Chapter 6 - THE HOUSE WITH THE RED ROOF
Z
Three days later, investigators located a property connected to Ashcroft Development.
It stood outside Milwaukee, surrounded by pine trees.
The roof was painted red.
Elena showed me the photograph.
My heart began pounding.
"That's the house."
She nodded.
"Investigators are verifying whether Sophia is there."
I looked at Gabriel through the hospital window.
He was sitting upright for the first time.
His recovery remained uncertain, but his color had improved.
"Does he know?"
"Not yet."
"Why?"
"Because we don't want to give him hope before we have confirmation."
I looked down.
Hope had become a dangerous thing in that family.
That evening, Elena received a call.
She listened without speaking.
Then closed her eyes.
When she hung up, she looked at me.
"They found her."
I covered my mouth.
"Alive?"
"Yes."
I began crying.
Sophia was nine years old.
She had been living under another surname with a woman who claimed to be her guardian.
Investigators were examining the circumstances of her placement and the documents used to justify it.
For now, she was safe.
Gabriel learned the news from Elena.
He stared at her for a long time.
Then whispered, "Say it again."
"She's alive."
His face crumpled.
I had seen Gabriel Falcone frighten powerful men with a single look.
I had never seen him cry.
Until that moment.
Two days later, Sophia visited him at the hospital with a child welfare representative and her temporary caregiver.
I waited outside.
Through the glass, I saw Gabriel sitting in a chair beside the bed.
Sophia stood near the doorway.
She was small for her age, with dark curls and serious brown eyes.
Gabriel didn't move toward her.
He simply waited.
Then Sophia asked, "Are you Uncle Gabriel?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
She studied his face.
"My daddy said you were scary."
Gabriel swallowed.
"Sometimes I was."
Sophia considered.
Then asked, "Are you scary to kids?"
His voice broke.
"No, sweetheart."
She stepped closer.
"Good."
Then she climbed carefully onto the chair beside him.
May you like
Gabriel covered his face with one hand.
And cried.
