Chapter 8 - Rosa’s Daughter
Rosa stared at Margaret as if she had been struck.
“My Sofia was abandoned at St. Anne’s Hospital.”
“That is what you were told.”
“No.”
“You adopted her when she was six weeks old.”
Rosa’s breathing became ragged.
“My husband and I signed everything.”
Margaret nodded.
“I arranged it.”
The nursery door cracked open.
Nathan’s hand appeared through the broken panel.
“Move.”
Rosa reacted instantly.
She dragged a dresser across the door.
Margaret helped.
Emily stood frozen.
Rosa had talked about Sofia for years.
Sofia had grown up in the mansion staff quarters.
She had gone to college.
She now worked as a forensic accountant in Boston.
Emily had met her twice.
A quiet woman with dark eyes and a habit of studying people before answering questions.
Claire’s daughter had been inside Nathan’s family home for nearly twenty years.
And he had never known.
Or perhaps he had.
Nathan slammed against the door.
“You think I don’t know where she is now?”
Rosa spun around.
“What did you say?”
Nathan laughed from the hall.
“I found her three months ago.”
Rosa’s face twisted.
“No.”
“I sent someone to Boston.”
Rosa grabbed the door.
“What did you do to my daughter?”
Margaret pulled her back.
“Rosa.”
Nathan spoke gently.
“She is alive.”
Emily hated the pleasure in his voice.
“For now.”
Rosa looked ready to tear the door apart with her bare hands.
Emily grabbed her.
“He wants you to open it.”
Rosa was shaking.
Emily forced her to look at her.
“He wants you angry.”
A siren sounded outside.
Then a police loudspeaker.
“Nathan Harrington, come out with your hands visible.”
Nathan stepped away from the door.
His footsteps retreated.
Rosa immediately reached for the lock.
Emily stopped her.
“No.”
“My daughter.”
“We call her.”
Emily pulled out her phone.
Eight percent battery.
She dialed Sofia.
The call rang once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then someone answered.
No one spoke.
“Sofia?”
A faint breath came through the speaker.
Rosa grabbed the phone.
“Sofia, sweetheart, it’s Mom.”
A woman whispered.
“Mom?”
Rosa collapsed against the crib.
“Oh, thank God.”
Sofia sounded terrified.
“Something’s happening.”
“What?”
“There’s a man outside my apartment.”
Emily took the phone.
“Sofia, listen to me.”
“Who is this?”
“Emily Harrington.”
A pause.
“Mrs. Harrington?”
“Lock your door.”
“I already did.”
“Call the police.”
“I did.”
A loud crash sounded through the phone.
Sofia gasped.
Then Emily heard a man shout in the background.
Rosa screamed.
“Sofia.”
The call disconnected.
Emily looked at her screen.
Seven percent.
Then a text message appeared from an unknown number.
A photograph loaded.
It showed Sofia sitting on the floor of her apartment.
Behind her was a shattered window.
May you like
Beneath the picture were six words.
Tell Rosa to bring me the files.
