"Chloe Landry was reported kidnapped across state lines," the agent replied calmly.
"I don't mind answering questions," I said, standing in the center of the room. "What would you like to know?"
"Your father reported that you were taken against your will," Agent Reyes continued. "He provided medical records indicating that you're unable to care for yourself. He's concerned for your safety."
"My father is a liar," I said, my voice clear and steady. "I haven't been kidnapped. I left willingly. I'm of sound mind, and I have a lawyer who can confirm that." I reached for the phone in my pocket. Mr. Barker was already on the line. I held it out to her. "You can speak to him now, if you'd like."
Agent Reyes didn't take the phone. "Ms. Landry, we're going to need you to come back to headquarters with us. Just to clear things up. Standard procedure."
I didn't move. "Or," I said, "I can call my father and clear this up in about two minutes. May I step into the other room?"
"Five minutes," Agent Morton said.
I closed the door behind me and dialed the number I'd memorized years ago. The line rang twice.
"Hello?" Arthur answered, his voice thick with sleep.
"Arthur," I said, my voice barely wavering though my hands trembled.
There was a beat of silence. "Who is this?"
"It's Chloe," I replied, refusing to let fear slip in.
Arthur's voice cracked. "Chloe?" I heard him fumbling with the phone. "You—you can talk? Your uncle said you could, but I barely believed... what a wicked game you played."
I let out a chuckle. "I can do a lot of things you don't know about, Daddy. Like keep records. Compile evidence. Every bribe. Every doctor you paid to sign false papers. I have it all."
"You're lying."
"I'm not. I was ten when I stopped talking. You think I forgot how? You were convinced by my bad acting. The humming. I don't understand how you could convince yourself something was wrong with me when nothing ever was—you just decided that I was actually stupid. I overheard so many of your conversations. Your daughter couldn't hold water. I filed it all away."
I laughed. "So you're going to call the FBI and tell them to back off. You're going to tell them I wasn't kidnapped. You're going to tell them I'm exactly where I want to be. Then you're going to move out of my family's house. And out of their company.”
"I'll see you in hell first."
"No," I said. "You'll see me after my twenty-fifth birthday. When the money transfers. When the power of attorney becomes worthless. When I walk into that house with my lawyers and take back everything you stole."
"You think you can threaten me? I'll—"
"You'll what? Kill me? Like you killed my mother?"
Arthur's breath caught.
"You have ten minutes," I said. "Call them off. Or I release everything to the media and the FBI."
I hung up. My hands were shaking, but I was smiling. I walked back into the parlor. "It's handled. My father is going to call you."
Agent Reyes looked skeptical, but her phone rang within two minutes. She answered, listened, and her eyes flicked to me. "Understood," she said. "We're leaving."
The agents walked out without a word. I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding. Killian's grandfather rolled toward me slowly.
“So you’re Thierry Landry’s granddaughter." I nodded. He shook his head solemnly. "I'm sorry I didn't come for you earlier. I don't know how I'm going to face my old friend on the other side. I would have if I'd known."
I didn’t know this man, but the weight of his regret did something to me. Before I could stop myself, I let out a raw, ugly sob. Killian's hand was on my back instantly. His grandfather took my hand. "You're safe now, child," he said softly.
Chapter 29: Chloe
A few days had passed since the FBI visit. Elara had gone back to Florida. My lawyer had already sent Mary enough money to get her to California. Mary had cried, saying it was too much, but I told her it was my turn to take care of her. My lawyer and his team had started moving to take back the company—freezing accounts and verifying evidence. Arthur’s world was about to collapse.
