Chapter 43
The tactical team entered Sonia's small, unassuming office first, and then Sterling entered. His gun was drawn as he approached the high back of the large chair that faced them. Nate held Sophie back from entering until he was sure it was safe.
"Sonia Moreau a.k.a. Demara de Castro?" Sterling questioned the back of the chair.
Nothing happened for a moment and he took a step closer.
"I have been ordered, under Sovereign authority, to question you regarding matters of global security."
The hair on Sterling's neck lifted and fell. He pointed the gun at the chair and stepped closer.
"Ms. Moreaux… or de Castro, whichever," he called louder, "turn around, now."
The chair turned slowly until Sonia faced them, unfazed. She was smiling as she lifted a small cup of tea to her lips. As always the smile didn't reach her eyes.
"Mr. Sterling," she announced as if greeting an old friend, "I apologize, I didn't hear you come in."
"Cut the crap, Moreau…de Castro…whatever your real name is," Sterling replied harshly, "You tried to blow me up tonight. We are well past pleasantries."
Sonia's head tilted and shook slightly, "Surely I have no idea what you're referring to, but are you okay?"
Sterling tightened his grip on the handle of the gun and opened his mouth to engage Sonia further but Sophie nearly nudged him out of the way as she barged into the room.
"WHERE IS HE?" Sophie shouted, "where is my child? Where is Joshua?"
Sonia looked down at her desk as she deposited the cup of tea slowly, soundlessly into its saucer.
"There was an accident," she began before she looked up at Sophie once more and the Grifter gasped. "Joshua's father was involved in a car crash in Asia. The child is now an orphan and as executor of his father's will I placed the child with a family of his father's expressed choosing."
Tears sprang to Sophie's eyes and she let out a guttural noise as she grabbed the gun from Sterling's hand and pointed it into Sonia's unblinking face.
"NO MORE GAMES," she shouted as she blinked quickly to free her eyes from the blinding wetness. She was only incrementally aware of the guns trained on her too by the officers in the room and of Sterling instructing them to refocus on Sonia and of Nate rushing in to stand behind her.
Her full focus was locked onto Sonia, the woman who'd done so much damage to her life. Sonia, who'd taken away her child, taken away the man she loved, the family she'd finally found peace with. Sonia, who imprisoned her for three years.
"Do you have any feeling at all for what you've done to me, to us?" Sophie struggled to address any humanity the woman might have even as she felt her own hatred growing harder and colder under the weight of Sonia's indifferent stare.
"Fifty seven," Sonia replied unblinking, her gaze intently focused on Sophie. The Grifter straightened as she tried to process the cryptic answer.
"What?" she questioned.
"You have fifty seven outstanding international warrants. Or should I say fifty seven serious international warrants." Sonia responded haughtily.
"What does…," Sophie began, but Sonia shifted in her seat and Sophie paused and adjusted to hold the gun with both hands.
Sonia didn't flinch, "Why should you, of all people, be allowed to raise a child when you obviously have no regard for the rules and regulations that govern a society?"
Nate perked at her words; the wheels in his head began to churn at break neck pace.
Sophie couldn't believe what she was hearing, "Are you lecturing me?" She could feel herself on the verge of hysterical laughter but she thought if she gave in to it she might pull the trigger as her punch line. "I will ask you one more time- where is my son?"
"The child is safe and cared for. He will grow to know rules and he won't be a selfish deviant who cares more about satisfying his own wants and urges than he does about the greater good of mankind." Sonia's eyes flashed for just an instant as she addressed Sophie and Nate smiled as he got his confirmation. The Scientist's carefully presented façade was beginning to crack and the pieces of the story were beginning to fall into place.
Sophie ground her teeth and stepped closer to Sonia, her finger tightening on the trigger but Nate quickly stepped in front of the gun and faced Sophie.
"She's right Soph, we have to look at the bigger picture," Nate urged softly.
Hot, new tears sprang into Sophie's eyes. Nate could see the betrayal she felt, "You never believed he was our son and now that she all but confirmed that he is you still won't fight for him?"
Nate's chest hurt from the pain he felt reflected in Sophie's eyes.
She released the gun into his hands and quietly left the room.
Sterling watched the scene unfold but only stepped forward after Sophie left.
"If the boy isn't here," Sterling whispered urgently, "we have to take her in to be interrogated."
Nate looked at Sonia in time to see her depositing her tea cup back onto its saucer.
'She was too calm,' Nate thought to himself. It was as though this was all a part of her plan; which meant that whatever she was planning was already taking place.
"It's too late for that, Sterling," Nate offered stoically, never taking his eyes off of Sonia.
"Isn't it, Demara?" he directed the question to the deceptively calm woman.
She sat further back in her large chair, assessing him silently.
The tilt of her head was her only reply.