Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
“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.