Chapter 8 - THE PRICE OF SILENCESofia stepped in front of Elise.
Victor appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
He held a flashlight.
His charcoal coat was damp from the rain.
For the first time in her life, Sofia saw him without the familiar expression of gentle concern.
His face was cold.
Calculating.
Almost bored.
“Move away from her, Sofia.”
Sofia didn't move.
“Your name is Adrian Keller.”
Victor sighed.
“I wondered when you'd learn that.”
“You lied to me my entire life.”
“I gave you a home.”
“You stole my sister.”
He looked at Elise.
“She was difficult to manage, even as a child.”
Elise flinched.
Sofia felt rage surge through her.
“Don't talk about her like that.”
Victor looked almost amused.
“Your mother was always sentimental. Apparently, you inherited that weakness.”
Atlas growled.
Victor glanced at the dog.
“Still alive, are you?”
The shepherd bared his teeth.
Sofia realized the scar above Atlas's eye wasn't an accident.
Victor had hurt him before.
“Stay back,” she warned.
Victor raised both hands.
“I'm not here to fight.”
“Then why are you here?”
“To retrieve property that belongs to me.”
He pointed toward the folder.
“Those documents.”
Elise held them tighter.
“They belong to the people you hurt.”
Victor's smile disappeared.
“You have no idea what you're talking about.”
Sofia stepped forward.
“I know Meridian falsified medical records.”
“Allegations.”
“I know patients died.”
“Medical complications happen.”
“And I know you kidnapped a child.”
Victor's expression hardened.
“Be careful, Sofia.”
She stared at him.
For twenty-nine years, she had obeyed that tone.
It had made her apologize when she had done nothing wrong.
It had made her doubt herself.
It had taught her that love meant never asking difficult questions.
But something had changed.
She was no longer a frightened child.
She was a nurse.
A woman.
A sister.
And she had finally found the courage to look her abuser in the eyes.
“No,” she said quietly. “You be careful.”
Victor stared at her.
Then he laughed.
“You sound just like Claire.”
“Good.”
He reached into his coat.
Atlas lunged forward.
Victor stumbled backward.
The flashlight fell.
The room plunged into darkness.
Elise screamed.
Sofia heard a metallic object strike the floor.
Then Bear barked sharply.
A door slammed somewhere above them.
Sofia grabbed Elise's hand.
“Move!”
They ran toward the far wall.
Elise pulled aside a shelving unit, revealing a narrow passage.
“Mom showed me this!”
They squeezed through.
Atlas followed.
The other dogs rushed after them.
Behind them, Victor shouted.
“You can't hide forever!”
The passage led beneath the farmhouse.
The air was cold and damp.
Water dripped from overhead pipes.
Sofia stumbled.
Elise caught her.
“Keep going!”
After several minutes, they reached a wooden ladder.
Elise climbed first.
She pushed open a hatch.
Fresh air rushed inside.
They emerged near the creek behind the property.
The sky had darkened.
Rain fell through the trees.
Sofia turned toward the farmhouse.
A light moved behind an upstairs window.
Victor was searching.
Elise pulled her toward the woods.
“We have to leave.”
Sofia shook her head.
“Not without the evidence.”
Elise held up the folder.
“I have copies.”
“Where are the originals?”
Elise hesitated.
“Mom hid them.”
“Where?”
“She wouldn't tell me.”
Sofia remembered Claire's note.
The most important evidence was never digital.
She looked at the dogs.
“Maybe she told them.”
Elise followed her gaze.
For the first time, she smiled.
“That sounds like Mom.”
They reached Sofia's car shortly before 5:00 p.m.
The dogs climbed inside.
Sofia started the engine.
Then her phone rang.
Dr. Reed.
She answered immediately.
“Is my father okay?”
A pause.
“Sofia, where are you?”
“Why?”
“Your father is missing.”
Sofia's blood ran cold.
“What?”
“He was transferred out of Room 207 without authorization.”
“Transferred where?”
“We don't know.”
Sofia gripped the steering wheel.
Dr. Reed lowered his voice.
“There's something else.”
“What?”
“The person who signed the transfer order used your employee credentials.”
Sofia stared into the rain.
May you like
Then Dr. Reed said the words she feared most.
“Sofia, hospital security believes you kidnapped your own father.”
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