by Robin Mahle
“Thank you, Claire; thank you. Charlie thinks of you like a daughter, you know. Goodbye, dear.”
Margaret’s words left a sting. After everything that had happened and the last thing she said to him yesterday morning, well, she wasn’t really feeling like she meant much to Charlie anymore. Something had changed in him. Maybe the money had been too big a lure. His attempt at reconciliation, if that was what he meant by the messages, that would help them to rebuild. She needed him to help navigate this impossible situation, but she was growing worried over his absence. He would never be out of touch with Margaret for long.
Within minutes, she’d slicked back her short hair and dressed in something that would pass for Saturday office attire. Two quick calls to the kids, letting them know where she was headed and that Colin was golfing, and she was out the door.
The drive was much quicker in weekend traffic and she’d arrived in the near-record time of twenty-five minutes. Claire pulled into the parking garage and headed up to the lobby.
The security guard at the desk was someone she’d only seen a few times. Claire didn’t often work weekends. “Good morning.”
The guard was much less friendly than Jim or his daytime counterpart, Erik. He simply grunted his acknowledgement and Claire walked on.
The seventh floor was dark and the silence played on her thoughts. The foreboding sense that she would not find Charlie here further amplified the fear that was building. His messages sounded remorseful and she wondered if there would be a way past all of this. Still, he had been a part of the scam that brought about this entire situation. How could she forgive him for threatening to destroy her family?
The corridor lights flickered on as they sensed the heat from her body. Claire continued towards Charlie’s office. On arrival, the sight before her sent a tremor through her body. Everything’s gone. She pulled his desk drawers open. They were empty. His files on the credenza were gone too. Nothing of any personal effects remained. The picture of his son and his granddaughter and the one of Margaret; they were all gone.
Claire stared at the empty office as if in a stupor. Unable to move, unable to think, except for a single thought that exploded in her mind. Charlie’s dead. After the messages and voicemail she’d received from him, it seemed the only conclusion, however unbelievable. No, it can’t be. He hadn’t been home—that much was clear—and his things were gone. Every last piece of Charlie had been completely wiped from the space. She tried to grasp the minute possibility that he had decided to quit and that was all this was. That still didn’t explain why Margaret hadn’t heard from him.
The chilling thought sent further ideas to mind, ideas that Charlie had taken precautions against Winters before he’d decided to try and reconcile with Claire. He must have kept copies of the photos, but for what purpose if not to destroy her? The chances that those pictures were stored on a flash drive somewhere were pretty high. But by all accounts, there was nothing in the office. His CPU was still there. Might they be on his computer? No way to know the password and it would only lead to questions directed at her if she’d tried to log in at eleven o’clock on a Saturday morning, considering Charlie was already gone.
“Claire?”
Startled, Claire bolted straight up. “Mr. Winters?” Calm down, calm down. “I’m sorry, but you just frightened me to death. I didn’t think anyone was in today.”
“What are you doing in Charlie’s office? I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news, actually, Charlie has decided to quit.” Evan seemed to search for her reaction. “I came down to collect anything personal that he might have left.” He glanced around the empty office. “But I see he already retrieved his belongings.”
“I don’t understand. He just quit?” She wanted him to weave deeper into the lie she was sure it was.
“He and I had a rather lengthy discussion last night and it seemed he wasn’t particularly happy about his biggest account being taken from him after all. There were some harsh words exchanged, and yes, I’m afraid he quit. Would you like to come up to my office and have a coffee? I can imagine this must be quite a surprise for you.”
A growing alarm was sweeping over her. Had he known about the messages from Charlie? Did he feel Charlie would betray him to the FBI? The possibility that Evan Winters was a far more dangerous man than even Charlie had believed now seemed very real. “Yes, I think I’d like to sit down for a coffee.” Her instincts demanded that she stay in his good graces.
***
“Thank you.” Claire grasped the cup, grazing Evan’s hand, which seemed to hold on for too long.
“You’re most welcome.” Evan continued to hold her eyes until he sat down in the chair next to her. “You never did mention why it was you were in Charlie’s office, Claire. Is there something I should know? I do hope you weren’t planning on confronting him about the photos. I told you I would take care of that.”
She reflected for a moment, considering the best approach. “I got a call from Margaret this morning; Charlie’s wife?”
“Yes, I know Margaret.” His cool reply brought the ambient temperature down a few degrees.
“She was concerned because he hadn’t made it home last night after being called to come down here. Margaret said he was asked to find some old files for the FBI. Anyway, I told her I would come down and check things out. But of course, when I arrived, Charlie’s office was already cleaned out. That’s when you came in.”
“So, Charlie didn’t make it home after he left here? That does seem strange. But then, he was in quite a state. I suppose I could have handled the situation better. He and I have been friends for a long time and I know how proud he was. There must be a logical reason. I’m sure Margaret is very worried, but I wonder if she might know of any places he frequented. Maybe that’s where she’ll find him.”
“I’m not sure he frequented any place. Charlie wasn’t the type to go out boozing while his wife was at home. Why was he really here last night, Evan?” Her mouth went dry, fearing she might have crossed the line, but she was growing tired of this game. Charlie was gone.
Evan glanced towards the window. The sun’s rays were pouring in as it continued its ascent into the now-clear sky. “You know, Claire, you’ve been through a great deal lately. The Ms. Graves situation, your husband losing his job, and now this? I can’t imagine how you must be feeling right now.”
He placed his hand on her knee. “I’d like to keep my word as it relates to our delicate situation, and so I’m sure this seems entirely inappropriate, but you seem so exquisitely frail and it pains me deeply. You must know by now, Claire, that I’ve grown quite fond of you, despite the feelings being unrequited. I’d do anything to make your suffering go away.” He gently pressed his fingers into the soft cartilage of her knee and held her eyes in a searing gaze.
Claire started to feel queasy from the surge of adrenaline rising in her. The dawning of the idea that, although Evan Winters was a very persuasive man, he had a weakness and it was her. She would have to exploit that weakness. He was drawn to her and perhaps even had feelings for her, in whatever form a man such as Evan Winters could have feelings. The advantage was hers. It would be dangerous, but she could not pull away now. Her true intentions would be discovered. If she played along, maybe she could put an end to it. That had been her plan all along in an abstract sort of way. Only now, it seemed it could come to fruition at an exponentially quicker rate than she’d expected, without the too-late offer of help from Charlie, whose whereabouts remained a mystery.
Claire parted her lips into a gentle smile, calling on tears to solidify her assumed “frail state.” She placed her hand over his, which still clutched her knee. “I think I’d like your help very much, Evan.”
CHAPTER 15
THERE WAS NOTHING left for Claire to do, except admit her indiscretion to Colin. His support would be vital if she was to proceed. Whether or not he would stay by her side remained to be seen, but with Charlie gone, there was no telling what would happen no
w. Better to confront him before he became the unwitting recipient of a few telling photos, or worse. He wouldn’t forgive her for letting him find out that way. Of course, she wasn’t sure he would forgive her at all.
It was what Agent Sanchez had wanted all along, her cozying up to Evan, but she hadn’t been prepared to go the distance. Now, the game was dramatically changed. If there was any doubt as to Evan’s culpability in Charlie’s disappearance, it had completely evaporated. His evasive words and the meaning beneath them spoke to her loud and clear.
It wouldn’t be long before Margaret would have no choice but to formally file a missing person’s report. Claire was convinced that, in the end, Charlie wanted to do the right thing and she believed that it had cost him his life. She would do this now to protect her family.
Claire had already left the office. Her excuse was that she had to get back home to the kids. It was her only viable justification.
Agent Sanchez hadn’t known that Charlie was planning to blackmail her; no one had. The next course of action would be to inform him that Charlie was missing. Blackmail, a heated argument, an empty office. It wouldn’t take much more to convince Sanchez that it was adding up to a very bad outcome.
“Look; we really need to discuss our situation. There’ve been some new developments. Where can we meet?” She placed the call as soon as she left the building.
“I’m heading to the field office downtown. Do you know where that is?”
“No, but I’ll find it. See you there in an hour?”
She pressed the end call button on her steering wheel, not waiting for a reply, and turned the car around at the nearest intersection. The FBI field office was in the opposite direction, back towards downtown.
The next call would have to be to Colin, if she could reach him out on the course. “Hey, it’s me.”
“Hey, honey. What’s up?” Colin asked.
“Charlie Monroe is missing and I’m going to see Agent Sanchez at the FBI office downtown. I really need you to come with me, Colin. I can’t do this on my own.” Claire was remarkably composed and her matter-of-fact tone seemed to catch him off guard.
“I’m sorry? Charlie? Your old boss? He’s missing?” Colin repeated the words.
“Yes. Margaret said he didn’t come home last night and Colin—his office was cleaned out. I just came from there.”
“Wait, just hold on a second.”
But Claire couldn’t wait for him to understand. She knew what was at stake. “Charlie was called into the office late last night. Evan Winters was the last to see him.”
“Jesus.” Colin went silent after that.
“Can you come with me or not?” A cold detachment was setting in. It was the only way to get through this impossible scenario.
“Of course. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Thank you. I love you, Colin.”
“I love you too.”
***
Claire arrived at the tall building that housed the many different sections of the FBI. Financial Crimes fell under the Criminal Investigation Division (CID). This was where she would find Special Agents Sanchez and Huffman. Both of them met her on the ground floor lobby.
“Claire. Thank you for coming down here. Your call seemed urgent.” Agent Sanchez extended his hand.
“Yes. This is an urgent situation. Charlie Monroe is missing.” A firm handshake was mandatory, as she did not want to give them any reason to suspect she felt on the verge of collapsing beneath this burden.
Agent Sanchez shot a look to Huffman. This news seemed less than welcome. “Please, follow me.” Sanchez led the way, swiping his card to access the elevator.
Claire stepped inside, flanked by the agents. “I’ve asked my husband, Colin, to come down as well. I can’t keep this from him.”
“We understand. I’ll send someone down when he arrives,” Huffman replied.
The elevator doors opened and Huffman was the first to exit. “This way.” He held the door long enough for the others to step out and proceeded down the broad corridor, utilitarian and insipid in its design. “I’m sure this must all seem very frightening, Ms. McKenna.”
“You have no idea, Agent Huffman. I appreciate your concern. But, we’ve gone way beyond what any of us thought this would turn out to be.”
Sanchez pushed through the glass doors, exposing a small reception area. Behind the oak-laminated desk was the FBI emblem attached to the wall and an American flag hanging on a post in the corner. The chair was empty, presumably because it was a Saturday afternoon. In fact, it seemed that several of the offices they traveled past in the maze of hallways were dark.
“I got a call from Charlie’s wife this morning. I should have called her back by now. She’s bound to be at her wits’ end. But I needed to see you both first. I have no idea where to turn.”
Claire explained what had happened when she arrived at the office after receiving the call from Margaret. The mood of the agents quickly changed from mild curiosity at Claire’s meeting request to an awareness that the matter had become, quite possibly, deadly.
At this revelation, Huffman chimed in. “I’d like to ask Seattle PD to come down here. Gordon, who’s your guy over there?”
“Detective Stuart Vance.” Without hesitation, Sanchez retrieved his cell phone and dialed the detective. He stepped outside momentarily to discuss the situation.
Claire leaned her head back onto the dark blue fabric chair that felt too scratchy on her skin. She waited with Agent Huffman inside Sanchez’s office.
“You’re not alone in this, Claire. You have to know that,” Huffman said, appearing to sense her apprehension.
“I feel as though he’s singled me out for reasons I just can’t understand.” She thought for a moment of telling Huffman about that night at the conference. The blackmail. She couldn’t tell them why Charlie was blackmailing her, not while Colin was here. He would be even more humiliated. It would do nothing to prove why Charlie would have disappeared. And it wouldn’t prove that anyone had a grudge against him, except for her. Son of bitch. She hadn’t thought it through. But the man was still missing. Claire would have to find a way to tell Colin first and then decide how to handle it.
“I know,” Huffman replied. “But you really aren’t alone, even if it feels that way and we will do whatever it takes to protect you and your family.”
“Like you did with Beth?” Claire immediately regretted the comment. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by that.”
“It’s okay. You’re right, but we can’t help those who refuse it.”
***
Agent Sanchez’s office was at the far end of the building and when Detective Vance had finally arrived, wearing a black t-shirt, dark jeans, and a black windbreaker, Claire eyed him with mild concern. His brown, unruly hair grazed the collar of his jacket. Maybe five-foot-ten or eleven and a little on the stocky side. Still young, early thirties most likely, and fairly scruffy overall. He looked overworked more than anything.
“Mrs. McKenna, I’m Detective Stuart Vance.” He leaned in to shake her hand.
“Please, call me Claire. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Well,” Vance started, looking at Sanchez and Huffman. “I understand you believe a co-worker of yours has gone missing?”
“Yes. And if you contact his wife, she’ll confirm it. I received a call from her this morning”
“Agent Sanchez has filled me in on the situation and the investigation into your company, WFC.”
Sanchez pulled up the seat next to Claire. “You mentioned you needed to talk about Winters. What happened this morning?”
“When I arrived at work, after talking with Margaret, I stopped by Charlie’s office. And, as you know, I found it empty. A few minutes passed by. I don’t know how long. I was in shock by the sight, and Evan Winters was standing behind me. He asked that I join him in his office for a coffee to discuss what had happened when he saw Charlie the night before.” Claire rubbed the back of her
neck, working to shake the ordeal from her mind. “In short, I believe Evan Winters knows more than he’s letting on about the embezzlement investigation. I also believe he knows where Charlie Monroe is. I think I can use my position to gain his confidence.” She recalled the look in his eyes, both alarming and seductive at the same time.
“When you say you will use your position, you mean you can gain access to his files?” Huffman asked.
“I think Winters may let his guard down in the right situation and I intend to use that to my—our benefit.”
Detective Vance folded his arms and leaned against the corner of Sanchez’s heavy oak desk. “Sounds like you might be wanting to play a dangerous game, Claire. We don’t know where this Charlie Monroe is. If, in fact, he is missing and Winters was the last to see him, I’m not sure this is the best path for you to take.”
The phone on the agent’s desk began to ring. “Agent Sanchez, there’s a Mr. Colin McKenna here to see you.”
“Thank you; I’ll send someone down.”
“I’ll get him,” Agent Huffman said.
“I believe this situation has elevated to a point where I may be the only one who can get him to talk. And if I can do that, then I will. Unless you have a better idea or you can find Charlie and ask him?”
“We still have the forensic accountants working the case. They’re finalizing the financial profile on Winters and his group and have uncovered several discrepancies on SEC filings. In fact, we’ve already begun working with them. We are getting close and I don’t think you need to do anything more than you already have, Claire, especially given light of this new development. I’ve also got the lab working on that password you gave me last night. I just don’t feel comfortable with you getting into bed with Winters right now.”
