
“We have a serious problem.”
Dominic replied, “That sentence has been following me all day.”
Catherine put a file on the table.
“Richard Hale is preparing to leave the country.”
“With Vanessa?”
“Yes.”
“Marcus?”
“Also.”
“Emma?”
Catherine hesitated.
“We believe she is being held.”
Dominic stepped closer.
“Where?”
“A private airfield on eastern Long Island.”
Sophia asked, “The ledger?”
Catherine looked at her.
“Richard has one half.”
Dominic said, “Vanessa stole it.”
“No.”
Everyone turned.
Catherine continued.
“Vanessa thought she stole it.”
Dominic frowned.
“Explain.”
“The box at the club contained a copy.”
Elena stared.
“You knew?”
“Vincent made three.”
Isabella laughed in disbelief.
“Of course he did.”
Catherine said, “One copy was designed to be stolen.”
Dominic understood.
“Marked evidence.”
“Yes.”
“If Richard uses it?”
“We can trace the financial access codes embedded in it.”
Caroline looked impressed.
“Vincent built a trap seventeen years ago.”
Catherine nodded.
“And Richard walked into it today.”
Dominic felt the story turning.
For the first time they had leverage.
Then Catherine’s phone rang.
She answered.
Her face went pale.
“What?”
She ended the call.
Dominic stepped closer.
“What happened?”
Catherine looked at him.
“The plane at the private airfield just took off.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened.
“With Richard?”
“No.”
“Vanessa?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
May you like
Catherine swallowed.
“Emma Reed.”
