by A. Zavarelli
“I’m sure he’s just in flight, Brighton,” Nicole tried to reassure me. “He probably wanted to get back home to you as soon as possible.”
I accepted her words because I needed to believe them. But in my gut, I knew it wasn’t true. Ryland always texted me before his flight.
“Hey, look,” Nicole said. “Why don’t I grab some cupcakes and come over so we can work on the nursery until he gets home?”
“Okay,” I agreed.
I didn’t want to admit how much I needed her there. My nerves were completely shot, and I was grateful for the distraction.
“I’ll be there in an hour,” she said. “Just sit down and relax until I get there.”
Five o’ clock came and went. Then six, and seven, and nine. It was now eleven at night, and there was still no word from Ryland. Nicole and I had worked on the nursery and gorged on cupcakes and takeout. But I couldn’t hold back my fears any longer.
“I have to call the police,” I said. “There’s something wrong, Nicole. I can feel it.”
She bit her lip and nodded. “I think you’re right, Brighton. Maybe they can track his phone or something.”
The police arrived an hour later. The officer that showed up didn’t seem all that invested in Ryland’s whereabouts and even went as far to suggest he was probably just drunk in a bar somewhere.
I told him that wasn’t Ryland. That he never did anything like this. I told him about his meeting with Robert Burton and Alex’s threat from the charity gala months before. The officer jotted everything down on his notepad and explained the procedures. It hadn’t been long enough to officially declare him missing, but given who he was and the previous threat, they were going to look into it.
And then they just left me there. Alone and without my husband.
***
Three days had come and gone.
I was going out of my fucking mind. I couldn’t stop crying, and I couldn’t keep anything down. Matt, Nicole, Norma, and Ted all kept silent vigil in the living room, waiting for any shred of news.
Ryland had officially been declared missing. The police hadn’t told me anything, but they’d come and torn the house apart searching for clues. I’d been questioned a thousand times, things I didn’t even know. And I hated myself for not knowing more about Ryland’s company. Why didn’t I know these things? I should have known these things. I was supposed to be helping him, and I couldn’t even answer their questions.
I’d sent Mick to look for him, and he didn’t protest. He said Ryland could be pissed whenever he came back, but right now, he was his top priority. I was grateful and spent every waking second thinking of something else I could do. Something else that I’d missed.
I even tried to contact Alex Burton. I left him several hate filled messages, but he wouldn’t return my calls. All of the light that filled my life was suddenly turning bleak. My heart grew weak in my chest, and I felt like I wouldn’t be able to go on. I couldn’t lose him. There was just no way. We were meant to be together. It couldn’t end this way.
There was a knock at the door, and Norma got up to answer it while Nicole tried to get me to drink some water. Another detective came into the room, one I didn’t recognize.
“Brighton Bennett?” he asked.
“That’s me.” I stood up on shaky legs. “Do you have any news?”
“I’m going to need you to come with me,” he said.
Matt was at my side a moment later, glaring at the man and his tone of voice. “What’s this about?” he demanded.
“We have some questions for Mrs. Bennett,” the detective answered.
“You’ve already asked her questions,” Matt said. “Repeatedly. She doesn’t need to go anywhere. This is her home, and as you can see, she’s very pregnant.”
The detective didn’t seem to care. “She doesn’t have a choice at this point.”
“It’s okay, Matt,” I said. “I want to help. I’ll do whatever they ask.”
“I’m coming with you,” he stated.
Nicole gave me a quick hug and smoothed down my hair. “I’ll stay by the phone in case anyone calls,” she said. “I’ll let you know if I hear anything at all, okay?”
“Okay.”
I followed the detective out the door and into his car, grateful to have Matt by my side. Whatever was going on, I had a feeling it didn’t bode well for me.
***
“I told you he was in Chicago,” I said for the fifth time.
“That is what you said,” the detective agreed, leaning across the table to watch me carefully. “But that wasn’t true, Mrs. Bennett.”
“What are you talking about?” I hissed. “He had a business trip to Chicago that day. With Robert Burton. How many fucking times do I have to say it?”
I was losing my patience, but I didn’t care. They were wasting their time asking me these stupid questions over and over instead of looking for Ryland. I was beginning to hate them all.
“Ryland scheduled a flight that morning, but he never took it,” the detective answered in a neutral tone. “His driver dropped him off in front of his building, and that was the last time he was seen.”
Bile rose up in my throat as I clutched my arms around myself, shaking my head. “No, that’s not right,” I rasped. “You have to be mistaken. He went straight from our house. And then all that stuff was on the news, so I know he met with Alex Burton.”
“That meeting with Alex Burton took place two weeks ago,” the detective answered again.
I wanted to believe that he was lying to me. That he just misunderstood what was happening. But I could tell by his eyes he wasn’t. Which only meant one thing. Ryland had been backed into a corner by Alex Burton. But how? And why didn’t he say anything to me?
“I understand that you also signed off on a sizable life insurance policy on your husband the night before he went missing.”
I stared at him in shock as his words sunk in.
“Oh my God.” Disgust rolled through me. “You think I… you seriously think…”
I couldn’t even get the words out. They were too vile. Too horrible.
“I would never…” I shook my head adamantly, the tears flowing freely. “I love him so much. I just want him back. He’s everything to me. Please…” I sobbed. “You just have to get him back for me.”
The detective watched me have a complete mental breakdown as if it was some sort of a test before he nodded in conclusion.
“I know this is very upsetting, Mrs. Bennett,” he said in a gentle tone. “But you have to understand how it looks. You’re telling us he was threatened by Alex Burton, and yet he willingly entered into a business partnership with him two weeks ago. And then you just so happen to sign off on a life insurance policy the night before he goes missing. You have to understand how that looks.”
“How it looks is that Alex is setting this up,” I yelled. “And while you’re in here accusing me of things I would never do, my husband could be in danger…”
We didn’t get any further, because the next moment, there was a knock on the door of the room I was being held in.
“Mrs. Bennett.” A sharply dressed woman with shrewd eyes stepped into the room. “I don’t want you to say another word.”
“Who are you?” I asked as the detective gave a frustrated sigh.
“My name is Edith Rickard, and I’m your newly appointed attorney.”
I blinked in confusion. “Do I need an attorney?”
The detective folded his hands across the table and shrugged. “That’s up to you, Mrs. Bennett. But in the interest of helping your husband…”
“Don’t you play that card,” Edith barked. “You’ve been badgering my client. Correction…” Her eyes trailed over my body. “My very pregnant and obviously distraught client for two hours straight when she is clearly the victim in this case. Now, do you have anything to charge her with?”
“No,” the detective replied flatly.
“Very well, then come with
me, Mrs. Bennett. We’re done here.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Brighton
I smoothed my fingers over the necklace Ryland bought me for our wedding, remembering his words.
Keep it close to your heart, and we’ll always be in sync.
I had to hold back a sob as I wondered if his heart still beat. I couldn’t feel it. I couldn’t feel him. Where was he?
Edith had been working nonstop, pouring over everything on Ryland’s computer, looking for clues as to what could have happened. She told me she suspected that Alex Burton was blackmailing him somehow. That it didn’t make any sense for Ryland to partner with him when his company was doing so well otherwise. But we needed proof, and that was going to take time.
I left it in her hands and did what little I could. It wasn’t much. It wasn’t enough. But it was all I could do to focus on each task as though they were the most important thing in the world. As though they would each bring me one step closer to having Ryland home.
The house was still filled with people, but I’d never felt more alone.
Mick texted me updates, but so far there hadn’t been anything of use. He’d gone to Chicago, but now that I knew Ryland never made it to Chicago, it seemed pointless for him to be there. I told him to come back this morning, and we would figure out where to go from here.
Then my phone chimed, and my chest tightened when I saw the name.
Brayden.
He’d been ignoring me for weeks, and it was odd for him to be contacting me now. I glanced around the room and realized I didn’t want to read this in a room full of people, so I stepped out onto the back porch while they planned out more search efforts.
I swiped the screen and scrolled through my messages.
I need you to meet me.
It’s about Ryland.
My heart skipped as I pressed send on Brayden’s name. But it just rang out. I tried him twice more before I gave up and started tapping out a text. Before I could even send it, another one came through. With an address and a time, and nothing more.
I stared at the phone in confusion. This meant Brayden was in San Francisco, but why? The horrifying realization that he might have had something to do with Ryland’s disappearance haunted me. I tried to call him again, but he didn’t answer.
Another text came through a moment later.
Don’t bring anyone with you or tell them where you’re going.
He’s in danger.
Frustration and relief both warred inside of me. If he was in danger, it meant that he was still alive. That there was still time. But I didn’t understand why Brayden would be helping him if that’s even what this was. Or why he wasn’t answering his phone.
I glanced over my shoulder and looked through the window at all of our friends gathered around the sofa, working hard to try to find Ryland. It was stupid for me to go alone to this address. I texted Brayden back.
I can’t come alone.
A reply came through almost immediately.
You have to. Or else he’s dead.
Just trust me.
Panic engulfed me. I didn’t want to believe those words. And could I even trust Brayden at this point? I had no idea. But this was my only ray of hope. Every other lead we had was dead. And I couldn’t just ignore it.
The time on my phone told me I had an hour to get to the address on my screen. It wasn’t a lot of time, considering I was on Belvedere Island, but I would have to make it work. The only problem was sneaking out of the house without anyone noticing. There was no way they would let me go anywhere with the shape I’d been in over the last few days.
I walked back in and gave Nicole a smile when she looked up at me with a worried expression.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah.” My voice was shaky and totally unconvincing. “I’m just going to go upstairs and lie down for a nap.”
Nicole stood up to help me. She was like a mother hen, hovering over me and trying to do everything for me. It was incredibly sweet, but right now, I needed her attention elsewhere.
“I’m fine, Nicole,” I told her. “I can manage on my own. It makes me feel better knowing that you’re all down here looking through everything.”
She nodded and bit her lip in clear frustration. We hadn’t found anything in Ryland’s records, which didn’t really surprise me. He had a lot of files on a variety of different people, including Alex Burton, but none of them gave away the really shady details. He always seemed to keep those to himself somehow.
“Well, just let me know if you need anything,” Nicole said. “I’ll be right down here.”
“Thanks.” I nodded and scurried from the room as quickly as I could go. I was seven months pregnant, and everything about me was slowing down.
I walked up the stairs so I didn’t arouse any suspicion and went straight to Ryland’s office. The keys to his jaguar were in his key box, complete with a label and all. It fractured what little was left of my strength. Only my husband would put a label on keys to a Jaguar.
I hoped that I could help him. I hoped that Brayden wasn’t deceiving me.
I walked out onto the balcony and took the stairs that led down to the back yard. Luckily the garage was far enough away from the sitting room that I didn’t think they would hear me.
I felt ridiculous slipping into his Jaguar. Ryland didn’t like me driving anywhere, so I didn’t. I was fine with that. I felt safe riding with Ted, and I’d grown used to it.
The interior smelled of leather and cinnamon, and I closed my eyes to inhale. I needed him to be safe. I needed him to be okay. I didn’t know what I would do if he wasn’t.
The car started with a quiet purr, and I slipped out of the gate without anyone noticing, at least as far as I could tell. The drive was long and tense. Every mile that passed felt like ten. Traffic was thick in the city this time of day, and it took me forever to get to the address.
I frowned when I realized it was a warehouse. There wasn’t much around us, and I’d be highly surprised if the Jag was even still sitting on the street when I came back out. But none of that mattered. The only thing that mattered was that my husband might be in there. Or at least, Brayden might know where he was.
Still, I hesitated. I didn’t have a good feeling about this.
What the hell was Brayden doing in a warehouse in this part of the city? Everything about this screamed trouble. I tried to think of what was logical. What was best for me to do. I could call the detective and tell him I was here. But what if Brayden was right? What if someone was holding Ryland and they hurt him when they saw I’d called the cops?
I didn’t know what else to do. So I sent Brayden another text.
I’m here. Is it safe to come in?
My phone chimed almost immediately with an affirmative answer. It didn’t reassure me in the slightest. I wasn’t a complete idiot though. I knew there was no way I could go in there without some kind of backup plan, just in case.
So I texted Mick. He was due to land right about this time if I remembered correctly. I didn’t know what to tell him, so I forwarded Brayden’s texts to him and told him I was going to check it out. And then I decided to leave my phone in the car and turned on so he could track it if he needed to.
I stepped out of the car with clenched hands. It was broad daylight, and still, the thought of going into this warehouse scared the crap out of me. I wanted to demand that Brayden come out. I decided that I wouldn’t actually go inside until I saw his face. So I started for the front doors.
They wouldn’t open, and there was no response to my knock.
I sighed in frustration as I walked around the building, looking for another way in. I found another door, just as a chilling voice spoke from behind me.
“Hello, Brighton.”
I spun around to be met with cold, black eyes. Eyes that were familiar, and it took me a moment to realize why. They were from the photographs in Brayden’s file. Alfredo Zucco.
“What are you do
ing?” I demanded.
He smiled, revealing a gold tooth.
“We haven’t met yet, you and I,” the man answered. “But I’m sure you might have heard of me. My name is Alfredo.”
I felt like I was going to throw up. I wanted to run, but somehow I knew I wouldn’t get very far. So I tried to stall while I came up with another plan.
“I know who you are,” I said coolly. “Where is Brayden?”
“You’ve created a bit of a media spectacle here,” he said with an amused laugh. “So it’s been a little difficult to get in touch with you until now. Brayden’s just inside.”
“I want to see him,” I demanded. “Tell him to come out here.”
Alfredo took a menacing step forward and grabbed me by the arm with a painful grip. “You’re just like your father,” he sneered. “Don’t know your fucking place. But you will before the day is through you Irish cunt.”
He raised his hand and backhanded me, completely shocking the hell out of me. I didn’t have time to fight before he started dragging me towards the door. I tried to scream, but he put his greasy hand over my mouth and grabbed me by the hair.
I clawed at his face with my free hand and raised my knee, aiming for his groin. I missed, and his eyes flared with hatred so fierce I couldn’t help but cower.
“I will punch you right in your fat fucking stomach,” he threatened. “Just try me, bitch.”
I shook my head and pleaded from behind his hand, dragging in what little air he allowed me. I realized that it was already too late. I’d fucked up coming here, and now I needed to be smart. Or he was going to hurt my baby.
The door opened, and he shoved me inside where I met the eyes of another man I recognized. The same one that had been on the street the day Nicole and I went shopping. I’d thought Ryland had sent him, but I was obviously dead wrong. They each grabbed one of my arms and walked me through the dark warehouse, leading me to a stairwell.
