Chapter 7 - The Missing Seventeen Minutes

Thomas did not move.

"I wasn't there."

Nico looked at him.

"That's your face."

"I know what my face looks like. I was in Manhattan at two o'clock."

Detective Park's eyes narrowed. "Can you prove it?"

"I had lunch with three attorneys at Mercer & Grant. Ask them. Check cameras. Check my car."

The figure resembled Thomas in height, build, coat, even the slight way he favored his left leg.

"Play it slower."

The figure entered, handed Gavin the object, and turned.

For less than a second, the man's right hand crossed the camera.

"Stop."

A heavy gold ring sat on the man's right little finger.

"I haven't worn jewelry since my divorce."

Sienna whispered, "Gavin's uncle wears a pinky ring."

"Name?"

"Raymond Cole. Marjorie's younger brother. He worked private security years ago."

"He also looks enough like Thomas from a distance to fool a camera."

Marcus pulled up a staff access log.

"Someone entered through the service gate using a temporary contractor pass at 1:58. The pass was issued to Northline Civil Consulting."

"The dead company."

And now a man using a dead company's access credentials to enter Nico's estate.

"Gavin used me."

"He asked about your travel schedule three times this month," Thomas continued. "I thought he was worried about Sienna's delivery."

"What did you tell him?"

"That you were supposed to be in Boston today."

Sienna understood at the same moment.

"They knew Dad wasn't supposed to be here."

"Which means whatever they planned today depended on him being gone."

"Aunt Bri said Nonno wouldn't come," she mumbled.

"What else did Aunt Bri say?"

"She said after Mommy signs, we go on a trip."

"What trip?"

"Daddy said Canada."

"Did Daddy say when?" Sienna asked.

"Before baby comes home."

"We need border alerts on Gavin, Sabrina, Marjorie, and Raymond Cole."

One vehicle had just forced the barrier and escaped.

A silver sedan disappeared down the wooded road.

"Who was in the sitting room?"

"Gavin, Sabrina, Marjorie. Two officers were on the way."

"Which one left?"

Marcus enlarged the image captured at the gate.

Sienna's breath caught.

Marjorie was driving.

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