Chapter 4 - The Little Girl's Memory
Dominic returned to the residence before noon.
Sophie sat on Hannah's lap, clutching her stuffed rabbit. A pediatric psychologist had explained that memories from traumatic events could be fragmented, especially in young children, and that she should never be pressured to recall details.
Dominic understood.
He had spent years demanding answers from people who were paid to lie.
He would not do that to his daughter.
He sat on the floor in front of her.
"You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to, little star."
Sophie looked at him.
"Will you still love me if I remember something bad?"
Dominic felt his heart break.
"I will love you if you remember everything, if you remember nothing, or if you never want to talk about it again."
She reached for his hand.
"I remember a lady in a white coat."
"Was it Vanessa?"
Sophie shook her head.
"No. Vanessa was wearing a red dress. The lady in white told me to hide in the closet."
Dominic exchanged a glance with Hannah.
"Then what happened?"
"The lady in white gave me a blanket. She said she would take me to Daddy."
"Did she?"
Sophie looked down.
"No. A man came. He said Daddy was gone."
Dominic struggled to keep his voice steady.
"Did you see the fire?"
Sophie nodded.
"I saw smoke under the door. Vanessa was outside. She was talking to the man."
"What did she say?"
Sophie squeezed her rabbit.
"She said, 'Make sure nobody finds the girl.'"
Dominic rose slowly.
He needed to know who the woman in white was.
Marco had already located Dr. Samuel Whitaker, who admitted that he had altered the fire report but claimed he had done so under pressure from Vincent.
He also identified the woman in white.
Dr. Elise Morgan, a private physician employed by the Sterling family.
She had vanished shortly after the fire.
Marco found her living under her maiden name in a small town in Connecticut.
Dominic drove there with two investigators and a lawyer.
Elise opened the door and immediately began crying.
"I knew this day would come."
Dominic held up a photograph of Sophie.
"Tell me what happened."
Elise sat down heavily.
"Vanessa called me to the house that night. She said the child was having a medical emergency. When I arrived, the bedroom was full of smoke, but Sophie was alive. I carried her outside."
"Why didn't you bring her to a hospital?"
"Because Richard Sterling was waiting with two men. He told me the child would be safer if nobody knew she survived."
"And you believed him?"
"I was afraid. He threatened my son."
Dominic's voice went cold.
"So you handed over a three-year-old child."
Elise covered her face.
"I thought they would take her somewhere safe. I didn't know they would keep her hidden for years."
"Who started the fire?"
Elise hesitated.
"Vanessa ordered it. She wanted to create a tragedy that would make you dependent on her. She believed that if Sophie disappeared, you would eventually agree to marry her."
Dominic's fists clenched.
"She tried to kill my daughter."
"She told me the fire would be controlled. She said the child would be rescued before it spread. But the flames moved faster than anyone expected."
"Who rescued Sophie?"
"I did. But Richard's men took her from me before I could leave the property."
Dominic stared at the doctor.
"Why did you never come forward?"
"Because Richard sent me photographs of my son outside his school. I thought silence was the only way to keep him alive."
Dominic's anger did not disappear, but he understood that fear had been used as a weapon against many people.
He slid a statement across the table.
"You're going to tell the authorities everything you know."
Elise nodded.
"I will."
On the drive back, Marco received a call.
Richard Sterling had been found.
May you like
He was alive.
And he had just filed an emergency petition seeking custody of Sophie.
