Page 85 of Found

"Good lad." She wrung her hands together. "Well, enough of this. You've both made me very happy. You should get going, though. It's a long drive."

Sin stood up. "I love you, Mum." He kissed her on the cheek.

"Aye, you've made me very proud, son."

They left, following Bobby to the door. "We'll be gone for a while, but call me with any changes," Sin said.

"I will," the older gentleman promised.

"I think we've given her something to live for," he said to Charlie when they were back in the car.

"You shouldn't have said anything. We don't know what's going to happen."

"All the more reason."

"I meant with Alex, when he finds out it was my fault Sokolov got away and he never had Imogen."

"Let me handle Alex," he said. "And it wasn't your fault. He can be a bastard, but he won't be with you, I promise." They continued up the highway.

The drive gave him time to think, and by the time they came through the wrought iron gates of the Tower, he at least had a plan. He pulled up to the mansion and parked. "I'll take you to the flat, then I'll go see Alex."

"I'll go with you," she said.

"No, I don't want you to relive last night." He got out of the car and shut the door. "Let me handle Alex."

"Sin, you can't protect me from everything. I'll go with you." They walked the short distance to the Tower house. William was waiting outside and ran up barking. "Gabriel's here," he said to her.

"I don't mind Gabriel." She bent down, rubbing William behind the ears. "They made you wait outside. That was rude." The dog barked in agreement.

Sin held the door open. "Come on, you two. Let's get this over with."

* * *

Charlie took a deep breath before entering Alex's office. Last night had been hard. She was still trying to grasp the concept of Sokolov planting a false memory in her. No matter how much Sin tried to put her mind at ease, it still felt like a weakness on her part and she was sure Alex would see it that way. The office felt cramped and stifling compared to their last meeting in here. Alex frowned when he saw William but had the decency not to send him away. "He's rather become my hero," she said, sitting down on the couch. William curled up at her feet.

"Aye, it was his barking that led us to Charlotte in the fog," Sin confirmed. He sat next to her and put his hand on her thigh.

"Gabriel said as much." Alex stood at the bar, pouring drinks.

Gabriel handed her a glass of white wine and kissed her on her cheek. "It's a bit early, but it will take the edge off. No reason to suffer today." He sat down in an armchair with his own glass.

Alex came over with whiskey for both himself and Sin. "Gabriel's filled me in on everything that happened once they arrived, but I was hoping you could tell me what happened before that." He stood by the fireplace. "Let's start with why you thought the location was changed."

Charlie fingered the pendant around her neck. "You would have to know Sokolov to understand. He doesn't like to be crossed. He said I was the one who needed to make the exchange. It made me think that he left those clues to distract you and I needed to think of what clue he would leave for me."

"So, you thought of Arria, the mermaid sculpture?" Alex questioned.

"No, not at first. I didn't think of it until I saw it in the picture with you and Jock. Then I started to piece things together." She looked around at the men. "When Sokolov first took me, I told you he was thrown off by my eyes. He kept going back to them, almost as if they angered him. He asked me at one point if I was selkie or rusalka. I had heard the selkie folklore from Sin and Jock and the color of the selkie's eyes at Sinclair castle. It all started to come together."

"So you took the print and meant to make the exchange on your own." Alex set his glass down on the mantel and started to pace.

"I switched the prints."

Sin sat up next to her, surprised. "You switched the prints?" he asked.

She nodded. She hadn't told him this part last night. "Yes. You left to get dinner and I switched them. I knew you were wrong about the location."

"Sokolov has the forgery?" Gabriel said.