Page 62 of Cougar Point

She shakes her head. “I don’t know what to think. So we have to add possible divorce to the picture.”

Tuesday morning, now. Five days was a long time for kidnappers to keep quiet. That made me worry that she was dead. Maybe by accident and the kidnappers didn’t know what to do next. It’s still possible they’ve killed her and cut the finger from her dead body, though forensics will tell us quickly if that’s the case. And there’s the opposite side. If she’s leaving Jack anyway is it a possibility she would cut the finger from her own hand to move things along? I can’t see that happening. She has two perfect daughters. Why do that to them?

The time has come for me to come clean with Ronnie like I should have last night. I say, “Lucas told me something yesterday on the way to Custer.”

I tell her about the Ohio woman and give her all the details I have. As she listens, her expression grows more and more concerned. When I’m done, she can’t keep the accusatory look out of her eyes.

“You should have told me yesterday.”

“I know. I thought about telling you last night but we couldn’t have done anything. Today we can get all the case file records from Ohio. I couldn’t ask Lucas. The case is closed and he’s not moving from that position.”

“You should have told me, Megan. No secrets, remember.”

“You’re right. I should have told you.”

Ronnie says, “I forgive you but don’t do that again.”

“I promise.”Maybe.“One other thing is bothering me. How did Vinnie get two grand to buy a junk van? He’d just been bonded out by your mom so he wouldn’t have had money. If she gave him the two grand, why would he leave a note saying she promised? Promised what? Do you think your mom promised him more?”

“Possibly. It sure seems that way, doesn’t it? But Rebecca would have found it when she looked into the financials. Dad gives Mom a generous allowance, and he puts money in her charities accounts. Maybe she used that money.”

Rebecca comes outside again and sits beside Ronnie. She’s taken her makeup off and has bags under her eyes. “What have you been talking about?”

I deflect the question and ask, “Can you check on the bank accounts for your mom’s charities?”

“I’ve done that. No big withdrawals or expenses.”

“Can you check if the accounts are legitimate.? Who owns them? Where the money is going?”

“Are you suggesting my mom would set up a bogus account?”

“Of course not.”Hell yeah. “But I want to know where the money is going?”

“I can do that but I don’t see how it fits with her being gone.”

In my job I’ve seen women hide money preparing for a divorce. Men too. Victoria might use the money. “We need to find out how your uncle got the money for the VW and how it’s related to the note.”

She quietly sips her coffee while she processes this.

Ronnie says, “And there’s something else. Brace yourself.”

FORTY-THREE

Ronnie assures her sister we’re going to look into the Ohio case and see if we can rule out a link. We don’t want to ask Lucas for the file. I know he’ll tell us it has nothing to do with us and then we’ll have to go over his head and start a war. I make another pot of coffee, this time it’s strong enough to stand on its own, and go back outside to think in private. My coffee sloshes over the side of the mug when Ronnie comes running outside saying, “Come quick.”

Rebecca meets us in the downstairs hallway, holding her phone out. “Listen,” she says, and touches the screen.

Caller: “I guess you didn’t believe me.”

Rebecca: “I believe you. Please don’t hurt my mom again. We’re getting the money together and just need to know how to deliver it.”

A long pause.

Caller: “Expect another gift. You kept Lucas involved after I warned you. Are those other detectives still with you?”

Rebecca: “No.”

Caller: “Liar.”

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