Page 16 of Long Gone

“Matthew?” she asked in concern, then panic filled her eyes. “Oh my God. Did something happen?”

She knew I’d faced more than my fair share of hostility since coming back to Jackson Creek. While the majority of people had accepted my past, there were still a few citizens who weren’t happy I’d returned home after the shooting last October, and they weren’t shy about letting me know. While most of harassment had been relegated to verbal confrontations, a few threatening notes had been left on my car at the grocery store and in the parking lot of the law office. I’d refused to file any police reports, worried the local agencies would think I was making it up for attention.

“No, I’m fine,” I said again, placing a reassuring hand on her arm. “I’m here to ask him about an old case.”

She squinted in confusion, but I could also see she was dying to know what was going on.

“Like I said, long story, but I’ll tell you over drinks tonight. I’ll even buy with my paycheck, which was deposited into my previously empty account last Friday.”

“Rolling in the big bucks now,” she teased half-heartedly while glancing back at the door she’d used to enter the space.

The door opened, admitting a man in a white dress shirt, red tie with white stars, and navy dress pants. If it were Halloween, he’d have a good shot at winning a costume contest for dressing like an American flag. “Ms. Adams?” he asked, he gaze firmly on me.

“I’ll talk to you later,” Louise said under her breath, then headed out the front door even thought it was clear she wanted to stay.

I turned toward the back doorway. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, and so expediently.”

“Call me curious,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes I hadn’t expected. I was used to the animosity I’d been facing from the Little Rock and Jackson Creek PDs.

He led me down the hall to an interrogation room. A file sat in the middle of the table. “I thought we’d have more privacy in here,” he said, following me in and shutting the door behind us. He hesitated. “I should have asked if you want something to drink.”

“I’m fine.” Especially after my sips in the car.

I sat at the table and pulled the notebook out from the deep pocket of my coat. “Looks like you’re ready for me.” I took all the folders on the table to be a good sign.

He sat down across the table and watched me for several long seconds. I studied him as well. I guessed him to be in his early forties, but he didn’t have a paunch like a lot of detectives in their forties got. He was fit and was attractive. I was sure he used that to his advantage. I couldn’t help wondering if he was planning to use it now. Too bad for him, my ex-partner/boyfriend had also been a fit and good-looking detective in his forties. I was immune to his type.

“You said you were looking into Hugo Burton’s disappearance?” He scooted his chair back and assumed a relaxed pose, but I could see through the ruse. Why was he on guard? Because he didn’t trust me? Or was this about the case?

“Yes, Clarice Burton has hired the Morgan, Hightower, and Adams law firm to help declare her husband dead so she can move on with her life.”

He snorted. “And collect the massive life insurance policy.”

I wasn’t surprised he knew about the policy. I would have been more surprised if he didn’t. “If he’s dead, then it’s owed to her.”

He leaned back in his chair. “He’s not dead.”

“You have evidence proving that?”

“I don’t have anything that suggests he is.” He leaned forward, resting his arm on the table. “He was in financial trouble and had a shitload of people who were probably about to sue him, not to mention he was possibly facing fraud charges. His car was found at the airport, sure, but his passport was missing. So was all of the documentation about his business. Including his checkbook.” He stuck out a finger with each point.

“Did he pack a suitcase?”

“No, but?—”

“Seems to me he would’ve taken the trouble to pack if he planned on leaving the country.”

“He may have left in a hurry.”

“Perhaps he intended to leave at a later date,” I conceded, “but then the perfect opportunity presented itself and he took it. It sounds like you think he planned his exit. Did he move any money after he disappeared?”

“Two hundred grand to an offshore account.”

I stared at him in surprise. Especially since Clarice claimed he hadn’t moved any money.

“It was online, late on the day he disappeared. Late enough it didn’t post until the next morning, not that anyone was looking that evening.”

“What did the financial auditor say after looking at Hugo’s bank account records?”

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