Chapter 3 - SOPHIE DISAPPEARS
I went back to St. Mary's that afternoon.
Anna was awake.
But Sophie wasn't there.
"Where is she?"
Anna's face changed.
"What?"
"Sophie. Where is she?"
Anna looked toward the door.
"She should be at school."
"Her school says she didn't arrive."
Anna went pale.
"That's impossible."
I called Daniel.
Then my security team.
Then the police.
Within twenty minutes, the hospital corridor was filled with officers.
Anna started crying.
"They took her."
"Who?"
"Jonathan."
I held her hand.
"How do you know?"
"Because he's done this before."
My blood ran cold.
"Before?"
Anna nodded.
"Years ago, when Sophie was born, Jonathan tried to take her."
"Why?"
"Because Sophie wasn't just Richard's daughter."
"What else is she?"
Anna stared at me.
"She's the legal beneficiary of the original Harrison fortune."
I couldn't speak.
"What?"
"Your father didn't build Harrison Development for himself."
She swallowed.
"He built it for his children."
I looked at her.
"Then why am I the CEO?"
"Because Jonathan convinced everyone you were the only heir."
The room went silent.
Anna reached beneath her pillow.
She pulled out another envelope.
"Your father gave me this before he died."
I opened it.
Inside was a handwritten statement.
The controlling shares of Harrison Development belong to the Harrison Family Trust.
Michael Harrison shall serve as trustee until Sophie Elizabeth Whitmore reaches eighteen.
My hands trembled.
"What does this mean?"
Anna whispered,
"It means you don't own Harrison Development."
I stared at her.
"Who does?"
"Sophie."
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Michael Harrison."
A distorted voice spoke.
"You have twenty-four hours."
"Where is Sophie?"
"You have something we want."
"The key?"
Silence.
Then:
"Bring it to the old Harrison warehouse."
"Where's Sophie?"
A photograph arrived.
I opened it.
Sophie was sitting in a dark room.
Her hands weren't tied.
But she looked terrified.
She was holding her new white sneakers.
The voice returned.
"Come alone."
I looked at Anna.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Don't go."
"I have to."
"No."
She grabbed my wrist.
"Michael, that's what your father did."
"What?"
"He went alone."
She whispered,
"And he never came back the same man."
I stared at her.
"What happened?"
Anna closed her eyes.
"Your father didn't die peacefully."
My blood ran cold.
"What do you mean?"
"He was murdered."
The monitor beside her began beeping faster.
"Anna."
She looked at me.
"Jonathan didn't kill him."
"Then who did?"
Her lips trembled.
"Your grandmother."
I couldn't move.
My grandmother had been dead for fourteen years.
But Anna continued.
"She ordered it."
I felt the room spinning.
"Why?"
"Because Richard was going to expose everything."
"What everything?"
Anna looked toward the door.
"Your family built its fortune on a crime."
Then the lights went out.
The hospital plunged into darkness.
Someone screamed in the hallway.
May you like
And when the emergency lights came on—
Anna's bed was empty.
