The ledger photograph was real. At least, the part we could verify was. My accountant matched the merchant ID, Vela abbreviation, and Carlo's approval code against the records we already had. The handwriting pattern on the page also matched the three lines I had seen through

Sofia sent the address nine minutes later. A private house on the North Shore. I read it twice. Then I forwarded it to Mikhail. Not because he owned the rescue. Because I wanted him in it. That difference mattered. Mikhail called immediately.

"Anton is verifying the property."

For forty-seven seconds after Sofia sent I'm coming, nobody spoke. Then Anton's voice came through the speaker.

"We have her."

My knees almost gave out. I gripped the back of a chair instead.

"Is she hurt?"

"She's walking. Shaken. No obvious serious injury.