Chapter 7: The Little Girl Who Disappeared
"Find her.""
Those were the first words I said after Michael told me Vanessa had become Sophie's foster guardian.
He was already making calls.
Sergeant Brooks took the documents from him and instructed the officers to keep Vanessa and Detective Harlan separated.
I barely noticed.
All I could think about was an eight-year-old girl who had lost her parents and had somehow ended up in the hands of the woman who might have destroyed my family.
"Where is Sophie now?"" I demanded.
Michael rubbed his forehead.
"According to the placement paperwork, she's staying at Vanessa's residence.""
"Then let's go there.""
"Daniel, wait.""
"She's eight years old!""
"I know. But we need to establish whether the placement was legally approved and whether Sophie is in immediate danger.""
I grabbed his arm.
"Would you tell me to wait if it were Maya?""
He didn't answer.
Sergeant Brooks approached.
"Mr. Carter, I understand your concern. We're requesting an emergency welfare check.""
"Requesting? Why aren't we going?""
"Because we need to coordinate with the child protection agency.""
I stared at her.
"Vanessa has already tried to take my daughter from a hospital room. A detective who investigated my wife's death is involved. A doctor entered my daughter's room without authorization. How much more do you need?""
Brooks looked at the photograph again.
Then she turned to one of the officers.
"Call the child protection supervisor. Tell them I want the original placement authorization immediately.""
She looked back at me.
"And Mr. Carter, I need you to tell me everything you know about Sophie.""
I took a breath.
Sophie was James's daughter.
James had been Rachel's younger brother. He had died three years earlier in a highway accident, leaving his wife, Claire, and their little girl.
Claire had died from cancer eight months later.
Rachel had promised to help care for Sophie.
But after Rachel's death, Vanessa had told me the child had moved to another state to live with relatives.
I had believed her.
I had never questioned it.
"Who was Sophie's previous guardian?"" Brooks asked.
"An aunt on her mother's side, I think. Her name was Patricia.""
"Do you have her number?""
"I can find it.""
Michael interrupted.
"There's something you should know. Rachel was challenging the guardianship arrangement before she died.""
I turned toward him.
"What arrangement?""
He opened his briefcase and removed another folder.
"She believed Vanessa was attempting to become the legal guardian of both girls. The inheritance trust required the children to remain under separate financial oversight. But if Vanessa obtained guardianship, she could influence decisions about their education, residence, and access to the trust.""
"Why would she want that?""
Michael looked uncomfortable.
"Because the trust contains more than money.""
He handed me another document.
It was an inventory of property belonging to Rachel's mother.
A house.
Several investment accounts.
And a commercial property in downtown Boston.
Together, the estate was worth several million dollars.
I stared at the figures.
"Vanessa was trying to control all of it?""
"Yes.""
I thought about the photograph from the hospital.
The silver-buckled shoes.
The doctor.
The forged signatures.
The children.
Everything was connected.
My phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A little voice whispered, "Uncle Daniel?""
I nearly dropped the phone.
"Sophie?""
There was a shaky breath.
"Please don't tell Aunt Vanessa I'm calling.""
I stepped away from everyone.
"Sweetheart, where are you?""
"I'm in a room.""
"What room?""
"I don't know. It's got a big window and a blue chair.""
"Are you alone?""
"Yes.""
"Are you hurt?""
"No.""
I closed my eyes.
"Listen to me. You're going to be okay.""
Sophie began crying.
"Aunt Vanessa said you don't want me.""
My chest tightened.
"What? No, sweetheart. That's not true.""
"She said my mom and dad are gone, and nobody wants to take care of me.""
I pressed my hand against the wall.
"I want to take care of you. Rachel wanted that too.""
Sophie was quiet.
Then she whispered, "I have something Mom gave me.""
"What is it?""
"A little recorder.""
I looked at Michael.
He had noticed my expression and was moving closer.
"What does it say, Sophie?""
"Mom told me to give it to Aunt Rachel if anything happened.""
My throat tightened.
"Where is it?""
"In my teddy bear.""
Before I could ask another question, I heard a door open on her end.
A woman's voice.
"Sophie?""
The little girl gasped.
"Uncle Daniel, she's coming.""
"Sophie, listen. Hide the phone.""
A second later, the call ended.
I stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
*Unknown number: You shouldn't have answered that call.*
I looked at Sergeant Brooks.
"She just called me.""
Her expression hardened.
"Who?""
"Sophie.""
I explained everything.
Brooks immediately ordered an emergency location trace and contacted the child protection agency.
But the next development came from Michael.
He had found Patricia's number.
He called her on speaker.
A woman answered after the third ring.
"Hello?""
"Ms. Patricia? My name is Michael Reed.
I'm an attorney representing Daniel Carter. We're trying to locate Sophie Carter.""
There was a sharp intake of breath.
"Why?""
"Are you aware that Vanessa Carter has obtained temporary guardianship?""
Patricia began crying.
"She told me Sophie was going to live with her father.""
Michael frowned.
"Her father is deceased.""
"I know that! That's why I called the agency. They said there was paperwork. They said everything was approved.""
I moved closer.
"Ms. Patricia, did you ever sign anything giving Vanessa custody?""
"No. Absolutely not.""
"Did you receive a notice?""
"Three weeks ago, someone called saying there was a family emergency. They told me Sophie needed to be moved immediately. I asked to speak to her social worker, but the woman said everything was being handled.""
Michael exchanged a look with Brooks.
"Who called you?""
Patricia hesitated.
Then she said a name.
"Dr. Samuel Pierce.""
The room went silent.
Brooks took the phone.
"Ms. Patricia, this is Sergeant Emily Brooks. I need you to remain available. We may need a formal statement.""
Patricia began speaking faster.
"Please find Sophie. I begged them not to take her. Vanessa told me the little girl would be safer with family.""
I looked at the storage unit documents.
Then at the hospital photograph.
Then at the message on my phone.
Vanessa hadn't simply taken Sophie.
She had used a doctor to convince the agency that the move was legitimate.
And she had apparently been planning it for weeks.
Suddenly, one of the officers approached Brooks.
"Sergeant, we have a location.""
"Where?""
"A residential property registered to a company connected to Vanessa.""
Brooks grabbed her coat.
"Let's go.""
I followed.
Michael caught my arm.
"Daniel, you need to stay here.""
"No.""
"You're a witness. You're emotionally involved.""
"She's my niece.""
"And Maya is still in the hospital.""
I stopped.
He was right.
I couldn't leave Maya unprotected.
I looked at Brooks.
"Can you get Sophie out?""
"We'll do everything we can.""
I called Thomas.
He answered immediately.
"Daniel?""
"Stay with Maya. Don't let anyone you don't recognize near her.""
"What's happening?""
"They found Sophie.""
I heard Thomas exhale.
"Thank God.""
Then his voice changed.
"Daniel, there's something strange here.""
"What?""
"I just found a little envelope underneath Maya's pillow.""
My heart started racing.
"What envelope?""
"It has Rachel's handwriting.""
"Open it.""
There was a pause.
Then Thomas said, "Daniel, I think you need to come back.""
"Why?""
He read the first line.
May you like
And I felt the world tilt beneath my feet.
*If Vanessa has found Sophie, then she already knows who the real father of Maya's inheritance is.*
