Chapter 6 - A Plan to Disappear
Richard read the name on the passport twice.
Maya Rose Vance.
His daughter’s first name.
Victoria’s last name.
“Where did this come from?” he asked.
Victoria pushed past Daniel to see it.
Her shock looked genuine.
“That is not mine.”
“It has your photograph.”
“Someone is setting me up.”
Richard almost laughed.
Instead he lifted the second passport.
Marcus Vale.
Then the third.
Victoria Vance.
All issued recently.
Daniel examined them. “They look authentic.”
Richard’s anger became cold and focused.
“Call the police.”
Victoria’s eyes widened. “Richard.”
“Call them.”
“Do you have any idea what this will do to your company? Your name? Every newspaper will make this a circus.”
“My daughter comes before my name.”
Victoria took a step toward him. “Think.”
“I am.”
Maya woke in his arms and began to fuss.
Richard carried her to the bed and sat beside her. “Daddy’s here.”
She reached for the black pouch.
“No plane,” she whispered.
Richard felt as if someone had punched him.
“What plane, sweetheart?”
Victoria moved quickly. “She heard us discussing the honeymoon.”
Maya shook her head.
“Vicky say new house. No Daddy.”
Richard looked up.
Victoria’s lips parted.
Ella covered her mouth.
Maya continued with the brutal honesty of a toddler.
“Daddy gone work. Maya go plane.”
Richard stood.
“Get out of this room.”
“Richard—”
“Now.”
Victoria’s face twisted. “You’re going to believe baby talk over me?”
“I believe fear.”
She left.
Police were twenty minutes away.
Daniel received a trace report on the anonymous text. The number belonged to a prepaid phone last pinged near the old greenhouse at the far edge of the Sterling property.
Richard knew only one person who used that greenhouse regularly.
Mrs. Hoffman.
The housekeeper.
But Mrs. Hoffman had supposedly gone to visit her sister two days earlier.
Richard handed Maya to Ella.
“Stay here. Lock the door. Do not open it unless it’s me or the police.”
“Where are you going?”
“The greenhouse.”
Daniel followed him outside.
The night air was cold.
Halfway across the garden, they saw a light flicker behind the greenhouse glass.
Richard pushed open the door.
May you like
Mrs. Hoffman was lying on the floor.
Beside her was Marcus Vale’s phone.
