Chapter 15 - Sophia's MotherSophia's mother was being held in an abandoned church.
Adrian found the location through a coded note in the passport.
He entered alone.
The woman sat beneath a broken stained-glass window.
She looked old.
Fragile.
But her eyes were sharp.
“You look like him.”
Adrian stopped.
“Like my father?”
She smiled.
“Like the boy he wanted to save.”
“Who are you?”
“You know.”
“I'm asking anyway.”
She sighed.
“Margaret Vale.”
Adrian froze.
The name had appeared in the ledger.
Multiple times.
Beside Graham.
Beside Vincent.
Beside his father.
“You're the financier.”
“Among other things.”
“Why did you take Emma?”
“I didn't.”
“Then who did?”
Margaret looked away.
“Vincent.”
“Why?”
“To force your father out of hiding.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“And the payroll?”
“Graham's doing.”
“Was Graham working for you?”
“Yes.”
Adrian's voice hardened.
“Why?”
“Because he was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Of dying.”
Margaret smiled sadly.
“Everyone eventually becomes loyal to the person who can kill them.”
Adrian said nothing.
She continued.
“Daniel found the original accounts.”
“Yes.”
“He wanted to expose us.”
“Yes.”
“Vincent killed him.”
Adrian stared.
“You knew?”
“I ordered his protection.”
“That isn't what I asked.”
Margaret looked directly at him.
“Yes.”
Adrian felt anger rising.
“You allowed him to die.”
“I allowed your father to choose.”
“What does that mean?”
“Your father was given two choices.”
“Which were?”
“Expose the organization and lose you.”
“Or?”
“Become part of it.”
Adrian clenched his fists.
“He chose me.”
“He chose you.”
“Then why did he disappear?”
“Because he changed his mind.”
Adrian stared.
“He couldn't live with what he had become.”
Margaret looked toward the door.
“You need to leave.”
“Where's Emma?”
“I don't know.”
“Who does?”
Margaret hesitated.
Then whispered:
“Graham.”
Adrian turned.
“Where?”
“I sent him a message.”
“What did you tell him?”
Margaret looked at Adrian.
“That Emma knows more than anyone realizes.”
Adrian froze.
“She’s six.”
“Yes.”
“She doesn't know anything.”
“She remembers her father.”
Adrian said nothing.
Margaret continued.
“Daniel hid the final evidence inside Emma's memory.”
“That makes no sense.”
“He taught her a story.”
“What story?”
“A bedtime rhyme.”
Adrian felt a chill.
“What rhyme?”
Margaret recited softly:
“Ten little coins beneath the moon…”
Adrian stared.
Emma had sung that rhyme in the diner.
He had thought it was harmless.
Margaret continued:
“Five for the liar, four for the thief…”
She stopped.
Adrian whispered the next line.
“And one for the man who knows where we sleep.”
Margaret nodded.
“That line isn't a rhyme.”
“What is it?”
“A code.”
“For what?”
“The locations of the hidden accounts.”
Adrian's blood ran cold.
Emma knew them.
Not because she understood.
May you like
Because Daniel had hidden the map inside a children's song.
And somebody had just kidnapped the only person who could decode it.
