Page 110 of The Quiet After The Fall

I fire off a text to Sawyer once I’m at the end of the driveway.

He’s gone. Cleaned out the office and took off. I called him, but it didn’t really get me anywhere.

Her reply comes fast.

Sawyer: Shit. Where do you think he’s going?

No clue but I’m heading back soon.

Sawyer: Okay. Be safe. I love you.

Those three words bring warmth to my chest. The house behind me may not be home, but I have Sawyer now. Home is wherever she is.

I love you too.

I sit at the end of the driveway longer than I need to, thumb on the wheel, solidifying my plan.

Richard’s got that hidden account, a passport, and a head start. You can’t serve papers to someone who’s missing. Lawyers can build whatever cases they want and it won’t mean a damn thing if there’s nobody standing there when they’re ready to use it.

Then it hits me, and I actually laugh out loud.

August twenty-fifth.

If I know anything about my father, it’s that he would crawl out of whatever hole he’s in for a performance. A tent on his lawn, his name on the invitations, all of Ashford watching. Even a rocky relationship with Moretti won’t keep him from playing the part of dutiful father.

He’ll come. He won’t be able to help himself.

This could work. I pull out onto the road and call Sawyer. She’ll have to be on board and we’ll need some help.

Chapter 29

Sawyer

I’m finally back at my apartment after too many days away. It’s funny how my small space isn’t even much bigger than the guesthouse but it feels huge. I didn’t realize how much I missed the comfort of little things like my favorite mug or the water pressure in my shower until I was without them.

I’ve lost track of the days since Knox talked to his father. Richard has been hiding out somewhere. We’ve been too busy meeting with my lawyers to worry about finding him. He’ll show up in a few days, Richard never misses an opportunity to show he’s won.

My lawyers referred us to a detective, who will be passing the knowledge over to the district attorney, who will most likely decide there’s enough evidence to charge Richard. It’s a lot. More than I understand. My lawyers seem to think we’re on the right track and with this new evidence, not only will Wonder World be liable for the accident, but Aldrich Development as well. Problem is, as far as Knox says, they’re broke. Richard is hiding their funds in that shell account, or most likely, multiple shell accounts.

A couple days after our meeting with the detective, I sit across from Gia at the diner outside Ashford, staring at the burger I thought I wanted, unable to take a bite. I manage to eat a few fries, but my stomach’s in knots. Can’t imagine why.

“Not hungry?” Gia asks between bites of her own burger.

“Eh,” I say. “I have a hard time eating when I’m stressed.”

“I’m the opposite. I eat anything and everything.” She shoves three fries into her mouth at once. “I thought things were calming down?”

“They are…kind of. It feels like the quiet before the storm right now, though. Has me on edge. That, and Knox has been busier than normal.”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you—” She reaches across and steals my Coke, taking a sip, even though she has a full glass of water in front of her. “He called me the other day to ask me to help with his plan.”

“Really? He must not have realized I’d already talked to you about it. What did he say?”

She sucks in a breath and proceeds to tell me their entire conversation. Some of it I’ve known, since Knox and I planned together, but other details were new to me. I’m not sure how I feel about getting Gia mixed up in this again, but she’s excited to help.

When the check comes, I grab it, slapping my card down before she can object. “You’ve done so much. At least let me buy you a burger.”

Gia laughs and flags the waitress before I pay. “In that case, can I get a chocolate shake to go?”