Chapter 12: Sophie’s Revenge
Claire stared at the woman.
“You’re alive.””
Sophie stepped into the light.
She was perhaps twenty-eight.
The resemblance to Natalie was unmistakable.
“Disappointed?””
“No.””
Claire’s voice trembled.
“Confused.””
Brooke struggled against the plastic ties around her wrists.
“Mom, don’t give her anything!””
Sophie placed a hand on Brooke’s shoulder.
“Quiet.””
“Don’t touch her,” Claire said.
Sophie smiled.
“Now you care about stolen daughters?””
Claire flinched.
Police listened through the transmitter hidden beneath her coat.
I sat inside an unmarked vehicle with Ramirez.
Every instinct screamed at me to run inside.
Ramirez kept repeating the same instruction.
“Wait.””
Inside the unit, Claire held up the journal.
“You wanted this.””
“Yes.””
“Let Brooke go.””
“Put it down first.””
Claire placed the journal on the concrete.
Sophie kicked it toward herself.
Brooke whispered, “Mom…”
“I’m here.””
Sophie picked up the journal.
“Sixteen years of secrets in one cheap notebook.””
“Why are you doing this?””
“Because your family erased me.””
Claire shook her head.
“I thought you died.””
“That’s what Robert wanted everyone to think.””
“Why?””
Sophie laughed bitterly.
“Because I saw him hurt Rebecca.””
Claire went still.
“I was thirteen. I walked into his office and saw enough.””
My fists tightened.
Sophie continued.
“Thomas tried to protect me. Robert threatened both of us.””
“So Thomas helped you disappear?””
“Yes.””
“Where is he?””
Sophie’s smile vanished.
“Gone.””
“What does that mean?””
“He started this plan. I finished it.””
Claire stared at her.
“Thomas was the blackmailer.””
“He wanted you to confess.””
“Why take Maya’s money?””
“He didn’t expect you to actually pay.””
Claire blinked.
“What?””
“He demanded an amount he thought you couldn’t produce quickly. He expected you to go to Daniel. To finally tell the truth.””
“But I found the money.””
“You stole it.””
Sophie’s disgust was unmistakable.
“From your own daughter.””
Claire lowered her head.
“Yes.””
No excuse.
No defense.
Just yes.
Sophie looked almost disappointed.
“Thomas said you’d choose your reputation over everyone.””
“Where is he?””
Sophie’s eyes filled.
“Robert found him.””
Claire’s face changed.
“Robert is alive?””
Sophie laughed softly.
“You people really need to stop believing death certificates.””
In the vehicle, Ramirez immediately radioed his team.
Claire whispered, “Where is my father?””
“Closer than you think.””
A sound came from deeper inside the storage unit.
A metal door opened.
An elderly man stepped forward.
Claire staggered backward.
Even from the surveillance feed, I recognized him from the photograph.
Robert Bennett.
Claire’s father.
He looked older.
But very much alive.
“Hello, Claire.””
She stopped breathing.
Sophie spun around.
“You weren’t supposed to come here.””
Robert ignored her.
His eyes remained on Claire.
“You always were the obedient one.””
Claire’s expression changed.
Fear became anger.
“You destroyed Rebecca.””
Robert sighed.
“Rebecca destroyed herself.””
“Don’t.””
“She was unstable.””
“Don’t you dare.””
His voice sharpened.
“I spent years cleaning up her disasters.””
Claire stepped toward him.
“You abused her.””
Robert’s face hardened.
“That’s what she claimed.””
“We have Lily’s birth record.””
For the first time, he looked nervous.
Claire saw it.
“So it’s true.””
Robert glanced toward Brooke.
Then toward Sophie.
“You’ve all made a terrible mess.””
Sophie backed toward Brooke.
“Stay away from her.””
Robert laughed.
“You still think you’re protecting people?””
Police were moving now.
Ramirez spoke into his radio.
“Stand by.””
Claire asked, “Did you force Lydia off the road?””
Robert smiled.
No answer.
That was enough for me.
Then Brooke did something none of us expected.
She stood.
The ties around her wrists fell away.
Sophie stared.
“What?””
Brooke held up a small piece of broken plastic.
“You didn’t tie them very well.””
She ran toward Claire.
Robert grabbed for her.
Claire shoved Brooke behind herself.
Police surged into the unit.
“Police! Don’t move!””
Robert froze.
Sophie dropped the journal.
Officers surrounded them.
I was out of the vehicle before Ramirez could stop me.
“Dad!””
Brooke ran toward me.
I caught her.
She buried her face against my chest.
“I knew you’d come.””
“Always.””
Claire wrapped her arms around both of us.
For several seconds, nothing else mattered.
Then Sophie spoke behind us.
“You still don’t understand.””
Ramirez was placing her in handcuffs.
“Understand what?””
She looked at Robert.
“He didn’t come here for the journal.””
Robert said nothing.
Sophie smiled grimly.
“He came because Thomas is still alive.””
Claire stared at her.
“You said Robert found him.””
“He did.””
“Where is Thomas?””
Sophie nodded toward Robert.
“Ask him.””
Ramirez turned.
Robert remained silent.
An officer searched his coat.
He pulled out a set of keys.
Attached was a small metal tag.
ST. MATTHEW’S — ARCHIVE B.
Claire stared at it.
“That hospital closed ten years ago.””
Robert finally spoke.
“Some things should have stayed buried with it.””
Ramirez’s eyes narrowed.
“What’s in Archive B?””
Robert smiled.
“The proof Rebecca never found.””
“Proof of what?””
May you like
Robert looked directly at Claire.
“That Lily Bennett wasn’t the only child whose birth record I paid Lydia Cross to change.””
