to the street. Her heart hammered against her rib

They knew about her dress,

phone with shaking

t's your

apartment. They left

a safe loc

the empty street. "

ne. Officers ar

troyed apartment. Officer Martinez, a kind-faced woman in her

ht have done this

he man in the cheap suit. "Maybe. Someone warned

our frien

nder S

ers exchan

er Stone?" M

know

alf the city." Martinez studied Emma

allery. He's... we

oesn't want yo

nod

you involved in anything illegal?

. I look at painti

ut Mr. Stone's wealth makes him a ta

ch and cried. She had nowhere to go. Her best friend

ne rang

s the rest of

oke into my

le

ha

Left threatening messages

are y

artment. The po

g. I'm sen

, I c

taying there.

want to

gentle but firm. "Pl

m with a duffel bag at her feet. Alex paced

security on her building starting tonight. And run

and turne

ry this

ot your

e her on the couch. "This

ce. "Alex, who woul

longer than

ess ri

g oth

t ot

o, someone stole my company's designs. Cost me m

ever find

I have su

nd of su

rply. "Why are you ask

ed my life! I think I deserve

"You're right

wasn't random. Someone with inside knowledge, som

empl

close to t

. "You think it w

still. "Why wou

out him earlier. The a

us is

ected him bef

to face her.

ned the nig

. Lost control of his car on a br

you

stant. "But success changed things. Our father always m

have been h

ard for b

ked to Alex. "I'm

t her with haunted eyes.

someone you love..." Emma touched h

eld it against his cheek.

sister five

ompletely s

, the next she was gone. The police thi

was he

Sofia Ro

te. He dropped her h

What's

I just...

the panic in his ey

s impo

can see it o

ce. "I should make some ca

him. "Alex, st

ed relu

know my

ma.

estion. Did you kno

ed his ey

nearly gav

my company. In t

he

year

Alex five years ago. The same time someone stole

appened

e quit suddenly.

re ly

mm

disappeared. And you k

s through his hair.

plicat

before Sofia disappeared, she came to see me. She s

d to ice. "What ki

k logs. Found evidence that someo

ho

supposed to meet me the next day wi

ou think whoever stole you

know what

they're a

looking for Sofia for five years. I hired pr

you tell me

I was wrong. Hoping

you? That I happen to l

"You don't just look

you talk

just strong. It's per

t him. "That'

you know about

wh

e shows you were adopted whe

ilted. "How do

ckgroun

pted. Sofia w

doptive

t breathe. "

es. No family resemblance except with

e couldn't remember being very young. Her parents had died w

Sofia and I

u're the sa

e rang. Unk

swer it,"

lready reachin

el

Rodr

iar. The man from o

is

knew your sis

ened on the phone

than you

ne wen

Alex with ter

a. He knows w

toward his phone. "I'm c

if this is our chance? What if he'

oo dang

for my sister for five ye

n't lose

etween them. Emm

oo

n. "I loved her, Emma. I loved

d been punched. "Yo

es

you're

ot like

llery. I spill champagne on you just like she probably wo

r. "Emma, you're not her.

ou lov

.." Alex cupped her face in his hands. "Wh

ieve him. But her

er, Alex. I need

l find her

e buzzed. T

again, come alone. Tomorro

ed Alex t

ely not,

be our onl

s a

ut I have

s. "I can't lose you, Emma.

y. "Then help me. He

at we find

at him. "What i