Chapter 26 - Patricia Disappears
Patricia had left the condo at 11:18 that morning.
Security footage showed her walking calmly through the lobby.
No struggle.
No visible threat.
She entered a waiting black sedan.
Voluntarily.
Allison was furious.
“She promised me she wouldn't go anywhere alone.”
“Did she recognize the driver?” Marcus asked.
“I don't know.”
“Did she leave a note?”
“No.”
We searched her apartment.
Nothing.
Then I noticed one missing object.
An old silver picture frame.
It had held a photograph of Robert, Patricia, Allison, and me taken when I was sixteen.
I hated that picture.
Everyone was smiling.
None of us had been happy.
“Why would she take that?” Allison asked.
I looked around.
“She knew she might not come back quickly.”
Julian’s analysts traced the sedan to a private estate outside Concord.
Owned by a trust.
Beneficial owner unknown.
We arrived with federal agents.
The house was empty.
A laptop sat on the dining table.
Its screen displayed a live video.
Patricia.
She sat in another room somewhere, unharmed.
Evelyn stood behind her.
“Hello, Meredith.”
My hands curled.
“Let her go.”
Patricia interrupted.
“She didn't kidnap me.”
I stared at the screen.
“What?”
“I came willingly.”
Allison swore beside me.
“Mom!”
Patricia looked ashamed.
“Evelyn said she had information about Robert.”
“She manipulated you.”
“Yes.”
At least she admitted it.
Evelyn smiled.
“Your mother wanted answers.”
“What answers?”
Patricia looked at me.
“Whether Robert ever loved us.”
The question was so painfully pathetic that my anger softened for half a second.
Evelyn answered for her.
“He did.”
“Shut up,” I said.
Evelyn continued.
“In his way.”
“I said shut up.”
Her eyes sharpened.
“Robert protected Patricia’s name from several transactions. He could have used her accounts. He didn't.”
Patricia started crying.
“That doesn't make him a good husband,” I said.
“No.”
“Or father.”
“No.”
“What do you want?”
Evelyn leaned closer to the camera.
“A meeting.”
“We're having one.”
“In person.”
“Where?”
“I’ll send coordinates.”
“Release Patricia first.”
“No.”
Julian stepped into view.
“Then there is no meeting.”
Evelyn smiled.
“Still proud.”
“Still alive.”
“Barely, once.”
Something passed between them.
History.
I hated it.
Then Evelyn said, “Midnight tomorrow. Meredith comes alone.”
“No,” Julian replied.
I held up my hand.
“What are the terms?”
Julian stared at me.
Evelyn smiled.
“You.”
“For what?”
“Conversation.”
“That’s not a term.”
“I want to understand why Robert, Vale, and Julian all destroyed themselves around you.”
I laughed.
“Julian hasn't destroyed himself.”
“No?”
She looked genuinely amused.
“He built an empire and then risked it because someone insulted you at a wedding.”
“No.”
I stepped closer to the screen.
“He risked it because people hurt someone he loved.”
Evelyn’s smile faded.
“That distinction is why you'll lose.”
The screen went black.
Allison threw a glass against the wall.
“I hate that woman.”
I turned toward Julian.
He already knew what I was going to say.
“No.”
“I’m going.”
“No.”
“She wants me.”
“That’s exactly why you aren't going.”
“She also has my mother.”
“Who went voluntarily.”
“She’s still being held.”
Marcus interrupted.
“We can track the transmission.”
“How long?”
“Maybe hours.”
I looked at the black screen.
“No.”
Everyone turned.
“We don't wait.”
Julian frowned.
“What are you thinking?”
I picked up the silver family photograph Patricia had left behind.
“She took this because Evelyn wanted it.”
“So?”
“So Evelyn isn't just studying us.”
I stared at my sixteen-year-old face.
“She’s collecting family history.”
Allison understood first.
“She has a thing about families.”
“Yes.”
And suddenly, I knew where to look.
May you like
Not at Evelyn’s businesses.
At her past.
