Page 110 of The Vanished

“How is this relevant?”

“At the very least it would help me find this Ronnie.”

“Do Chrissy’s parents know about Max?” Quinn asked.

“I saw a photo of him in their bedroom. Through the open door,” Drew hastened to add. “The photo looked fairly recent, taken in the past year.”

“Where did they get it?” Gabe asked.

“Presumably from Chrissy. She may have been spying on Logan and Max.”

“Do you think Chrissy’s parents want to take their grandson?” Gabe asked.

“That was my thought as well. As you know, your brother, God bless his trusting little heart, tried to cut too many corners when he decided to have a child of his own. He did not use a donor egg to ensure that maternal feelings did not get in the way of his path to parenthood, nor did he fork out for experienced legal counsel. If he had, his lawyer would have advised him that legally, Chrissy is Max’s primary parent unless a Parental Order that transfers legal parenthood to Logan was filed with Family Court. Now, because Chrissy came here illegally, Logan probably assumed that she wouldn’t want to draw too much attention to herself or take him to court if she changed her mind. And perhaps he was right. But if Chrissy’s parents decided to take legal action, they might have a chance of taking Max if Chrissy made a will and listed them as Max’s guardians.”

“And are they? Taking legal action, I mean?” Quinn asked.

Drew shook his head. “I don’t believe so, but something caught my eye when I checked Chrissy’s file. Someone accessed her medical records three weeks ago.”

“Who?” Quinn and Gabe asked in unison.

“Colin Scott.”

“Colin?” Quinn gaped at Drew. “Why would he need to see Chrissy’s medical file?”

“Possibly for the same reason I did. Or maybe he was trying to verify the facts of her illness and treatment.”

“And the only reason Colin would need to know that was if Logan had come to him for help,” Quinn reasoned.

“Precisely.”

“Was there a next of kin listed?” Gabe inquired.

“There was—Ronald Stalk. And our Ronnie hasn’t been to work since Logan went missing.”

“Perhaps he fled after the altercation with Logan,” Quinn said.

“Perhaps,” Drew agreed.

“Unless Logan was killed by this man, which we don’t think he was,” Gabe added meaningfully, and looked to Quinn to check if she wanted to enlighten Drew, “he must be hiding somewhere. And someone is helping him.”

“And we now know who that someone is,” Drew announced.

“Let’s go,” Quinn said.

“Gabe, if you wouldn’t mind looking after Max,” Drew said. “Quinn will be safe with me.”

Gabe nodded. “Of course.”

Before Quinn left, he pulled her into his arms and held her tight. She knew he understood how she was feeling. On the one hand, she wanted to wring Logan’s neck for being so bloody stupid. But on the other hand, all she wanted to do was to find him, and hold him, and reassure him that all would be well, and they would find a way to safeguard his family.

Quinn hardly noticed the rain. Her heart beat wildly, and she muttered a prayer under her breath as Drew’s Nissan pulled away from the curb. They were either about to get some answers or realize that they were wrong and lose any hope of ever finding Logan.

SEVENTY-SEVEN

Quinn didn’t bother to ask Drew if he knew where he was going. She was sure he had already looked into Colin and had all the information he needed. She remained silent throughout the drive, her mind flitting from one scenario to another as she tried to understand what had happened to Logan. Drew parked in front of a luxury building on the Chelsea Waterfront and waited for her to get out. She looked up at the glass and chrome structure. A flat in one of these waterfront properties had to cost a bomb, but she supposed Colin and Adam could afford it. They were both successful in their work and had no dependents, so were free to live for their own pleasure.

Drew hastened his steps when an older man pushed open the door and walked out into the rainy night. He opened his umbrella and kept his eyes down as he walked down the street. Drew caught the door before it closed, and Quinn followed him into the foyer. She wondered how Adam felt about Colin helping his ex-boyfriend, or if he was even aware that Logan had come to Colin in his hour of need. Perhaps it was unwise to barge in this way and jeopardize Colin’s relationship and possibly his career.