"You told me everything was foolproof, didn''t you? Yet here we are, the very first day, and someone''s gone missing-vanished from the top floor of what you called a highly secure hospital. And now you''re telling me you have no idea what happened? Are you kidding me?!"


    In the hospital''s top-floor corridor,


    Miranda red furiously at Sophie, her voice sharp with usation.


    No one could possibly understand what she felt-she''d barely arrived with Julian


    at Jade''s ce, hadn''t even closed her eyes for an hour, when she got the call in the dead of night: M was missing.


    The very first night.


    Who could move so fast?


    And this was supposed to be the most secure floor, the top of a building twenty stories up—a ce you''d need to be Spider-Man to reach, for God''s sake!


    What a joke.


    Right now, Miranda was even starting to suspect Sophie herself.


    "Ms. Wayne, the security system for the entire hospital was sabotagedst night. Whoever did this came prepared," Sophie said, exasperated. "I''ve already sent people out to search, and I''ve contacted the Transit Authority to pull traffic footage around the area, see if anyone suspicious was lurking nearby."


    "There''s something else I don''t get."


    Miranda frowned, her tone tight.


    "I assumed the real target was Chairman Suthend—that maybe some old enemy was out for revenge. We watched the room all night, nothing happened, and yet it''s Ms. Suthend who''s disappeared. Whoever did this knew exactly who they wanted. But the truth is, only a handful of Splendid''s top people even know about Ms. Suthend''s connection to the Chairman. If this is a kidnapping threat..."


    Miranda understood.


    What Sophie was implying was clear: she''d been convinced the target was Jade —and so all the precautionsst night had been focused on the patient''s room.


    And now, M was gone.


    Yet Sophie still seemed to think this was about threatening Splendid through M. Miranda was ready to explode.


    She ran a hand through her hair in pure frustration, pacing back and forth.


    Trying to keep her temper, she said, "We made this clear yesterday. This isn''t about Chairman Suthend. It''s M. She''s the target!"


    "You mean Giselle?" Sophie''s brow knitted. "But I can tell you for sure, neither she nor the Harvey family has the resources or reach to pull off something like this- not here."


    "What if the Harveys aren''t working alone?"


    Miranda took a steadying breath. "Didn''t we talk about this exact possibility yesterday? That maybe they''re working with one of M''s other enemies?"


    "That''s what I thought yesterday."


    Sophie pinched the bridge of her nose, her voice patient but weary. "But think about it: whoever did this took out the hospital''s entire surveince system. They could have gone after Chairman Suthend, yet they didn''t. They chose Ms. Suthend, and left no trace anywhere else. The only enemies of the Chairman who could pull off something like this aren''t even based in Ennd-certainly not in Eldermere."


    "So aren''t you contradicting yourself?" Miranda shot back, trying to keep her voice down. "First you say they''re after Chairman Suthend and Splendid. Now you''re telling me her enemies can''t operate here. Which is it, Sophie? What are you actually trying to say?"


    Sophie''s frown deepened.


    "Ms. Wayne, please try to stay calm. I''m just thinking through all the possibilities, trying to narrow down who we''re dealing with. I''m not certain yet, but..."


    "But what?" Miranda snapped.


    Sophie looked her straight in the eye. "Ms. Wayne, do you know of anyone who might hold a grudge against Ms. Suthend here? Anyone at all?"


    ...


    "An enemy?" Miranda shook her head immediately. "Impossible. This is her first time abroad. She''s never even left the country before-how could she have made any enemies here?"


    "That''s what''s so strange," Sophie replied. "I''ve gone over every scenario. The culprits had a clear shot at Chairman Suthend but ignored her, and took Ms. Suthend instead. If it was a kidnapping meant to threaten us, shouldn''t we have heard something by now? The fact that we haven''t suggests M herself was the only target all along."


    "We''ve already said that!" Miranda''s voice was rising again. "How many times do I have to repeat it—this is about M!"


    "... But Ms. Wayne, you''re certain Ms. Suthend made no enemies abroad? And you''re sure Giselle couldn''t possibly be behind this?" Sophie pressed.


    "I''m positive!" Miranda insisted, though she was starting to feel drained. All this arguing was pointless-they still had to wait for news from the people out searching. Her patience was wearing thin.


    Done with the back-and-forth, Miranda turned to leave-only for Sophie to speak up behind her, "What about the Montgomery family?"


    Miranda froze.


    Slowly, she turned back to face Sophie. "What did you say?"


    "I said the Montgomery family."


    Sophie''s expression grew thoughtful. "If Ms. Suthend has no enemies here, and the culprits weren''t after Chairman Suthend, then the only other connection she has is the Montgomery family."


    "She is, after all, Mrs. Montgomery. I''m wondering if this could be about them." "Most of the Montgomerys'' overseas business-oil, mining, even some defense contracts-puts them inpetition with some serious yers. They have plenty of rivals. Maybe someone figured out M''s connection to the family and went after her because of that?"


    "If we''re talking about the Montgomerys'' enemies, I know for a fact there are a few with the resources to pull something like this off here in Ennd."


    Miranda was stunned.


    She''d never even considered that possibility. In her mind, M was already separated from Lysander-practically divorced, living apart for months. As far as Miranda was concerned, M had nothing to do with the Montgomerys anymore.