Chương 10
“That sounds like helping.”
“It isn’t forgiveness.”
“I didn’t ask for that.”
“Good.”
We were quiet for a moment.
Then she whispered, “I’m sorry.”
I looked at Madison, who had fallen asleep again with her head on Connor’s shoulder.
Connor sat perfectly still so he would not wake her.
“You should be,” I said.
Tiffany did not argue.
That mattered.
“I’m sending you Harrison’s office number,” I said.
“Okay.”
“Call him and tell him exactly where the folder is.”
“Okay.”
“Do not remove anything.”
“I won’t.”
“Do not warn Bradley.”
She hesitated.
“Tiffany.”
“I won’t.”
I ended the call and sent Harrison’s number.
Then I walked back toward the children.
Connor looked up.
“Are we still going?”
“Yes.”
This time, I said it without hesitation.
A boarding announcement sounded from the next gate.
People stood too early and formed a crooked line that immediately blocked the walkway.
I sat beside Connor.
Madison’s head was still on his shoulder.
“You can move her,” I said.
“She’ll wake up.”
“Your arm is going numb.”
“It already is.”
He said it with such solemn resignation that I smiled.
Then my phone vibrated.
Not Harrison.
Bradley.
A photograph loaded before the text beneath it.
It showed the inside of the penthouse bedroom I had slept in for nine years.
Our old safe stood open in the closet wall.
Bradley’s message appeared below it.
You took the files.
I stared at the empty safe.
Then another message arrived.
Where are they, Sarah?
A third followed almost immediately.
And what did you tell Harrison?
I did not answer him.
I opened Harrison’s contact and sent the three screenshots.
His reply came almost immediately.
Do not engage.
Then another message appeared.
Did you ever remove anything from that safe?
I typed back.
No.
He called.
I stepped away from the children again, but not as far this time.
“I never touched the safe,” I said.
“Did you know there were files in it?”
“I knew Bradley kept business documents there.”
“Did you have the combination?”
“Years ago.”
“Years ago?”
“He changed it after he said Connor had seen him open it.”
“Did Connor actually know the combination?”
“I doubt it.”
“Does anyone else have access to the penthouse?”
“Building staff, technically.”
“Cleaning service?”
“Yes.”
“Family?”
“Margaret had an emergency key.”
“Anyone else?”
“Brittany used to.”
I watched Connor straighten Madison’s rabbit where it had slipped onto the floor.
“Harrison, what files does Bradley think are missing?”
“That is the useful question.”
“You sound pleased.”
“I’m not pleased.”
“You sound a little pleased.”
“I am professionally interested.”
“That is lawyer language for pleased.”
“Maybe.”
I rubbed my forehead.
“What do I do?”
“Nothing.”
“That seems to be your favorite instruction today.”
“It is an underrated strategy.”
“He’s accusing me of stealing documents.”
“He is accusing you by text, which I appreciate.”
“You appreciate it.”
“Very much.”
“Why?”
“Because people under pressure often help by writing things down.”
I looked back at Bradley’s messages.
The anger in them suddenly seemed less frightening and more revealing.
“What if the files are connected to Harbor Meridian?”
“That is my assumption.”
“And if they are?”
“Then Bradley’s concern about who has them may tell us more than the files themselves.”
I sat on the edge of an empty chair.
“What could be in there?”
“Original formation documents.”
“Loan papers.”
“Possibly.”
“Education account paperwork.”
“Possibly.”
“You keep saying possibly.”
“Because I would like to remain employed.”
Despite everything, I smiled.
Then Harrison’s voice sharpened.
“Sarah, listen carefully.”
“I’m listening.”
“If Bradley asks where you are, do not answer.”
“He knows we’re at the airport.”
“He knows you intended to go to the airport.”
“That’s basically the same thing.”
“No, it isn’t.”
I looked around the terminal.
“Do you think he’s coming here?”
“I think he is frightened.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“It is the only one I have.”
“Harrison.”
“Frightened people sometimes seek control.”
A cold line moved down my back.
“He wouldn’t hurt us.”
“I did not say he would.”
“He has never hit me.”
“I did not say he had.”
I hated the way he kept refusing to overstate.
It made the caution feel more serious.
“What are you telling me?”
“I’m telling you not to meet him privately today.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“Good.”
“And if he comes here?”
“Stay in public, involve airport security if necessary, and do not leave the children alone.”
I looked at Connor.
He had heard enough of my tone to know the conversation was not ordinary.
“Okay.”
“There’s something else.”
I almost laughed again.
“There is always something else.”
“The bank’s fraud team froze the outgoing transfer from this morning.”
Relief hit so quickly that my knees weakened.
“The twenty-five thousand?”
“Yes.”
“It’s stopped?”
“For now.”
“What about the previous hundred thousand?”
“Still under review.”
“But the twenty-five is safe.”
“It has not completed.”
I pressed my hand over my mouth.
For several seconds, I could not speak.
My father’s voice returned so clearly that I nearly looked beside me.
Make sure those kids have choices.
“Harrison.”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank the analyst who noticed the authority mismatch.”
“Who?”
“A woman named Denise Patel.”
“I don’t know her.”
“You don’t need to.”
“I want to.”
He paused.
“That can wait.”
“Fine.”
“The larger concern is what Bradley may do once he learns the transfer failed.”
“Does he know?”
“Not from us.”
“He’ll find out.”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Could be soon.”
I looked at the boarding screen again.
Thirty-seven minutes.
“Can he stop us from boarding?”
“Not through the current parenting order.”
“Can he file something?”
“Eventually, yes.”
“Today?”
“He could try.”
My throat tightened.
“But?”
“But courts do not materialize emergency orders because a parent becomes unhappy with an agreement he signed that morning.”
“That was almost comforting.”
“Almost is my specialty.”
I glanced toward the children.
Madison had woken and was asking Connor whether clouds could get lost.
May you like
He was answering with the grave patience of someone explaining international law.
“I’m going to stay near the gate,” I said.
