Chapter 142
"Ms. Wipere, the target's already inside."
I'd barely settled into the private investigator's car when he handed me a pair of binoculars.
Across the street sat a private residence with excellent privacy features. Combined with our viewing angle, I could only make out Sophia through the lens, talking to someone, but I couldn't see who.
"Did you catch who she's meeting with?"
The PI shook his head. "Negative. She was already inside when I arrived." He paused. "However, I did check the property records. The house was transferred to Sophia's name three weeks ago, but the previous owner's information is sealed tight." His expression darkened. "My guess? We're dealing with some serious heavy hitter."
I lowered the binoculars. "A heavy hitter?"
I wasn't buying it. If she really knew someone on par with the Percy family, or powerful enough to make them sweat, the Guise family wouldn't be in its current sorry state.
"Absolutely." The PI nodded with dead seriousness. "I had someone dig into it, but they said this person's identity is strictly off-limits. Even warned me not to poke the hornet's nest."
That killed my skepticism. In Silverlight City, besides the Percys, what other big shot could Sophia possibly know?
"Sophia won't stay out all night. We wait. Maybe we'll get eyes on whoever it is."
Eleven p.m. The streetlights outside had dimmed to a sickly glow. My fingers drummed absently against the edge of the seatbelt.
The PI's voice cut through the silence. "Sophia's on the move."
I snatched up the binoculars. The porch light flicked on at the residence. Sophia emerged in a cream-colored trench coat. I held my breath as she hurried toward a black sedan that had just pulled up to the curb. No one followed her out.
An absurd thought bubbled up. Was Sophia keeping a boy toy on the side?
But remembering her obsessive pursuit of Leopold, I dismissed the idea as impossible.
The car pulled away, taillights disappearing into the night. I finally lowered the binoculars. "You got all that on camera?"
The PI flashed me an OK sign. "Every angle. Crystal clear."
I unbuckled my seatbelt. "Stay posted here tonight. See if anyone else comes out."
"You got it. I'll try another angle on the identity too, see if I can crack it." The PI paused, then added, "Though from what I saw, Sophia looked pretty rattled when she left."
I stared at the house for a long moment. "Keep me posted."
After saying goodbye to the PI, I headed back to Bayview Villas. When I unlocked the door, the emptiness hit me. I froze, my mouth half-opening to call for Leo. Then I remembered. This afternoon, I'd ended things with Leo and told him to move out.
I quietly flipped on the lights and locked the door behind me.
Exhaustion crept through my bones. I couldn't pinpoint why, but I just felt drained.
After a shower, some of that heaviness lifted. Back in my bedroom, I realized my hair dryer wasn't in its usual spot. After a cursory search, my patience evaporated, and I instinctively reached for Leo.
But the second I picked up my phone, reality crashed back. Leo was gone.
I set the phone down, forcing myself to snap out of it. I'd chosen Leopold. I needed to stop dwelling on the past.
After that mental pep talk, the discomfort finally eased.
The next morning, a message from the PI was waiting.
[Ms. Wipere, I stayed outside until dawn. No one emerged. I suspect there's another exit. Had to call it.]
[I'm having someone dig into the transfer records today. Will update you ASAP.]
I stared at the messages. They never came out the front door. That level of caution suggested this wasn't their first rodeo.
Were Sophia and this mystery person meeting regularly in secret?
Suspicion gnawing at me, I decided to go on the offensive. I forwarded last night's photos straight to Sophia.
Fifteen seconds later, my phone exploded with her call.
"Lucinda, what the hell is this? You followed me last night!"
My voice came out flat. "If you don't want people to know, don't do it. You haven't done anything wrong, so what are you afraid of?"
Sophia's fury crackled through the line. "I seriously underestimated you! I had no idea you could stoop this low!"
Her insults bounced right off me. My tone stayed ice-cold and detached. "Save the theatrics. You want the photos back? Fine. We meet face-to-face."
"Why should I trust you? How do I know this isn't some setup?" Sophia wasn't taking the bait.
My voice dropped another degree. "Trust me or don't. Either way, I've got other methods to dig up your secrets."
I started to hang up when Sophia suddenly caved. "You want to meet? Fine."
She rattled off an address and said to be there in thirty minutes. I agreed.
After a quick freshen-up, I drove out.
Meeting Sophia, I'd expected her to crack immediately with questions. Surprisingly, she didn't. In fact, she was unnervingly calm.
"I didn't know what you'd want, so I ordered you warm water."
I slid into my seat as Sophia spoke from across the table. My eyes flicked to the glass before I flagged down a server and ordered coffee instead.
After the server left, Sophia let out a soft laugh. "That paranoid? Worried I slipped something in your drink?"
I didn't bother denying it, my voice dripping with mockery. "You've pulled that stunt enough times. Can't be too careful."
Sophia's eyes turned glacial. She cut straight to the chase. "I want the negatives and all your backups. Name your price for the photos."
I sat there, silent and composed. Perfect timing—the server returned with my coffee. I picked up the spoon, stirring leisurely before taking a slow sip.
My peripheral vision caught Sophia's growing impatience. Finally, I spoke. "My condition is simple. Prove that the child is Leopold's."
Sophia lunged forward so fast she nearly knocked over her water glass. "I already had a paternity test done! It proved that the baby is Leo's. What exactly are you implying? You think I'd lie about my own child?"
I released my grip on the coffee cup, my rebuttal measured. "Yet Leopold refuses to acknowledge that child."
"Leo won't admit it because his grandfather never accepted me. He's terrified his grandfather won't survive the truth, so he lied to give the old man hope."
My fingers curled slightly. "Is that right? Because Leopold told me something entirely different."
Sophia didn't hesitate. "Because he's lying to you. He'll never give me up. Don't think some sweet talk will bring him running back. I know Leo better than you do. I know exactly how vindictive he can be. The only reason he came back to you was to make you feel what it's like to be used and thrown away."
The room tilted. Everything started spinning. But I forced myself to stay grounded. This was Sophia's manipulation. I couldn't let her words poison me.
I locked eyes with her. "I don't believe you. If that were true, he wouldn't have risked his life to save me."
Sophia's response was a low, mocking laugh.