Chapter 7 - MAYA DISAPPEARS
Maya stopped answering her phone the following morning.
At first I assumed she was sleeping.
Then noon passed.
Then two o’clock.
Detective Reed called me at 2:17.
“Have you heard from Maya?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“She missed an interview.”
Fear moved through me instantly.
“Where are her children?”
“With her.”
That made it worse.
Reed told me not to contact any Caldwell family member.
Police were already checking Maya’s sister’s house.
Her hotel.
Her car’s last known location.
Rachel wanted me to stay inside my condo.
For the first time since returning home, the condo did not feel safe.
Every sound from the hallway made me look toward the door.
Every elevator bell made my heart jump.
Adrian had been released pending another hearing under strict restrictions.
He was forbidden to contact me.
That did not mean his family would stop.
At 4:03 p.m., my phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
I stared at it.
Then opened the message.
I’m safe.
It was followed immediately by another.
Don’t tell Reed yet.
My anger arrived before my relief.
Maya, where are you?
No answer.
Then a photograph appeared.
A motel sign.
Vacaville.
I called Reed anyway.
Ten minutes later, Maya called me.
“You told her.”
“Yes.”
“I asked you not to.”
“You disappeared with two children while a family with a hidden detention room is threatening you.”
Silence.
“Fine.”
“What happened?”
“Graham warned me.”
“About what?”
“He said my father’s inheritance wasn’t the only thing Charles had stolen.”
I sat down.
“What does that mean?”
“He told me there are original records they didn’t keep in the basement.”
“Where?”
“He doesn’t know.”
“Then why are you hiding?”
“Because Graham said Charles knows I talked about the financial companies.”
Maya’s breathing shook.
“He said my children and I should disappear for a few days.”
“Do you trust him?”
“No.”
That answer came instantly.
“Then why listen?”
“Because Graham sounded terrified.”
Police reached the motel thirty minutes later.
Maya and the children were safe.
Then Detective Reed called me again.
“We checked traffic cameras.”
“And?”
“Graham Caldwell left Napa at three this morning.”
“Where did he go?”
“We don’t know.”
His phone was off.
His credit cards had not been used.
His vehicle disappeared after entering the vineyard property.
I felt something cold settle in my stomach.
“You think he went back.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Reed was silent.
Then she answered.
May you like
“Because a security camera behind the estate shows someone loading boxes into his SUV.”
*
