Chapter 5: The Man Who Disappeared
Dad spent the next morning making phone calls.
He called Rebecca. He called the bank. He called an old business associate who had once worked with Thomas Reed.
Every conversation ended the same way.
A longer silence.
Another unanswered question.
And a new reason to worry.
By noon, I couldn't stand. He called the bank. He called an old business associate who had once worked with Thomas Reed.
Every conversation ended the same way.
A longer silence.
Another unanswered question.
And a new reason to worry.
By noon, I couldn't stand watching him pace between the study and the kitchen.
"Dad, tell me what you know about Thomas.""
He stopped beside the window.
"Thomas handled some of your mother's investments before she died. He helped her set up the education trust and reviewed her insurance policies.""
" watching him pace between the study and the kitchen.
"Dad, tell me what you know about Thomas.""
He stopped beside the window.
"Thomas handled some of your mother's investments before she died. He helped her set up the education trust and reviewed her insurance policies.""
"Was he trustworthy?""
"At the time, I thought so.""
"What happened to him?""
Dad rubbed his jaw.
"He disappeared after your mother's estate was supposedly settled. His office closed. His phone number stopped working. I assumed he'd movedWas he trustworthy?""
"At the time, I thought so.""
"What happened to him?""
Dad rubbed his jaw.
"He disappeared after your mother's estate was supposedly settled. His office closed. His phone number stopped working. I assumed he'd moved to another state.""
"Did you report him missing?""
"No. There was no reason to believe anything had happened to him. He wasn't a close friend. He was a financial adviser.""
I looked at the report on the desk.
"But his name is connected to to another state.""
"Did you report him missing?""
"No. There was no reason to believe anything had happened to him. He wasn't a close friend. He was a financial adviser.""
I looked at the report on the desk.
"But his name is connected to the account that received Mom's insurance money.""
"Yes.""
"And Monica's company paid for the apartment through that same account.""
Dad nodded.
I felt cold.
"Then maybe Thomas the account that received Mom's insurance money.""
"Yes.""
"And Monica's company paid for the apartment through that same account.""
Dad nodded.
I felt cold.
"Then maybe Thomas wasn't missing.""
Dad looked at me sharply.
"What do you mean?""
"Maybe someone wanted him out of the way.""
He didn't answer.
A moment later, his phone rang.
Rebecca.
He put it on speaker.
"I've wasn't missing.""
Dad looked at me sharply.
"What do you mean?""
"Maybe someone wanted him out of the way.""
He didn't answer.
A moment later, his phone rang.
Rebecca.
He put it on speaker.
"I've obtained some preliminary records from the bank," she said.
"The receiving account was established using Thomas Reed's business information, but the contact details appear to have been changed shortly afterward.""
"Changed to whom?"" Dad asked.
"That's what we're trying to establish. The bank has flagged obtained some preliminary records from the bank," she said.
"The receiving account was established using Thomas Reed's business information, but the contact details appear to have been changed shortly afterward.""
"Changed to whom?"" Dad asked.
"That's what we're trying to establish. The bank has flagged the account, and the records are being preserved. We also found recurring payments connected to a property-management company.""
"The apartment?""
"Likely. But I don't want the account, and the records are being preserved. We also found recurring payments connected to a property-management company.""
"The apartment?""
"Likely. But I don't want to draw conclusions before we see the complete records.""
Dad paced toward the desk.
"Can you find out whether Thomas is actually missing?""
"I've started making inquiries. His former office building still has archived tenant records, and I'm to draw conclusions before we see the complete records.""
Dad paced toward the desk.
"Can you find out whether Thomas is actually missing?""
"I've started making inquiries. His former office building still has archived tenant records, and I'm checking public records for any recent activity associated with his name.""
"Thank you.""
Before Rebecca could end the call, I checking public records for any recent activity associated with his name.""
"Thank you.""
Before Rebecca could end the call, I spoke.
"Can we find out who sold my car?""
There was a brief pause.
"Yes," she said.
"We'll need the title, the sales documents, and information about the dealership or buyer. If the car was sold without proper authorization, those spoke.
"Can we find out who sold my car?""
There was a brief pause.
"Yes," she said.
"We'll need the title, the sales documents, and information about the dealership or buyer. If the car was sold without proper authorization, those records will be important.""
"I have the title and the original purchase receipt.""
"Keep them safe. Don't give the originals to anyone without documenting the transfer.""
When the call ended, Dad looked at me.
"Emily, I need you to promise me something.""
"What records will be important.""
"I have the title and the original purchase receipt.""
"Keep them safe. Don't give the originals to anyone without documenting the transfer.""
When the call ended, Dad looked at me.
"Emily, I need you to promise me something.""
"What?""
"Don't investigate this yourself. Don't follow Monica. Don't confront anyone. Let Rebecca and the bank handle the financial records.""
I frowned.
"I'm not trying to play detective.""
"I know. But I don't want you putting yourself in a dangerous position because you feel you have to fix?""
"Don't investigate this yourself. Don't follow Monica. Don't confront anyone. Let Rebecca and the bank handle the financial records.""
I frowned.
"I'm not trying to play detective.""
"I know. But I don't want you putting yourself in a dangerous position because you feel you have to fix everything.""
I thought about the anonymous message, the insurance document, and the envelope I'd found in Kayla's SUV.
"Okay," I said.
He searched my face.
"Promise?""
"I promise.""
I meant it.
At least, I thought I did everything.""
I thought about the anonymous message, the insurance document, and the envelope I'd found in Kayla's SUV.
"Okay," I said.
He searched my face.
"Promise?""
"I promise.""
I meant it.
At least, I thought I did.
That afternoon, I went to the diner for my first shift as evening supervisor.
Denise handed me a name badge and a small notebook.
"Congratulations, Supervisor Emily.""
I laughed.
"It sounds ridiculous.""
"It sounds like a raise.""
She pointed.
That afternoon, I went to the diner for my first shift as evening supervisor.
Denise handed me a name badge and a small notebook.
"Congratulations, Supervisor Emily.""
I laughed.
"It sounds ridiculous.""
"It sounds like a raise.""
She pointed toward the kitchen.
"Now go make sure the new guy isn't burning the hash browns.""
For a few hours, work gave me something I desperately needed.
Orders came in. Coffee machines hissed. Plates toward the kitchen.
"Now go make sure the new guy isn't burning the hash browns.""
For a few hours, work gave me something I desperately needed.
Orders came in. Coffee machines hissed. Plates clattered. A little boy spilled orange juice, and his mother apologized so many times that I brought him a fresh glass and told him not to worry.
The world kept clattered. A little boy spilled orange juice, and his mother apologized so many times that I brought him a fresh glass and told him not to worry.
The world kept moving.
I liked that.
For once, I wasn't Monica's stepdaughter or the girl whose car had been stolen.
I was Emily.
I knew how to keep a dining room running through a rush. I knew how to calm moving.
I liked that.
For once, I wasn't Monica's stepdaughter or the girl whose car had been stolen.
I was Emily.
I knew how to keep a dining room running through a rush. I knew how to calm an angry customer. I knew how to balance a register down to the last penny.
Nobody could take those things from me.
Near the end of my shift, Denise approached the counter.
"There's a woman asking for you.""
I looked toward an angry customer. I knew how to balance a register down to the last penny.
Nobody could take those things from me.
Near the end of my shift, Denise approached the counter.
"There's a woman asking for you.""
I looked toward the entrance.
A middle-aged woman stood near the window, wearing a navy coat and holding a brown envelope.
She looked nervous.
"Who is she?""
"She says her name is Patricia Reed.""
My heart stumbled.
" the entrance.
A middle-aged woman stood near the window, wearing a navy coat and holding a brown envelope.
She looked nervous.
"Who is she?""
"She says her name is Patricia Reed.""
My heart stumbled.
"Reed?""
Denise nodded.
"She says it's about your mother.""
I wiped my hands on a towel and approached her.
"Are you Patricia Reed?""
She looked at me carefully.
"You're Emily?""
"Yes.""
She glanced around the diner.
"CanReed?""
Denise nodded.
"She says it's about your mother.""
I wiped my hands on a towel and approached her.
"Are you Patricia Reed?""
She looked at me carefully.
"You're Emily?""
"Yes.""
She glanced around the diner.
"Can we talk somewhere private?""
Denise led us to the small office behind the kitchen.
Patricia sat down and placed the envelope on the desk.
"My husband was Thomas Reed.""
I stared at her.
"Your husband?""
She nodded.
"He disappeared three years ago. The we talk somewhere private?""
Denise led us to the small office behind the kitchen.
Patricia sat down and placed the envelope on the desk.
"My husband was Thomas Reed.""
I stared at her.
"Your husband?""
She nodded.
"He disappeared three years ago. The police never found enough evidence to determine what happened to him.""
I pulled out a chair.
"Do you know what happened to my mother's money?""
Patricia's eyes filled with tears.
"I don't know everything. But I know Thomas was frightened before he disappeared police never found enough evidence to determine what happened to him.""
I pulled out a chair.
"Do you know what happened to my mother's money?""
Patricia's eyes filled with tears.
"I don't know everything. But I know Thomas was frightened before he disappeared.""
"Frightened of whom?""
She looked toward the closed office door.
"Monica.""
The name seemed to silence the room.
"Why?""
Patricia opened the envelope and removed several printed emails.
"Thomas was your mother's financial adviser. He helped her.""
"Frightened of whom?""
She looked toward the closed office door.
"Monica.""
The name seemed to silence the room.
"Why?""
Patricia opened the envelope and removed several printed emails.
"Thomas was your mother's financial adviser. He helped her create a trust for you. After Laura died, he discovered that someone had attempted to redirect money from her insurance policy.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Was it Monica?""
"He believed she was involved. But he needed proof.""
"What kind of create a trust for you. After Laura died, he discovered that someone had attempted to redirect money from her insurance policy.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Was it Monica?""
"He believed she was involved. But he needed proof.""
"What kind of proof?""
"Original documents. Bank records. A copy of the trust agreement.""
She slid a page toward me.
It was an email dated three years earlier.
The sender was Thomas Reed.
The recipient was an address I proof?""
"Original documents. Bank records. A copy of the trust agreement.""
She slid a page toward me.
It was an email dated three years earlier.
The sender was Thomas Reed.
The recipient was an address I recognized immediately.
Monica's personal email.
The message contained only two sentences.
I know the beneficiary change was submitted after Laura's death. I also know Daniel did not authorize it.
*We need to speak before I take this to recognized immediately.
Monica's personal email.
The message contained only two sentences.
I know the beneficiary change was submitted after Laura's death. I also know Daniel did not authorize it.
We need to speak before I take this to the authorities.
The date was three days before Thomas disappeared.
I stared at the screen.
"Did you give this to the police?""
"Yes. They investigated, but the account records were incomplete, and the documents Thomas the authorities.*
The date was three days before Thomas disappeared.
I stared at the screen.
"Did you give this to the police?""
"Yes. They investigated, but the account records were incomplete, and the documents Thomas had kept were gone.""
"Where did you get this copy?""
Patricia pressed her hands together.
"Thomas sent it to me shortly before he disappeared. He told me that if anything happened to him, I should keep it somewhere safe.""
"Why had kept were gone.""
"Where did you get this copy?""
Patricia pressed her hands together.
"Thomas sent it to me shortly before he disappeared. He told me that if anything happened to him, I should keep it somewhere safe.""
"Why are you giving it to me now?""
She looked at me for a long moment.
"Because I saw your story online.""
I frowned.
"What story?""
"Someone posted a photograph of your stepsister's new SUV. The caption mentioned that your car had been sold to are you giving it to me now?""
She looked at me for a long moment.
"Because I saw your story online.""
I frowned.
"What story?""
"Someone posted a photograph of your stepsister's new SUV. The caption mentioned that your car had been sold to help pay for it. The post was shared in a local community group.""
My face burned.
I hadn't known anyone had photographed the SUV.
Patricia continued.
"When I saw your name, I recognized it help pay for it. The post was shared in a local community group.""
My face burned.
I hadn't known anyone had photographed the SUV.
Patricia continued.
"When I saw your name, I recognized it from Thomas's records. I thought perhaps your father's financial investigation had finally begun.""
"How could you know that?""
"I didn't. But I knew someone had to tell you what Thomas discovered.""
She pushed the from Thomas's records. I thought perhaps your father's financial investigation had finally begun.""
"How could you know that?""
"I didn't. But I knew someone had to tell you what Thomas discovered.""
She pushed the remaining papers toward me.
"These are copies of his notes. They mention Meridian Lifestyle Services and a second account connected to the trust.""
I looked through them.
Most were handwritten observations about transfers, dates, and account numbers.
Then I found a page remaining papers toward me.
"These are copies of his notes. They mention Meridian Lifestyle Services and a second account connected to the trust.""
I looked through them.
Most were handwritten observations about transfers, dates, and account numbers.
Then I found a page with a single sentence underlined twice.
*THE ORIGINAL TRUST WAS NEVER REPLACED. THE NEW DOCUMENT IS A FORGERY.*
My fingers went numb.
"Patricia, what does this mean?""
She leaned forward.
"It means the money may with a single sentence underlined twice.
*THE ORIGINAL TRUST WAS NEVER REPLACED. THE NEW DOCUMENT IS A FORGERY.*
My fingers went numb.
"Patricia, what does this mean?""
She leaned forward.
"It means the money may never have legally belonged to the people who took it.""
I looked up.
"Then where is it?""
She swallowed.
"That's the question Thomas was trying to answer.""
Before I could ask never have legally belonged to the people who took it.""
I looked up.
"Then where is it?""
She swallowed.
"That's the question Thomas was trying to answer.""
Before I could ask anything else, my phone vibrated.
Dad was calling.
I answered immediately.
"Hey, Dad.""
"Emily, where are you?""
"At the diner. Why?""
"Are you alone?""
I glanced at Patricia.
"No. I'm anything else, my phone vibrated.
Dad was calling.
I answered immediately.
"Hey, Dad.""
"Emily, where are you?""
"At the diner. Why?""
"Are you alone?""
I glanced at Patricia.
"No. I'm with someone who knew Thomas Reed.""
There was a long silence.
Then Dad's voice changed.
"Emily, listen to me very carefully. Don't leave that room. Don't give anyone those documents. I'm with someone who knew Thomas Reed.""
There was a long silence.
Then Dad's voice changed.
"Emily, listen to me very carefully. Don't leave that room. Don't give anyone those documents. I'm coming to get you.""
My heart began to race.
"What's happened?""
"Rebecca found something in the bank records.""
"What coming to get you.""
My heart began to race.
"What's happened?""
"Rebecca found something in the bank records.""
"What?""
"Monica has been transferring money into an account connected to a company that doesn't officially exist anymore.""
I looked at Patricia.
Her face had gone pale.
Dad continued.
"And the company was dissolved the same week Thomas Reed disappeared.""
The?""
"Monica has been transferring money into an account connected to a company that doesn't officially exist anymore.""
I looked at Patricia.
Her face had gone pale.
Dad continued.
"And the company was dissolved the same week Thomas Reed disappeared.""
The line crackled.
Then he said the words that made the room feel suddenly airless.
"Emily, the bank has also identified the device used to create the secondary purchasing profile.""
I gripped the phone.
"Whose device?""
Dad's answer came slowly.
"Your mother's old line crackled.
Then he said the words that made the room feel suddenly airless.
"Emily, the bank has also identified the device used to create the secondary purchasing profile.""
I gripped the phone.
"Whose device?""
Dad's answer came slowly.
"Your mother's old laptop.""
I stared at Patricia.
She covered her mouth with one hand.
"That's impossible," I whispered.
"Mom's laptop was destroyed after laptop.""
I stared at Patricia.
She covered her mouth with one hand.
"That's impossible," I whispered.
"Mom's laptop was destroyed after she died.""
"I know," Dad said.
"That's what Monica told us.""
A door slammed somewhere in the background on his end.
Then I heard him say something to someone nearby.
When he returned to the phone, his voice was almost she died.""
"I know," Dad said.
"That's what Monica told us.""
A door slammed somewhere in the background on his end.
Then I heard him say something to someone nearby.
When he returned to the phone, his voice was almost unrecognizable.
"Emily, there's one more thing.""
"What?""
"The bank recovered a deleted authorization file from the profile. It contains a digital signature, a timestamp, and a confirmation that the unrecognizable.
"Emily, there's one more thing.""
"What?""
"The bank recovered a deleted authorization file from the profile. It contains a digital signature, a timestamp, and a confirmation that the person who created the account had access to your mother's private financial records.""
My heart hammered against my ribs.
"Who created it?""
Dad didn't answer immediately.
Then he whispered, "The file was created under your login, Emily.""
I stopped breathing.
"I person who created the account had access to your mother's private financial records.""
My heart hammered against my ribs.
"Who created it?""
Dad didn't answer immediately.
Then he whispered, "The file was created under your login, Emily.""
I stopped breathing.
"I was seventeen.""
"I know.""
"I didn't create any account.""
"I believe you.""
I looked at Patricia, who was staring at the papers as if they had suddenly become dangerous.
Dad's voice grew firmer.
"Rebecca is checking was seventeen.""
"I know.""
"I didn't create any account.""
"I believe you.""
I looked at Patricia, who was staring at the papers as if they had suddenly become dangerous.
Dad's voice grew firmer.
"Rebecca is checking the original records now. Don't panic. A login under your name doesn't prove you were the person using it.""
I swallowed.
"Okay.""
"I'm on my way. Stay where you are.""
He ended the call.
For several seconds, neither the original records now. Don't panic. A login under your name doesn't prove you were the person using it.""
I swallowed.
"Okay.""
"I'm on my way. Stay where you are.""
He ended the call.
For several seconds, neither Patricia nor I spoke.
Then she gathered the documents into the envelope.
"Emily, I need you to understand something. Thomas believed the person responsible had access to more than your mother's accounts.""
"Who?""
She looked directly Patricia nor I spoke.
Then she gathered the documents into the envelope.
"Emily, I need you to understand something. Thomas believed the person responsible had access to more than your mother's accounts.""
"Who?""
She looked directly at me.
"He believed someone inside your family had been using your identity.""
My phone vibrated again.
This time, it was a text from an unknown number.
Stop looking into your mother's money. You have no idea what your father signed.
A at me.
"He believed someone inside your family had been using your identity.""
My phone vibrated again.
This time, it was a text from an unknown number.
Stop looking into your mother's money. You have no idea what your father signed.
A second message arrived before I could move.
Ask him about the night your mother died.
I stared at the screen.
Because the sender had included a photograph.
It showed my second message arrived before I could move.
Ask him about the night your mother died.
I stared at the screen.
Because the sender had included a photograph.
It showed my father standing outside a hospital room, his face buried in his hands.
And behind him, partially hidden by the doorway, stood Monica.
She was holding a folder.
A folder I had never seen before.
And written across its cover, in my mother's handwriting, were father standing outside a hospital room, his face buried in his hands.
And behind him, partially hidden by the doorway, stood Monica.
She was holding a folder.
A folder I had never seen before.
And written across its cover, in my mother's handwriting, were four words.
May you like
*EMILY'S TRUST — ORIGINAL COPY.* four words.
*EMILY'S TRUST — ORIGINAL COPY.*
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