“What men?”
“I don’t know.”
“Black SUV.”
“They knocked.”
“Said they were from your company.”
Taylor looked at Victoria.
Her face went pale.
“Where is Sophie?”
“With me.”
“Inside?”
“No.”
Taylor almost stopped breathing.
Mrs. Alvarez continued.
“I didn’t trust them.”
“I took Sophie out through the back.”
“Where are you?”
“My sister’s apartment.”
Taylor closed his eyes.
“Thank God.”
“Taylor, what is happening?”
“I’ll explain later.”
“Is Sophie okay?”
“She’s angry because I wouldn’t let her bring the rabbit.”
That sounded like Sophie.
He nearly cried.
“Keep her there.”
“Do not tell anyone where you are.”
“Taylor—”
“Please.”
Mrs. Alvarez heard something in his voice.
“All right.”
“Call me if you see anybody.”
“I will.”
He hung up.
Then looked at Victoria.
“They went to my house.”
“Yes.”
“You said Gregory monitors me.”
“Yes.”
“You knew he might go after Sophie?”
“No.”
Victoria’s voice broke.
“If I had known—”
Taylor grabbed the edge of the table.
Rachel stepped closer.
“Taylor.”
He breathed.
Once.
Twice.
Then looked toward Victoria.
“What does Gregory want from you?”
“The company.”
“That isn’t enough.”
“You said board.”
Victoria nodded.
“There is an emergency board meeting at nine.”
“Why?”
“I was supposed to announce an independent audit of Meridian.”
Taylor stared.
“At the gala?”
“No.”
“At the board meeting.”
“Gregory knew?”
“I think so.”
“He drugged you before the meeting.”
“Yes.”
“To make you miss it.”
“Or make me appear unstable.”
Taylor understood.
“If you don’t show?”
“He has proxies.”
“Enough votes?”
“Possibly.”
“What happens?”
“They suspend me as CEO pending medical review.”
“Gregory becomes interim chief executive.”
“And evidence?”
“He gains administrative control over internal archives.”
Taylor looked toward the locket.
“Meridian disappears.”
“Yes.”
Rachel asked:
“Can you stop the meeting?”
Victoria reached for her phone.
Then remembered she did not have it.
Gregory had probably taken it.
Taylor asked:
“Do you know somebody on the board you trust?”
“One.”
“Who?”
“Eleanor Walsh.”
“Call her.”
Victoria hesitated.
“Why?”
“She was my father’s oldest friend.”
“That sounds like a terrible reason to trust someone.”
Victoria almost smiled.
“You’re learning.”
“I learned seven years ago.”
The smile disappeared.
Rachel gave them her phone.
Victoria dialed.
Voicemail.
Again.
Nothing.
Taylor asked:
“Where does she live?”
“Georgetown.”
“How far?”
“Twenty-five minutes.”
“We go.”
Rachel looked at Victoria.