Chapter 10 - THE THIRD SISTER
The message included an address.
An old shipping terminal near the river.
Charles whispered, “That was one of our warehouses.”
“Of course it was,” Claire said.
Margaret stared at the photograph.
The third girl looked terrified.
A bruise darkened her cheek.
“What’s her name?”
Daniel enlarged the image.
A badge hung from the woman’s shirt.
SOPHIE REED — METRO NEWS.
Emily frowned.
“She’s a reporter.”
Claire grabbed her phone.
A search pulled up Sophie Reed’s face.
Investigative journalist.
Twenty-three years old.
Articles about corruption.
Medical fraud.
Private security contracts.
Then one headline made everyone stop.
ASHFORD SECURITY LINKED TO MISSING HOSPITAL RECORDS.
Claire looked at Margaret.
“She was investigating Thomas.”
Daniel swore.
“That’s why he found her.”
Margaret turned to Charles.
“Did you know?”
“No.”
“You expect me to believe anything you say?”
“No.”
The answer surprised her.
Charles looked old.
Suddenly very old.
“I destroyed this family because I thought the family name mattered more than the people carrying it.”
Claire said, “Save the speech.”
Margaret looked at Daniel.
“What does Thomas want?”
“The original photograph.”
“Why?”
“Because if Sophie has been investigating, that picture connects him to the babies before the fire.”
Charles shook his head.
“It’s more than that.”
Everyone looked at him.
He pointed toward the photo.
“The nurse in the mirror.”
“What about her?”
“That’s Helen Ward.”
Daniel frowned.
“The red-haired records clerk?”
“No. Different woman.”
Charles looked sick.
“She was Thomas’s girlfriend.”
Margaret’s face went numb.
“During our marriage?”
“Yes.”
Emily muttered, “Wow.”
Charles continued.
“Helen helped Harris move babies through illegal adoptions. Thomas used the network.”
Margaret’s voice was low.
“Used it for what?”
“To hide money.”
Claire stared at him.
“Babies and money. Great combination.”
“Families paid cash. Thomas laundered it through clinics and charities.”
Daniel looked at Sophie’s picture.
“If she uncovered the adoption ring, she probably found the money too.”
Margaret picked up the photograph.
“We go.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
“He has my daughter.”
“We don’t know that she is.”
Margaret turned sharply.
“Yes, we do.”
“You need DNA.”
“I need to get her out of that chair.”
Nobody argued.
They drove to the river.
Daniel parked near an abandoned grain mill.
“You stay behind me,” he said.
Claire smiled without humor.
“People keep saying that tonight.”
Emily took a tire iron from the SUV.
Margaret looked at her.
“What are you doing?”
“Improvising.”
They entered the terminal through a side door.
Dark.
Silent.
Then overhead lights snapped on.
Sophie sat in the center of the warehouse.
Tied to a chair.
Thomas stood behind her.
Gun in hand.
He smiled.
“Family reunion.”
Margaret held up the photograph.
“Let her go.”
“Bring it here.”
Sophie shouted, “Don’t!”
Thomas hit her across the face.
Emily lunged forward.
Daniel caught her.
Thomas smiled.
“She definitely has your temper, Margaret.”
Margaret stared at him.
“Which one?”
Thomas laughed.
“All three.”
Then Sophie looked at Margaret through swollen eyes.
“I’m not your daughter.”
Everyone froze.
Sophie swallowed.
“I found her.”
Thomas’s smile vanished.
May you like
And Sophie whispered—
“Your third daughter is his wife.”
