The Girl from Starlight House
Chapter 02 - The Girl from Starlight House
Adrian took Sophie into the bridal library with a child advocate, the shelter director, and Detective Lena Ortiz, who had been attending the wedding as a family guest.
Vanessa remained in the ballroom with her attorneys.
She claimed Sophie had been coached by someone seeking money from the Holloway family.
The locket proved otherwise.
Its photograph was dated five years earlier.
Mara’s image had never been released publicly after her disappearance. The small scar beside her eyebrow and the moon-shaped birthmark on her wrist matched family photographs kept inside Adrian’s private home.
Sophie said she lived with her mother until eight months earlier.
They moved often.
Mara used the name Anna Reed and taught bookkeeping at community centers.
One night, two men arrived at their apartment.
Mara placed the locket around Sophie’s neck and took her to Starlight House.
“She said it was only for one week,” Sophie whispered.
Mara never returned.
A county order later declared her missing and allowed the shelter to begin adoption placement.
The order carried Judge Evelyn Crowne’s electronic approval.
Evelyn was Vanessa’s mother.
Adrian looked toward the ballroom doors.
Vanessa had served as director of the Holloway Children’s Trust for four years. She personally recommended Starlight House for the wedding charity program.
She knew Sophie would attend.
She also knew about the locket.
The shelter director, Paula Grant, admitted Vanessa visited the children three days earlier and asked whether Sophie owned any jewelry.
Paula believed it was part of the wedding costume planning.
Detective Ortiz preserved the videographer’s footage.
It showed Vanessa approaching Sophie before Adrian entered.
It recorded her saying, “You were supposed to be transferred before today.”
May you like
Vanessa had not mistaken Sophie for a thief.
She had recognized the child before Adrian did.
