“But?”Sophie prompted.
“But they didn’t know about the underground grid Connor installed last year.Pressure sensors extending fifteen feet beyond the wall perimeter.Moment they stepped into the zone, we had them.Clement was first responder—reached the area in under twenty seconds.They were already retreating by then.”
“How many?”
“At least two, based on the footage.All in black, faces covered, moving like they’d trained together.”Bill’s expression darkened.“These weren’t standard B&E artists, boss.These were operators.”
They rounded the corner of the house, following a path lined with white ginger that filled the air with perfume.The attempted breach point showed no obvious signs of disturbance.
But there, dropped with care on a flat lava rock just inside the fence line, lay another plumeria.The afternoon sun caught its creamy petals, making them seem to glow against the dark stone.
5
SOPHIE
“Well, that’s not good,”Marcus said.He pulled on latex gloves with practiced efficiency, then crouched to photograph the flower from multiple angles.“Same type, same placement style.Our thief has a signature.”
“How are they moving around the island so efficiently?”Sophie studied the scene, her analytical mind clicking through possibilities.“The museum, the palace, now here—that’s a lot of ground to cover.”
“Multiple teams?”Marcus suggested, carefully bagging the plumeria.“Or really good knowledge of traffic patterns and back routes.”
“Double the security rotation,” Sophie told Bill, already revising defensive plans in her head.“I want someone inside the house at all times, not just patrolling.And review all the footage from the last week—let’s see if we had surveillance we missed.”
“Already in motion, boss.Brought in Rodriguez from the B-team, plus I’ve got Ferragut coming in tonight.She’s good with kids, in case we need someone who can be inside without making them nervous.”
Sophie nodded, grateful for his forethought.
“Whoever’s doing this knows too much,” Sophie said, the words tasting bitter.
“Agreed.You keep a low profile for someone running a major security firm,” Marcus observed, sealing the evidence bag.
“But there are always leaks.Employees talk, contractors gossip, clients make connections.”Sophie was already building lists in her mind, categorizing potential sources of information.“I’ll have Paula pull everything—employment records for the last five years, contractor agreements, client lists that overlap with the museums.Financial records for anyone who might have a grudge.”
“Send me the names as you get them,” Marcus said, straightening from where he’d collected the plumeria.“I’ll run them through our databases, see what pops.And Sophie?”His voice gentled.“I’m opening a formal stalking and harassment case.This goes beyond property crime now.”
The official designation carried weight—resources would be allocated, federal databases accessed, inter-agency cooperation activated.It also meant paperwork, interviews, her family’s life under official scrutiny.But Sophie had learned long ago that privacy was a luxury she couldn’t afford when it came to protecting her children.
“Thank you,” she said simply.“And tell Marcella I’ll call as soon as things stabilize.If this crosses state lines or involves cultural patrimony, we might need FBI resources too.”
“Already texted her.She’s standing by.”Marcus squeezed her shoulder, the gesture conveying support.“Lock down tight tonight.I’ll have units do extra patrols, but your people are better equipped than anything HPD can offer.”
Sophie walked him back to his vehicle, the dogs trailing hopefully until they realized no treats were forthcoming.As Marcus drove away, she stood for a moment in her driveway, feeling the weight of the afternoon sun on her shoulders.
Her phone buzzed.Another text from Connor, as if he could sense her thoughts from whatever monastery or boardroom currently held his physical presence.
My operative arrives tomorrow morning.He reports only to you for this mission.Trust him, Sophie.Please.
The “please” stopped her from deleting.
Connor commanded, manipulated, occasionally requested.He rarely pleaded.Received,she responded, then added after a pause:He stays outside the house.The children don’t need to have their hearts broken by another “uncle.”She couldn’t resist the jab.
Understood.Connor refused to take the bait.
Sophie deleted the conversation and headed inside, needing to see her children, to hold them and reassure herself that they were safe.
But first, she paused at her front door, hand on the carved teak panels that had weathered half a century of storms.
Someone had brought a war to her home.They’d made it personal.
