The Da Vinci Code

Still in the restroom, Sophie wonders if she should have told Langdon all this. She lived with Saunière until 10 years ago, when she came home early from graduate school and witnessed him engaged in something shocking, though she doesn’t describe it here. Afterward, she moved out and ignored his frequent letters despite their promise of an explanation. Saunière honored her request to never call her until yesterday afternoon, when he left a voice message claiming they are both in danger. He begged Sophie to meet him at the Louvre so he could tell her the truth about her family. Sophie’s parents, grandmother, and brother died when she was four when their car drove off a bridge into water.

Sophie assumed Saunière was merely manipulating her out of desperation and ignored his call. Now that he is dead and has left her a coded message, she is unsure. Like Sophie, Saunière loved puzzles and cryptograms, feeding her interest which blossomed into a career. Now, she asks Langdon about his meeting with Saunière, unconvinced her grandfather was merely interested in the professor’s work. Langdon is frustrated that he’s unable to help Sophie. Wanting more time to discern her grandfather’s reasons for bringing them together, Sophie says their only option is to get Langdon out of the museum and to the U.S. embassy.

Langdon is reluctant to run, believing this will make him look guilty. Sophie promises to tell Fache that Saunière left the message for her instead of as an accusation of Langdon’s guilt after they reach the embassy, not trusting the captain to be reasonable. She asks if Langdon can think of any reason why Fache is so certain of his guilt. When Langdon can’t come up with anything, Sophie knows Fache must be lying, though she doesn’t know why. Her cell phone rings—probably Fache. Sophie surveys the mesh embedded in the bathroom window and the 40-foot drop to the pavement. Still, she resolves to help Langdon escape the Louvre, whether or not he wants to.