Sophia’s eyes widened as she heard her husband’s question.

“July 19, 1980.”

Derek turned to Sophia. Her beautiful gray eyes, which had finally stopped crying over her parents, were now moist once again.

“What did she say?” Sophia whispered.

With his hand over the phone, Derek nodded. “She said your birth date. I think it might be your mother.”

“My mother died in a car accident.” Sophia straightened her neck and took the phone. “Please, don’t call again. My parents are dead. I don’t know you.”

The woman on the other end of the line spoke, “I’m sorry, I won’t call you again.”

Derek watched his wife’s countenance melt. He knew it was the first time Sophia had heard her birth mother’s voice, and he couldn’t imagine the questions that were rapidly firing through her beautiful head. Why did she give her up? Has she ever regretted her decision? What kind of person was she? What did she look like? Did they look alike?

Sophia swallowed the tears threatening her speech and said, “Wait—if you could give me your number, I’ll think about it. Then—when I’m ready—I can call you.”

The woman exhaled and replied, “Yes, of course.”

Sophia’s strength was spent. It broke Derek’s heart to see her fighting this new upheaval of emotion. Wrapping her in his arms, he took the phone from her hand. His voice was neither welcoming nor rejecting, “You may give me the number. When my wife is ready—if she’s ready—she will call you. Please, do not call her phone again.”

The woman hesitated only a second and then rattled off ten numbers. Derek repeated the numbers. Not offering a closing salutation, he disconnected the line. His concern wasn’t the woman on the phone; it was the distraught woman in his arms.

Catherine grinned. She’d done what Nathaniel had wanted her to do—she’d contacted her daughter. From the information in the file, Catherine could tell that Anton had been watching Sophia. She wondered what, if anything, he’d done for her. Catherine needed more information.

Anton had a list of private detectives and others who’d proven themselves helpful in the past. Briefly, Catherine thought of Roach, Phillip Roach. He’d done an excellent job with Catherine’s directives. Of course, it helped that he’d been unhappy about losing his job with Anton. Catherine wasn’t sure she’d be able to reach him. If she did, did Catherine want to know Claire’s location?

Oh, she had so many things to consider. Truthfully, Claire could wait—she wasn’t going anywhere. Right now, Catherine wanted to know more about Sophia. It was a pretty name—not one she would have chosen, but it was pretty. There were no pictures in the file, well other than a few of a very young girl. Catherine wondered what her daughter looked like. Did she look like her? or perhaps she looked like... Truthfully, that was why she didn’t want to do this in the first place.

Catherine Marie London was no longer that scared, lonely, and abused teenager at the mercy of her drugged out uncle. No—she was a strong fighter and a go-getter! She’d loved Nathaniel Rawls and outlasted Anton Rawls—both were impressive accomplishments.

Thanks to both, Catherine now had time and resources. She also had a plethora of questions. What did her daughter do for a living? Did she go to college? Were her adoptive parents good to her? Catherine told herself they were. If not, Nathaniel or Anton would’ve known, but what about Sophia’s husband? Could it be possible? Could Sophia really be married to someone associated with Jonathon Burke? And who did he think he was, talking to her the way he did, demanding her telephone number? Catherine sure as hell wasn’t intimidated. If a Rawls didn’t intimidate her—a Burke never could.

She, once again, searched the drawer of private files. As she fingered the tabs, Catherine remembered the saying, no sense reinventing the wheel. Knowing Anton better than anyone, Catherine was quite sure of his attention to meticulous detail. Surely he’d already researched Sophia’s husband. It was true, she could glean more information, but why not start with whatever Anton had already accumulated. When she passed the B’s without a Burke, her hopes began to fade. Then she saw the D’s—Derek Burke. Removing the folder, she laid it across the desk and began to read. The first page was a series of emails:

To: Anthony Rawlings

From: Cameron Andrews

Re: Ms. Rossi

Date: January 12, 2011

As I wrote in my previous email, Ms. Rossi took an unscheduled trip to Europe. I have since learned the reason for the trip was to wed. I’ll remind you, I first mentioned Derek Burke in a December 18, 2010 email. They met at a Christmas party.

I apologize for not relaying the information of their nuptials sooner. I did not expect that to be the reason for her trip; however, a red flag came up when I received notice of her application for marriage license.

Please inform me how to proceed.

CA

To: Cameron Andrews

From: Anthony Rawlings

Re: Ms. Rossi—Burke???

Date: January 14, 2011

It’s nearly midnight here, and I just saw your message. I want information and I want it yesterday! How could this have happened so quickly?

Information, pictures, details... now!

AR

To: Anthony Rawlings

From: Cameron Andrews

Re: Ms. Burke

Date: January 26, 2011

Although Ms. Burke is now living in Boston in her husband’s apartment, I’ve just confirmed that they’ve made an offer on a small cottage in Provincetown, Mass. I’ll notify you immediately if their offer is accepted.

Derek Burke’s employment record is straight forward. I’ve attached his dossier. I’ll continue to monitor. Please inform me if you would like my activities to change in any way.

CA

To: Cameron Andrews

From: Anthony Rawlings

Re: Ms. Rossi-Burke

Date: January 27, 2011

Let me know the value of the cottage and their offer.

It was reassuring to Catherine—she did know Anton, probably better than he knew himself. She could only imagine how upset he was to have Sophia elope without his knowledge! Catherine felt a sudden affection for her estranged daughter—if it wasn’t for the name of the man she chose to marry!

Leafing through the pages, Catherine found Derek’s lineage:

Father: William Burke—Grandfather: Randall Burke—Great-grandfather: Truman Burke.

It was the notation under Truman’s name, the one scribbled in Anton’s writing that caught Catherine’s attention: two sons: Randall and Jonathon. There was the connection!

Catherine’s daughter was married to the great-nephew of Jonathon Burke!

Catherine continued to read:

Derek Burke hired in 2013—Shedis-tics Corporation, Palo Alto, California (Rawlings subsidiary).

When there was nothing else for her to learn, she turned on Anton’s computer and accessed his private list of contacts. This list was how she’d found Phillip Roach, in the first place. When she last spoke to Anton, he quipped something about Catherine knowing everything that went on in the house. Smiling at her access to his private information, Catherine doubted Anton had any idea how truly right he’d been.