Chapter 2 - The Name Sophie WhisperedThe name Sophie whispered was Richard Caldwell.
Caldwell sat six chairs away from Vincent, wearing a midnight-blue tuxedo and the composed expression of a man accustomed to surviving accusations.
He chaired Halcyon Civic Partners, a private investment group that managed city housing contracts, hospital acquisitions, and political donations. He had also been Vincent’s closest business ally for twenty-two years.
Caldwell lifted both hands.
“I have never met that child.”
Sophie pressed herself against Vincent’s side.
“He was there.”
“Where?”
“In the basement room. He told the men not to let Mom call anyone.”
Vincent’s bodyguards separated Caldwell from the table but did not restrain him.
The red stains on Sophie’s dress came from a bowl of tomato sauce she knocked over while escaping through the club kitchen. Her facial scratch came from a storage shelf. She was frightened, but not seriously injured.
Vincent ordered one guard to remain with her and sent the other two to locate the hidden room. No guest was allowed to leave, though emergency exits remained usable under supervision.
Caldwell accused Vincent of creating an unlawful spectacle.
Vincent replied, “A nine-year-old just named you after running from a locked room.”
“She could have been coached.”
Sophie looked up.
“You said Mr. Hale would protect his reputation before he protected us.”
The words struck Vincent harder than the accusation.
May you like
Caldwell had expected him to choose the dinner table over the child.
For most of Vincent’s career, that expectation would have been reasonable.
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