Chapter 9 - The Blue Gown
Monica’s purchase had been processed at 8:03 that morning, before the salon opened.
Cash.
No delivery address.
No employee discount.
No explanation.
Ortiz obtained a warrant for Monica’s apartment by afternoon.
They found designer shoes, unopened jewelry boxes, stacks of cash, and eight Atelier Cole gowns with altered inventory tags.
They did not find Monica.
They also did not find AC-0912.
Sophia stood in the apartment while investigators photographed everything.
“Maybe she took it with her,” Edward said.
Sophia studied Monica’s closet.
Every garment was organized by color and length.
Monica was not careless.
If she had bought one specific gown hours before Sophia arrived, she had done it for a reason.
A detective opened a desk drawer.
Inside was a printed schedule.
Sophia’s name had been highlighted.
Next to it, someone had written:
2:00 - WALK-IN TEST.
Edward read the words over her shoulder.
“What the hell is a walk-in test?”
Sophia thought of her wet cardigan. Her cheap-looking sneakers. The way Monica had looked at her before pouring the water.
“They wanted to know whether I’d reveal who I was.”
“Why?”
“Because if I had, they could have changed their behavior before I saw anything real.”
Ortiz nodded slowly. “Instead, you stayed quiet.”
“And Monica lost control.”
A phone began ringing.
Not Sophia’s.
Not Edward’s.
The sound came from inside Monica’s closet.
Detective Ortiz found a prepaid phone taped beneath a shelf.
The incoming number was blocked.
She answered on speaker.
Nobody spoke at first.
Then a woman’s voice said:
“Monica, if you still have the blue dress, burn it.”
Sophia stared at Ortiz.
May you like
The caller continued.
“And if Sophia Reed is with you, tell her her mother should have stayed out of this too.”
