Chapter 4: The Passport
"What do you mean, Sophie's photograph?""
My voice sounded calm.
It shouldn't have.
Amber was driving now. I could hear the indicator clicking.
"I only saw it for a second.""
"Was it Sophie's passport?""
"No.""
That answer was worse.
"How do you know?""
"The cover was burgundy.""
Evelyn looked at me.
Sophie's U.S. passport was navy blue.
"Did you see the name?""
"No. Nathan shut the drawer when he realized I was behind him.""
"Where are you going?""
"My sister's.""
"Do not go to your apartment.""
"I need the laptop.""
"No.""
Evelyn shook her head sharply.
"Amber," I continued, "don't touch anything. Don't remove anything. Don't give Nathan a reason to accuse you of stealing or destroying property.""
"So what do I do?""
"Stay somewhere safe.""
I looked at Evelyn.
"We handle the rest legally.""
After Amber hung up, Evelyn didn't speak for several seconds.
Then she said, "We need to separate what we know from what we fear.""
"I know.""
"Do you?""
"No.""
She sat beside me.
"A passport with Sophie's photo could have an innocent explanation.""
"Give me one.""
Evelyn couldn't.
My phone vibrated.
Nathan.
This time, a text.
*Amber is unstable. Do not believe anything she says.*
Another followed.
*She's trying to destroy our family.*
I showed Evelyn.
"Preserve those.""
I took screenshots and forwarded them to her.
Then I called Maya.
She answered on the first ring.
"Claire?""
"I need you to contact Daniel Cho in internal audit.""
"Tonight?""
"Tonight.""
"What are we looking for?""
"Every payment to Northstar Advisory. Contracts, approvals, banking details, tax records, beneficial ownership, everything.""
Silence.
"Is this about Nathan?""
"Why would you ask that?""
Another silence.
My skin prickled.
"Maya.""
"I didn't know if I should tell you.""
"Tell me what?""
"Three months ago Nathan asked me for copies of Sophie's birth certificate.""
My hand tightened around the phone.
"What?""
"He said you needed them for estate planning.""
"I never asked for them.""
"I know that now.""
"Did you send them?""
"No. I told him family documents weren't in our corporate files.""
I stood and walked toward the window.
The city below was turning dark.
"What else?""
"He asked whether your travel calendar could be exported six months in advance.""
"When?""
"Last month.""
"Did you give it to him?""
"No.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because he's your husband, Claire.""
The words weren't defensive.
They were ashamed.
"I thought I was protecting your privacy by refusing him quietly.""
"You did the right thing.""
"Claire, what's happening?""
I looked at Sophie.
"I don't know yet.""
At 9:14, Daniel called.
His voice was tight.
"Claire, I found Northstar.""
"Talk.""
"The vendor was onboarded eighteen months ago.""
"I know.""
"The corporate registration traces to Delaware, but there's another LLC behind it.""
"Whose?""
"I'm still working through it.""
"How much have we paid them?""
Keyboard clicks.
"Total?""
"Yes.""
"One million, eight hundred and forty-six thousand dollars.""
I stopped breathing.
Evelyn's head snapped up.
"Say that again.""
"One point eight four six million.""
"Services rendered?""
"That's the problem.""
"What problem?""
"I can't find deliverables matching most invoices.""
I put the call on speaker.
Evelyn moved closer.
"Mr. Cho," she said, "who approved the invoices?""
"Different department heads.""
"Who initiated them?""
"Most came through executive referrals.""
"Whose referral?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Nathan's.""
My husband didn't work for my company.
He'd never held an executive position.
But for years he'd attended dinners, charity events and retreats beside me.
People trusted him because they trusted me.
I'd let him borrow my credibility.
Apparently, he'd monetized it.
"Freeze Northstar," I said.
"I can flag pending payments, but Finance will need—"
"I'm CEO. Freeze it.""
"Understood.""
"Preserve everything. Don't alert Nathan.""
Another notification appeared.
Hospital security.
*Visitor requesting access: NATHAN KELLING.*
I looked toward the nurses' station.
He was here.
"Evelyn.""
She followed my gaze.
"Stay with Sophie.""
"Claire—"
"Please.""
I walked into the corridor.
Nathan stood beyond the secured doors.
His linen shirt was wrinkled now.
No shoes.
He'd apparently come straight from the marina.
When he saw me, he pressed the intercom.
"Claire.""
I didn't answer.
"Please.""
I approached the glass.
He looked wrecked.
For twelve years, that face had been home to me.
Now I searched it for the man who had left our daughter alone.
"I need to see Sophie.""
"No.""
"I'm her father.""
"You remembered.""
His jaw tightened.
"Don't.""
"Don't what?""
"Punish me by using our daughter.""
I stepped closer to the glass.
"You want to know what punishment looks like?""
He said nothing.
"Punishment is being twelve years old and realizing you can't breathe. Punishment is calling the housekeeper because your father lied about staying with you. Punishment is waking up in intensive care and asking where he is.""
His eyes dropped.
"I made a mistake.""
"A mistake?""
"I thought she'd be fine for a few hours.""
"You took her EpiPen.""
"I forgot it was in my car.""
"You left the cashew cookies.""
His face changed.
Tiny.
But I saw it.
"I didn't know about cookies.""
My heart stopped.
Sophie had told me she warned him that morning.
"Interesting.""
"What?""
"Nothing.""
I turned away.
"Claire.""
I stopped.
"There's something you need to understand about Amber.""
I looked back.
"She lies.""
"Does she?""
"Constantly.""
"About Northstar too?""
The color vanished from his face.
There it was.
Confirmation.
Not legal proof.
But enough for me.
"How do you know about Northstar?""
"I own the company that paid it.""
"Claire, listen—"
"And the passport?""
His entire body froze.
I watched his eyes.
No confusion.
No question.
Recognition.
"Where did you get a passport with Sophie's photograph?""
He stepped closer to the glass.
"Keep your voice down.""
"Why?""
"Because you don't understand what you're talking about.""
"Then explain it.""
"I can't do that here.""
"Try.""
His eyes flicked toward the security officer.
Then back to me.
"Claire, if you start digging into that, you're going to create a problem you can't undo.""
I stared at him.
"Is that a threat?""
"No.""
He swallowed.
"It's a warning.""
My phone vibrated in my hand.
A message from Daniel.
*Found Northstar's beneficial owner. Calling you now.*
May you like
Then a second message appeared before I could answer.
*Claire, it's Sophie.*
