Kenneth told me not to delete anything.<\/p>\n
I almost snapped at him that I was not an idiot.<\/p>\n
Instead, I forwarded screenshots to him and hospital security, then placed the phone on my desk as though physical distance could make the message less disturbing.<\/p>\n
Tell your friend she should have kept quiet.<\/p>\n
And tell your lawyer the money is gone.<\/p>\n
Nora read the messages over my shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is not normal.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCall the police back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKenneth already is.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou shouldn't go home alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can handle myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
She gave me a look.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo can I. That doesn't mean I volunteer to be followed.\u201d<\/p>\n
I hated when she was sensible.<\/p>\n
By five o'clock, Officer Morales had returned.<\/p>\n
He photographed the messages from my phone, confirmed the sending number was probably disposable, and asked whether I recognized the photograph's location.<\/p>\n
I didn't.<\/p>\n
Melinda was inside a vehicle.<\/p>\n
Behind her, barely visible through the opposite window, stood part of a red sign and the edge of a concrete building.<\/p>\n
Morales zoomed in.<\/p>\n
\u201cCould be anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan you identify the car?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe from metadata if we're lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe photo came through text.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe'll see what can be recovered.\u201d<\/p>\n
He glanced at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you know where Ms. Travis is now?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon't contact her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe're trying to reduce variables.\u201d<\/p>\n
That sounded suspiciously like lawyer language.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs she in protective custody?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen is she safe?\u201d<\/p>\n
Morales closed his notebook.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is with someone she trusts.\u201d<\/p>\n
That irritated me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can't tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf someone photographed her\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe're aware.\u201d<\/p>\n
He softened slightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cDr. Sinclair, the safest thing you can do right now is avoid trying to solve this yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n
I almost told him I had no desire to solve anything.<\/p>\n
That would have been a lie.<\/p>\n
I wanted answers.<\/p>\n
Not because I missed Connor.<\/p>\n
Not because I wanted revenge.<\/p>\n
Because for years my life had been shaped by information deliberately withheld from me.<\/p>\n
I had no appetite for blindness anymore.<\/p>\n
At six-thirty, Kenneth picked me up himself.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can drive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour car is at home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can get another rideshare.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd give someone another opportunity to track your movements?\u201d<\/p>\n
He opened the passenger door.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet in.\u201d<\/p>\n
I did.<\/p>\n
His office looked different at night.<\/p>\n
The reception desk was empty.<\/p>\n
Half the lights were off.<\/p>\n
The city's reflection spread across the windows, broken by drops of rain.<\/p>\n
Kenneth took off his coat and loosened his tie.<\/p>\n
\u201cI ordered food.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't want food.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNeither do I. We are still eating.\u201d<\/p>\n
Twenty minutes later, cartons of Thai food sat untouched beside documents covering his conference table.<\/p>\n
\u201cStart with the money,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
Kenneth opened his laptop.<\/p>\n
\u201cConnor moved two hundred twenty-eight thousand dollars through three entities.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou said that already.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTonight we identified the final recipient.\u201d<\/p>\n
He rotated the screen toward me.<\/p>\n
The name meant nothing.<\/p>\n
\u201cCrescent Bridge Holdings.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShell company?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cConnor's?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot directly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhose?\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth leaned back.<\/p>\n
\u201cGabriel Mercer's.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was approximately my reaction.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGabriel said Connor threatened him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth things can be true.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would Connor send him money?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSettlement?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPossibly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBribe?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPossibly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExtortion?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlso possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stood and walked once around the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen was the transfer?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of it three weeks ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe anonymous message to Gabriel arrived three weeks ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat isn't coincidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI agree.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Gabriel disclose receiving money?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo his attorney? Unknown.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe sat in my hospital and told me he wanted the truth while Connor had just sent money to his company.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth held up a hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cSlow down.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am slow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. You're angry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat doesn't make me wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, but it may make the simplest explanation look more attractive than it deserves.\u201d<\/p>\n
I folded my arms.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat complicated explanation do you prefer?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI prefer evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
I hated him a little for that.<\/p>\n
He knew.<\/p>\n
\u201cCrescent Bridge Holdings isn't merely Gabriel's company,\u201d he said. \u201cHe owns thirty percent.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho owns the rest?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo partners.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCould the payment have been unrelated?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo the companies do business together?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe're checking.\u201d<\/p>\n
I sat again.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we know nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know money moved from concealed marital assets into a company partially owned by a man claiming potential paternity of Connor's son.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is not nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
He opened another document.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe transfer also occurred two days before Gabriel says he received the anonymous message urging him to seek DNA testing.\u201d<\/p>\n
I read the dates.<\/p>\n
Two days.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomeone pays his company.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen someone tells him to challenge paternity.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCould Connor be trying to lure him into filing?\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo what purpose?\u201d<\/p>\n
I thought about it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Connor wanted a controlled legal challenge he could defeat.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo prove Noah is his publicly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite his fertility diagnosis?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHighly unlikely isn't impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the test showed Connor is the father, it ends doubts.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAssuming the test is accurate and untampered with.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou think someone would tamper with a DNA test?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn't say that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou implied it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI said we should not assume motive yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
I rubbed my forehead.<\/p>\n
The food smelled good now that frustration had worn through my nausea.<\/p>\n
I opened one carton.<\/p>\n
Kenneth looked pleased.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon't.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI said nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou looked smug.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am rarely accused of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
I ate two bites.<\/p>\n
Then my phone rang.<\/p>\n
Unknown number.<\/p>\n
Kenneth reached for it before I could.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpeaker.\u201d<\/p>\n
I answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello?\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
Then breathing.<\/p>\n
\u201cKirsten?\u201d<\/p>\n
Melinda.<\/p>\n
I straightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can't say.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you safe?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth gestured for me to keep her talking.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe police said you're with someone you trust.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can't.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her voice trembled.<\/p>\n
\u201cNoah is asleep.\u201d<\/p>\n
I heard faint road noise.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou're in a car.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you moving?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMelinda, did someone photograph you today?\u201d<\/p>\n
A pause.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Kenneth.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey sent me a picture of you holding Noah.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her breathing stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh God.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened at the house?\u201d<\/p>\n
She began crying.<\/p>\n
Not loudly.<\/p>\n
The sound was worse because she was trying to suppress it.<\/p>\n
\u201cConnor came home furious.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe found out about Gabriel's filing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe already knew.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. He knew Gabriel had threatened to file. He didn't know it was officially submitted.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Kenneth.<\/p>\n
He started taking notes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe accused me of helping Gabriel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you call Gabriel last night?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you tell him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat I found Connor's medical records.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth closed his eyes briefly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened after Connor came home?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe started packing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPacking what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDocuments. Money. His passport.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he say he was leaving?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe told me I had to sign something.\u201d<\/p>\n
I leaned forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know. Some statement saying Noah was conceived while we were in an exclusive relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWas that true?\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cMelinda.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth wrote faster.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened when you refused?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe grabbed my wrist.\u201d<\/p>\n
I closed my eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBruised.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Noah see?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was in the next room.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen how did Gabriel become involved?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe didn't.\u201d<\/p>\n
I frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cConnor told police Gabriel came to the house.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe didn't?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWas anyone else there?\u201d<\/p>\n
Another silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth looked up sharply.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou saw him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly from behind.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he look like?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTall. Gray coat. Baseball cap.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy was he there?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Connor was expecting him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid they argue?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMoney.\u201d<\/p>\n
There it was.<\/p>\n
I looked at Kenneth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you hear?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cConnor said, 'You weren't supposed to contact him yet.'\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cContact who?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the other man?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said something about everything being ruined because Connor couldn't keep me under control.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt cold.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey went into the office.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI took Noah and left.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo my sister.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo that's who you're with.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cConnor knows where she lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
That made sense.<\/p>\n
\u201cMelinda, listen to me. Did Connor see you leave?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't think so.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHave you spoken to police?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you tell them about the unknown man?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth slid a note toward me.<\/p>\n
ASK ABOUT PAPERS.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose medical papers you found. Where were they?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Connor's office.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWere there other documents with them?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBank papers. Some trust documents.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you read the trust documents?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA little.\u201d<\/p>\n
My pulse quickened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did they say?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething about Walter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor's father.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Noah?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth leaned closer to the phone.<\/p>\n
I continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about Noah?\u201d<\/p>\n
Melinda's voice broke.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe trust is huge, Kirsten.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow huge?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know. Millions.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Kenneth.<\/p>\n
His expression turned grim.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat condition?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTrusts usually have conditions. Did you see any?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw one line.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me.\u201d<\/p>\n
She inhaled shakily.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt said something about a biological male descendant.\u201d<\/p>\n
There it was.<\/p>\n
The cost of the truth.<\/p>\n
Connor had far more to lose than pride.<\/p>\n
\u201cMelinda.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Connor know about that trust before Noah was born?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe talked about his father's estate constantly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat isn't what I asked.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow soon after you told Connor you were pregnant did Walter know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA few weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd did Walter believe Connor was the father?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n
The answer came automatically.<\/p>\n
Then she realized what she had said.<\/p>\n
I heard her breath catch.<\/p>\n
\u201cKirsten\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon't speculate. Just listen.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the police put you somewhere safe, stay there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI will.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo not meet Connor alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI won't.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd do not contact Gabriel again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cI already did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTen minutes ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
I closed my eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you tell him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat Connor lied to me about the fertility testing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did Gabriel say?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe didn't answer.\u201d<\/p>\n
A chill moved through me.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid the call connect?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cText?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAny response?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth held out his hand for my phone, but before I could give it to him another call came in.<\/p>\n
Officer Morales.<\/p>\n
I told Melinda to stay on the line, then merged the calls.<\/p>\n
\u201cOfficer?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDr. Sinclair, are you with your attorney?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood. We need to speak.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI'm also on the phone with Melinda.\u201d<\/p>\n
Morales paused.<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Travis?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMelinda, do not tell us your location on this call.\u201d<\/p>\n
She made a small sound of agreement.<\/p>\n
Morales continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe've recovered footage from the neighborhood.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf Gabriel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
I exchanged a look with Kenneth.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe man seen approaching the property wasn't Gabriel Mercer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho was he?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don't know yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why did Connor say it was Gabriel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is one of our questions.\u201d<\/p>\n
I leaned forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat else?\u201d<\/p>\n
Morales hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe attempted to contact Mr. Mercer.\u201d<\/p>\n
My stomach tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo answer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe he's with his lawyer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe checked.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cOfficer, what aren't you saying?\u201d<\/p>\n
Morales's voice changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe missed a scheduled meeting with counsel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Melinda made a faint sound.<\/p>\n
I gripped the phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo hours ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCould he simply have turned off his phone?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you don't think so.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe're concerned.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Another pause.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause his vehicle was found abandoned near Eagle Creek.\u201d<\/p>\n
The conference room went completely silent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWas there blood?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSigns of a struggle?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing obvious.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen maybe he left voluntarily.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPossible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth's gaze stayed on mine.<\/p>\n
\u201cOfficer,\u201d he said, \u201cdoes Connor know Gabriel is missing?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe haven't informed him.\u201d<\/p>\n
I thought of the anonymous photograph.<\/p>\n
Tell your friend she should have kept quiet.<\/p>\n
Then tell your lawyer the money is gone.<\/p>\n
The threat suddenly felt less theatrical.<\/p>\n
\u201cOfficer Morales.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSomeone may be trying to make Gabriel look unstable or violent before he disappears.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth held up a hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat's speculation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Morales replied carefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, everything is a possibility.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the call ended, Melinda remained connected.<\/p>\n
She had gone very quiet.<\/p>\n
\u201cMelinda?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou heard them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStay where you are.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI will.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKirsten.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her next words came as a whisper.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know who the man in the gray coat might be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth froze.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cConnor has met him before.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cName?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know his real name.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does Connor call him?\u201d<\/p>\n
She swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Vale.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth's face changed.<\/p>\n
Not recognition exactly.<\/p>\n
Alarm.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know that name,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
He nodded once.<\/p>\n
\u201cVale is not a person.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA company.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat kind?\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth turned toward his laptop.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrivate investigations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Melinda began crying again.<\/p>\n
But Kenneth was already typing.<\/p>\n
Then he stopped.<\/p>\n
His face went pale.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
He rotated the computer toward me.<\/p>\n
A company registration page filled the screen.<\/p>\n
Vale Strategic Services.<\/p>\n
Owner: Raymond Vale.<\/p>\n
Services included corporate investigations, asset recovery and litigation support.<\/p>\n
Nothing extraordinary.<\/p>\n
Until Kenneth pointed to the registered client contact listed in an archived filing.<\/p>\n
Walter Fleming.<\/p>\n
Connor's father.<\/p>\n
Kenneth told me not to delete anything. I almost snapped at him that I was not an idiot. Instead, I forwarded screenshots to him and hospital security, then placed the … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30484,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30491","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insightdrama"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30491","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30491"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30491\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30588,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30491\/revisions\/30588"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/30484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30491"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30491"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30491"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}