Chapter 5 - THE PHOTOGRAPH OF SOPHIE
Mark reached Aunt Caroline's house faster than he should have.
He barely remembered the drive.
He remembered red lights.
He remembered calling Caroline three times.
He remembered Sophie answering on the third call and saying she was safe.
Only then could he breathe.
When Mark entered the house, Sophie ran toward him.
"Dad."
He dropped to his knees and wrapped both arms around her.
Sophie looked confused.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing happened."
Mark kissed her forehead.
"I just needed to see you."
Caroline stood in the hallway.
Her expression told him she knew that was not the full truth.
After Sophie returned to the living room, Mark showed Caroline the photograph.
Her face drained of color.
"Who took this?"
"We don't know."
"You need security."
"I already called someone."
Mark hated those words.
Security belonged in corporate offices and airports.
Not beside his daughter's bedroom.
Yet by evening, two licensed protection officers were stationed outside Caroline's property.
Detective Chen arrived shortly afterward.
Samuel had refused to answer questions without an attorney.
Victoria had been released on bail.
Mark stared at Chen.
"Already?"
"Burglary and forgery allegations don't automatically keep someone in jail."
"She threatened Sophie."
"We're working on that."
Mark handed her the photograph.
Chen examined it carefully.
"Where exactly did you find this?"
"Samuel's office."
"Did you touch the envelope?"
"Yes."
"Anyone else?"
"No."
Chen placed it inside an evidence sleeve.
"We'll check prints."
Mark lowered his voice.
"Do you think Samuel took it?"
"I don't know."
"But somebody wanted him to have it."
Sophie appeared in the doorway.
Everyone stopped talking.
She looked at Mark.
"Dad, can I tell you something?"
Mark forced a smile.
"Of course."
She walked closer.
"Grandpa used to have pictures like that."
Mark frowned.
"What kind of pictures?"
"Pictures of me at school."
Caroline looked at him.
Mark crouched.
"When did you see them?"
"The last time we visited Grandpa."
"Where?"
"In his study."
Sophie thought for a moment.
"He had an envelope."
Mark's heart began pounding.
"What did it look like?"
"Brown."
"Did it have writing?"
She nodded.
"It said Samuel."
Detective Chen stepped closer but kept her voice gentle.
"What did your grandfather say about the pictures?"
Sophie looked at her father.
"He told me not to worry."
"Anything else?"
"He said sometimes grown-ups take pictures when they're trying to scare people."
Mark felt anger rise inside him.
Harold had known.
Someone had been watching Sophie before he died.
Sophie continued.
"Grandpa was angry that day."
"At who?"
"That man from his office."
"Samuel?"
"No."
Mark froze.
"There was somebody else?"
Sophie nodded.
"He had a red tie."
That description meant nothing.
Then she added something more.
"He had the funny ring."
"What ring?"
"A lion."
Caroline suddenly sat down.
Mark looked at her.
"What?"
She stared at Sophie.
"A gold lion?"
Sophie nodded.
Caroline whispered.
"Gerald Pike."
Mark knew the name.
Gerald Pike was a retired judge.
He had been Harold's closest friend for more than thirty years.
More importantly, Gerald had notarized the amendment Victoria presented in the great hall.
Mark looked at Detective Chen.
"We found the man who certified the forged inheritance papers."
Chen was already reaching for her phone.
Then Sophie's expression changed.
"Dad."
"What?"
"Mr. Pike came to our house once."
Mark stopped breathing.
"When?"
"When you were in Denver."
Mark remembered the trip.
Three weeks before Harold died.
He had been away for two nights.
"What did he want?"
Sophie looked down.
May you like
"He asked me where Grandpa kept the little wooden box."
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