Chapter 14 - Diane Ran Before Anyone Could Stop HerPolice reached the house within minutes.
Diane was gone.
Her SUV remained parked outside.
That meant someone had picked her up.
Ryan told officers he had seen her leave through the side gate carrying a small suitcase and document bag.
“Why didn’t you stop her?” Sarah demanded over the phone.
“I tried.”
“Why does she have Noah’s passport?”
“I don’t know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“No.”
Ryan sounded exhausted.
“I don’t expect you to believe anything I say.”
Sarah hated that part of her still recognized his voice.
Eleven years.
Thousands of conversations.
She knew when he was lying.
She also knew when he was afraid.
He was afraid now.
“Where would she go?”
“I don’t know.”
“Think.”
Silence.
Then Ryan said, “The lake house.”
“What lake house?”
“My uncle had one years ago.”
“Where?”
“Near Cedar Falls.”
“Does Diane own it?”
“No. It was sold.”
“Then why would she go there?”
“Because Victor bought it.”
Sarah’s stomach tightened.
“You knew?”
“I found out recently.”
“How recently?”
“Two months.”
“And you didn’t tell me.”
“I was already involved by then.”
Sarah closed her eyes.
Every answer contained another betrayal.
Detective Ruiz took over.
Authorities began searching.
Noah’s passport was flagged.
Airports notified.
But Daniel was more worried about the documents.
“What originals did Diane have access to?”
Sarah looked at Ryan through the video call.
“The trust copies were in my office,” he said.
“Why?”
“Lang wanted them reviewed.”
Sarah stared.
“You gave Victor Lang my father’s trust documents?”
Ryan whispered, “Yes.”
The admission landed quietly.
Daniel asked, “Were there corporate certificates?”
“I don’t know.”
“Anything with Carter Ridge Resources?”
Ryan hesitated.
“Yes.”
Daniel stood.
“What?”
“There was a sealed packet.”
“What did you do with it?”
“I didn’t open it.”
“Where is it?”
“My office safe.”
Police checked.
The safe was empty.
Daniel looked sick.
“What could she do with those?” Sarah asked.
“Potentially nothing.”
“That isn’t comforting.”
“With forged authority? She could attempt transfers.”
“Before Tuesday.”
“Yes.”
Sarah looked at the clock.
Saturday afternoon.
They had less than three days.
Noah sat in the next room drawing.
He had drawn three Golden Retriever puppies.
Each inside a different house.
Sarah asked why.
“So nobody can lock them up together.”
Her heart broke.
She joined him on the floor.
“Do you want to talk about Grandma?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
He colored silently.
Then asked, “Is Dad bad?”
Sarah stopped.
There was no answer that wouldn’t hurt him.
“Dad made some very bad choices.”
“Because Grandma told him?”
Sarah looked at him.
“Why do you ask?”
Noah shrugged.
“Grandma always tells Dad what to do.”
Sarah’s pulse quickened.
“What kind of things?”
“Like when he bought the new car.”
“What about it?”
“Dad said it cost too much. Grandma said people respect men with expensive cars.”
Sarah remembered the argument.
Ryan had insisted the purchase helped his career.
“What else?”
Noah kept coloring.
“She told him you think he’s weak.”
Sarah went still.
“When?”
“A lot.”
“What exactly did she say?”
Noah looked uncomfortable.
“Dad told her you were mad about money. Grandma said you don’t respect him because Grandpa gave you everything.”
Sarah felt something fall into place.
Diane had been feeding Ryan’s deepest insecurity.
For years.
“Did Dad say that?”
“He said you never needed him.”
Sarah swallowed.
Noah returned to drawing.
Then he said casually, “Grandma tells Dad stuff when they think I’m playing games.”
“What stuff?”
“That if he doesn’t stand up to you, you’ll take everything.”
Sarah’s throat tightened.
“And something about Uncle Evan.”
“What?”
“She says if Dad doesn’t fix it, Uncle Evan will go to jail.”
Sarah stared.
Ryan had told her Evan’s debt was old.
Financial.
Private.
But Noah’s comment suggested something else.
“Why would Evan go to jail?”
Noah shrugged.
“Grandma said Dad owes him because Evan took the blame last time.”
Sarah’s skin prickled.
Last time.
She immediately called Ryan.
“What did Evan take the blame for?”
Silence.
“Ryan.”
“How do you know about that?”
“Noah heard your mother.”
Ryan’s voice dropped.
“Don’t involve Evan.”
“He’s already involved.”
“No.”
“What did he take the blame for?”
Another long silence.
Then Ryan whispered.
“The original debt wasn’t Evan’s.”
Sarah stopped breathing.
“It was yours.”
“Yes.”
“For what?”
May you like
Ryan’s answer came so quietly she almost didn’t hear it.
“I stole money from a client.”
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