Chapter 16 1 288 Vouchers Chapter 16 Alexander watched the flames, his mind flashing back to the villa fire. A knot of unease tightened in his chest as he dialed the medical examiner. The call wouldn't connect. He rerouted his navigation toward the gated community. As the car stereo's prelude hummed to life, Sophie instantly recognized the tune. It was the nursery rhyme Alexander used to sing when she cried as a child-he couldn't carry a tune, but his deep, melodic voice always made her feel safe. Decades of his warmth had lulled her into believing they'd be together forever. For the first time in hours, the song finally eased her frayed nerves. Her eyelids grew heavy, then shut completely. Alexander's phone rang-Olivia's call. He answered distractedly: "Yeah?" "Victor, I found the perfect burial site for Sophie. Come see?" His knuckles whitened around the steering wheel. "Mind your own business." He hung up, silencing her repeated calls with a jab of his thumb. Olivia smirked, turning to the men behind her. "Move faster!" Sophie's lifeless body lay sprawled before them as they dragged it into a side room. Olivia tossed them a wad of cash and waved them off. The medical examiner finally called back: "Mr. Reed, the body's gone. They drugged us-never saw their faces." Alexander's breath hitched. "Stall them. I'm coming." He slammed the horn, swerving through traffic like a madman, fury burning through his veins. 0.0 12:40 Chapter 16 11 288 Vouchers His car sped like a rocket, pedestrians scattering in terror. He kicked open the morgue door, charging inside. The empty room hollowed out his chest. His heart kept sinking. "Any leads?" "Surveillance footage was wiped. Checking street cams now.' Alexander drove his fist into the wall-once, twice-gasping for control. The bruises on his face throbbed, his thoughts spiraling. Then he remembered Olivia's call. Too convenient. The villa fire... He forced himself to think. Olivia's line was busy. He grabbed his bodyguard's collar, snarling orders about the fire investigation. Another call. This one gave him the answer. Alexander offered prime real estate to triple the surveillance team. Three minutes later: They'd found Sophie. He was already flooring the accelerator before the sentence ended. The forensic examiner looked at his half-checked records and sighed deeply. He had never seen a girl with so many scars and such a tragic death. For her, death must have been a release from such a life. Meanwhile, on the road, Alexander searched for the specific address, and what surprised him was that it was actually a Buddhist temple. 66.7% 12:40