Page 81 of Double Take

“I’d heard rumors, but the last time I saw the senior Mr. Williams, he assured me Adam wasn’t dead, he was in hiding from the person who tried to kill him.”

Lainie sat back, staring. “If everyone is so worried about him being found by the person out to kill him, why is everyone telling everyone else that he’s alive?”

The man flushed. “I suppose you’re right, but in my defense, his father didn’t seem too worried about it.”

Because he knew Adam was already dead?

“Where is the money coming from that gets deposited into the account before the withdrawal?” Cole asked.

“It’s always a cash deposit.”

“That Mr. Williams, Adam’s father, makes.”

“Well, I assume it’s him.”

“Can you see if it’s coming out of his account?” Lainie asked.

“Ah—” James shook his head, but the man was already typing, apparently wanting to get them what they wanted and out of his hair. “Sir, that’s not part of the warra—”

“Well, I can tell you Mr. Williams cashes a check here every month,” the man said. “And the same day a cash deposit goes into this account.”

“Thank you,” Lainie said with a shrug at James and Cole. She knew the warrant didn’t extend to Myles Williams’s account, but it didn’t hurt to ask, did it? Since they got the information, she was going to answer that, no, this time it hadn’t hurt to ask.

Once they had paper copies of everything the bank manager had shown them, Cole walked away to call in the request for additional records in Victoria Irwin’s name. When he nodded, James and Lainie stood. “Thank you so much,” James said. “We appreciate your help.”

They left and climbed into James’ vehicle. Lainie sat in the front passenger seat while Cole took the back for the few minutes he’d be there.

“So, now what?” she asked. “We go see Adam’s father?” The thought made her shudder.

“Wedon’t,” James said, “Cole and I do.” Then he shook his head. “No, I think we go see Victoria Irwin first. I want to ask her about the money and why Adam was paying her.”

“And why his father felt the need to continue the payments,” Lainie murmured.

“Hmm,” Cole said, “you think Adam had a child with another woman and was paying child support? And that his father is keeping up the payments?”

“Maybe?”

“Honestly,” James said, “it was the first thing that popped in my head. And I’d say he was doing it secretly. There was no mentionof Myles’s wife’s name on any of the accounts, so she’d never know about the money. Cash deposits are a red flag too.”

“It just gets better and better, doesn’t it?” She frowned. “But why would his father be on the account?”

“Some people do that,” Cole said. “Just in case something happens to them and the money isn’t tied up forever waiting on the legal stuff.”

“Right. Of course.”

“In this case, it seems to have worked out for Adam’s father to just continue the payments without upsetting anyone’s apple cart. Convenient.”

Cole opened the door. “All right, I’ve got the address. It’s about twenty minutes away. I’ll follow you, keeping an eye on your rear, and meet you there.”

James pressed a hand to his back, and Lainie touched his forearm. “Do you want me to drive?”

“You have defensive driving training?”

“Um ... no.”

“Then I think I’d better stay behind the wheel, but thanks for the offer.”

“Sure.”

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