Chapter 14 - The Final Door
The footsteps stopped outside the upstairs study.
Sofia climbed the stairs.
Elena followed.
Javier stayed close behind.
The door was locked.
Sofia tried the handle.
Nothing.
Elena examined the frame.
“There is another entrance.”
She pushed the bookshelf.
It moved.
Behind it was a narrow passage.
Sofia entered.
At the end stood another door.
This one had no handle.
Only a fingerprint scanner.
Sofia stared.
“That's strange.”
Elena looked at her.
“Try.”
Sofia placed her hand against the scanner.
The door unlocked.
Inside was a small room.
There was a chair.
A desk.
A telephone.
And dozens of documents.
But no person.
Sofia walked toward the desk.
A file waited there.
Her name was written across it.
She opened it.
The first page contained her birth certificate.
The second contained financial records.
The third contained something she had never seen before.
A photograph.
Daniel was standing beside another man.
The man was older.
Powerful.
Familiar.
Sofia's breath caught.
She knew him.
Everyone knew him.
He was the founder of the corporation that had controlled half the regional financial market.
But he had died seventeen years ago.
Sofia turned the photograph over.
A message was written on the back.
He knows.
Sofia looked at Elena.
“Who is this?”
Elena's face became pale.
“That was Marcus Vale.”
Javier looked confused.
“Richard's father?”
“Yes.”
Sofia opened another file.
Inside was a list of names.
Some were crossed out.
Some had dates.
Some had dollar amounts.
At the bottom was one name.
Sofia Mendoza.
Beside it was a single word.
Replacement.
Sofia stared.
“What does that mean?”
Elena didn't answer.
Then the telephone rang.
Everyone froze.
The phone rang again.
Sofia slowly picked it up.
She said nothing.
A man's voice came through.
“Hello, Sofia.”
Her eyes widened.
She knew the voice.
It was impossible.
“Dad?”
A pause.
Then Daniel spoke.
“Yes.”
Sofia's knees nearly gave way.
“Where are you?”
“I don't have much time.”
“Where are you?”
Another pause.
“Don't trust Elena.”
The line went dead.
Sofia slowly lowered the phone.
Elena stood behind her.
May you like
Javier stared at both women.
And from somewhere downstairs came the sound of the front door opening.
