Page 103 of Desolation

“Dax,” the words are quiet. I clear my throat and speak up. “Dax.”

He looks at me curiously.

“Do you remember the day I went to New York with Michael?”

He nods. “You two were so smitten it was disgusting.”

“Do you remember the day after?”

“I remember you came home so upset. Mr. Waters practically forbade you and Michael from dating. Michael said he would never let his father control his actions. He left for a while. Said he had to take care of things. When he came back, he said his father would never bother you again.”

“And he never did. Never said a word about that day or treated me like I was no better than the help. Do you remember the day it happened?”

He shakes his head. “Around Christmas, junior year. Wait, the week after finals. I remember because you ditched my movie marathon plan. December seventeenth or…?”

I point to the paper.

“December eighteenth. You were with me the whole day.” He looks up at me shell-shocked. “Michael could truly be behind all of this.”

I nod. “I don’t think he ever meant to hurt me. At least in the beginning but then we grew apart over time. I don’t know why this would happen now or why he would do this to me but it all makes sense.”

“I have a friend who has been investigating Waters & Smith Investments for years. Michael Waters, Sr. is not a good man,” Charlie says.

“Start from the beginning,” Jackson tells me.

So I do. I tell him about the deposits Rebecca found in December. I tell him I told Michael and he said he would look into it. Said he knew some people that worked there but he never gave me answers. I told him about how a month ago more money landed in the account. I didn’t know what to do. I was going to tell Michael but when I found that file, I knew I couldn’t. I left my kids at his parents for the first half of the summer like I normally do. Then I came here, changing my name and appearance so I wouldn’t be followed.

“Were you being followed back at home?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. I had a weird feeling for the few weeks from when I found the file to when I came here. I felt like I was constantly looking over my shoulder. That’s why I decided to come here.” I look around the room. Everyone’s eyes on me, the accusation draining from their faces with every word I speak. “I thought I was being paranoid. And I didn’t feel that chill in my spine after I made it to Chicago.”

“Mariela,” Jackson says. “Your husband filed a missing person report on you.”

“What?”

“That is one of the biggest reasons we needed to see you. Someone must have realized we were close to something. Maybe sent someone after you.”

“We’re separated. I don’t understand. He hasn’t tried to talk to me in weeks.”

“Do you think your husband is really behind all of this?” Charlie asks me.

Do I? Is this the man he has become?

I shrug. “Why would he file a missing person report? That makes no sense to me.”

Charlie sits on the table next to Jackson. “Whoever was following you might have something to do with it. Either they wanted to kill you or kidnap you. That report covers his ass if he is guilty.”

“I swear to you I have no idea about that shell company. I would never do anything like this.”

Mark speaks up. “I believe you.”

Jackson nods. “So do I.” He looks over at Charlie who gives a nonchalant nod of her head. “You need to go back to Boston, Marian—Mariela.”

“Why? What if someone tries to follow me there?”

Landon grabs my hand. “We’ll have someone watch you. You won’t be alone.”

Jackson agrees. “You look guilty if you stay here. If you head back, your alibi that you were here for work will look real. The fact you go home right away when we find you makes it look like a big mistake.”

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