Page 81 of Coordinates of Death

Even if it meant facing a truth she dreaded.

Seven minutes later, Aurora took Ross Hunt’s steps two at a time and glanced over her shoulder. Her police escort had parked in front of her father’s house. Good. She’d rely on them to be her eyes and ears right now, as her mind was consumed with her dad’s possible betrayal. She returned her attention to the reason for her impromptu visit and burst the door open without even knocking.

“Dad! Where are you?” Aurora kicked off her boots and marched down the corridor in search of him.

The television blaring from the family room revealed his location. She turned left and stormed inside. “Dad, I need to talk to you.”

He startled out of his slumbering state and jerked forward in his recliner. “Huh? What’s going on, Aurora?” He grabbed the remote and turned off the television.

She positioned herself in front of him, hands on her hips. “Tell me something. Did you have anything to do with Anna’s abduction?”

His eyes bulged, jaw dropping. “What? Why would you ask that after all these years? After everything we’ve been through?”

“Retired Constable Stevenson seems to think you were withholding information. Well, were you? Don’t lie to me. I can read body language.”

The sixty-five-year-old’s lips quivered, tears welling. He slumped back in his chair, his demeanor answering the question.

It was true.

Aurora staggered backward and dropped to her knees. “Dad, what did you do?”

“I guess it’s time to tell you the whole truth.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, then swiped at an escaped tear. “I am responsible, but not in the way you think.”

Aurora braced herself for the truth.

“You see, I had a serious gambling problem that came to a head just after Anna was born. I lost our savings. I couldn’t help myself. Your mother tried everything to get me to stop. She even threatened to take you and Anna away from me.” He took a breath, averting his gaze.

“What happened? How did your gambling problem lead to Anna’s abduction?”

“To pay off what I lost, I contacted someone to get fast money.”

“You mean an illegal moneylender?”

He nodded.

She rubbed her sweaty palms on her uniform pants. “But why take that risk? They’re all dangerous.”

He slid off the leather seat, sinking to his knees in front of her. “I was so stupid. I realize that. When I couldn’t pay it back, the loan shark kidnapped Anna to warn me he could get to my family and to pay him what I owed.”

“And you couldn’t?”

“I remortgaged the house to wipe my slate clean.” He bit his lip, shoulders drooping in remorse. “I gave him his money and demanded my daughter back. He promised he would, but five hours after that, Anna was found washed up on the shore. We heard from friends nearby that the police were there. We dropped you off at your grandmother’s, then rushed down, and that’s when we saw the unthinkable.” He burst into tears. “Our baby girl’s lifeless body on the beach. I was too late. I still have nightmares.”

“And let me guess. It was too much for Mom and she snapped?”

Another sob and he nodded.

“Dad, why didn’t you tell the police? They could have arrested the man. Why let him get away with killing my sister?” Aurora failed to keep the anger out of her voice.

“He claimed it was an accident.” Her father wiped the tears away with the back of his hand. “And warned me he’d kill you if I said anything. I couldn’t take that chance, and I wasn’t about to lose another daughter. Before you ask, he never used his name. I knew him only as The Payer.”

“Dad, your gambling habit stole my sister from me, and you led me to believe it was all my fault!”

He took Aurora’s hands in his. “I’m sorry, baby girl. Can you ever forgive me?”

She recoiled from his touch and sprang upright. “I don’t want to see you ever again!” Aurora bolted out of the room, clumsily stepping into her boots before bursting through the front door into the winter night.

Even the sting of the cold air on her face couldn’t slap the shock out of her after her father’s confession. She needed to get as far away from him as possible.