Chapter 10 - Sophie’s Letter

"Give me that," Margaret said, reaching for the envelope.

I held it against my chest. "It's Sophie's. You can ask her."

Officer Bell shifted, putting himself between Margaret and the child without touching either of them. "Let's keep everyone where they are."

Sophie raised her chin. "I wanted Grandma to read it when she was nice."

Margaret dropped her hand. For one instant she looked like an ordinary elderly woman, suddenly aware that a child was judging her.

"What does it say, sweetheart?" Daniel asked.

"It's for Grandma."

"Then she can decide," I said.

Sophie nodded and handed the letter to Bell, who passed it to Margaret after asking if she wanted to accept it. Margaret opened it with stiff fingers.

I had to wait to know what my daughter had written. Later she showed me the copy she'd hidden in her coat pocket. It read: Dear Grandma, I miss when you used to let me put the star on the tree. I don't want to live without Mom. I want Dad to come when he says he will. Please don't tell me I have to pick one person to love. Love, Sophie.

Margaret read to the last line. She made a sound like a breath caught in her throat, then folded it and placed it in her pocket.

"The child doesn't understand," she said.

"She's understood more than any of us wanted," Vanessa replied.

Ramirez informed Margaret that the officers could not settle complex financial disputes on Christmas Eve. He also warned her against making knowingly false emergency reports. The theft allegation lacked any proof that the box belonged to anyone but Sophie.

"We'll document the incident," he said. "Any financial or custody allegations need proper review."

I reached for Sophie's coat. Then my phone rang. Nina.

"Claire," she said, barely pausing for breath, "the bank just called me. The loan isn't merely fraudulent. Someone has scheduled a foreclosure auction for the first week of January. They mailed the notices to Margaret's house."

My knees weakened.

Nina continued, "And one more thing. Elaine has agreed to speak to investigators. She's on her way to the station right now."

I looked at Margaret, still standing beside her Christmas tree.

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"The house," I said. "You were going to take our house while you kept Sophie here."

Margaret's silence told me I'd finally found the center of the plan.