No One Is Buying Her Bike
Chapter 3: The Fire That Lied
Adrian slammed Caldwell against the hallway wall.
"What did she mean?" he demanded.
Caldwell stayed calm. "She is feverish."
Emily's weak voice came from the bedroom. "He told me you died in the fire. He brought me your ring. Your father signed the papers."
Adrian's grip tightened. "What papers?"
Caldwell looked toward Sophie. "Not in front of the child."
That was enough.
Adrian released him. "Take him downstairs. If he moves, break something expensive."
His guards dragged Caldwell away.
Adrian returned to Emily's room. She was too weak to sit up. Sophie held water to her lips.
"Do you need a doctor?" Adrian asked.
"I needed one three weeks ago," Emily said bitterly. "Your hospital turned me away when the charity coverage disappeared."
Adrian looked at the medicine bottles. He recognized one. His company made it. The price had tripled last year after a restructuring plan he barely read.
He called Dr. Lorne himself.
"I need an ambulance at 417 Mercer Street. Apartment 3B. No paperwork delays. No billing questions. She is under my personal guarantee."
Emily watched him. "You still give orders like the world owes you obedience."
"It usually does."
"That isn't a virtue, Adrian."
Sophie looked between them. "Mom, you know him?"
Emily closed her eyes.
Adrian answered softly, "A long time ago, your mother and I were friends."
Emily opened her eyes. "We were more than friends."
The room went still.
Adrian picked up a face-down photograph from the table. It showed Emily holding a newborn baby. Sophie. Behind them was the same pink bicycle.
"What happened that night?" he asked.
Emily's face hardened. "You tell me."
Adrian said, "They told me you died in the garage fire."
Emily whispered, "They told me you started it."
The ambulance arrived.
Adrian went downstairs to question Caldwell.
But Caldwell was gone.
Both guards lay unconscious in the lobby.
On the floor was a message written on cardboard from Sophie's torn sign:
Ask your father what burned.
