Chapter 16 - Wren Disappeared for Eleven MinutesConrad couldn't breathe.
"What do you mean gone?"
"She's here now."
His knees almost failed.
"You just said—"
"She disappeared for eleven minutes."
"Where?"
"We found her in the backyard playhouse."
Conrad closed his eyes.
Anger flooded him.
"Nina."
"I know."
"What happened?"
"Penny thought Wren was upstairs. Marisol thought she was with Penny. Security saw her go into the backyard."
"Why?"
"She got a message."
Conrad went still.
"What message?"
"On her tablet."
Wren used a child account.
Family messaging only.
"From who?"
"It looked like Grandma."
His blood turned cold.
"What did it say?"
Nina read:
I found something from Mommy. Come to the playhouse and don't tell Daddy yet because it's his surprise.
Conrad gripped the table.
"Was Maureen there?"
"No."
"Anyone?"
"No."
"Then why send her outside?"
"We don't know."
He immediately thought distraction.
Something else happening while everyone searched.
"Check the house."
"We are."
"Marisol?"
"With Wren."
"Security?"
"Reviewing everything."
Conrad booked the next flight.
Then Nina called again ten minutes later.
"Someone tried the side gate."
"Who?"
"Black SUV. Security stopped it."
"Driver?"
"Delivery contractor."
"For what?"
"No delivery existed."
Conrad's pulse hammered.
"Police?"
"Coming."
"Maureen?"
"Her attorney says she's at the hotel."
"Leonard?"
"In custody."
Someone else.
A contractor.
An employee.
Or simply coincidence.
Conrad no longer believed in convenient coincidences.
He spoke to Wren by video.
She looked embarrassed.
"Daddy, I'm sorry."
"No."
His voice became firm.
"You did nothing wrong."
"But I wasn't supposed to go outside."
"An adult tricked you."
She looked frightened.
"Was it Grandma?"
"I don't know."
Wren whispered:
"The message disappeared."
"What?"
"When Aunt Nina came, it wasn't there anymore."
Conrad looked at Nina.
She nodded.
The account may have been compromised.
"Birdie, listen."
Wren looked at him.
"No secret messages from adults. Even people you know."
"Okay."
"If someone says something is a surprise for me, you can tell me."
"Even birthdays?"
"Especially birthdays."
That made her smile.
Good.
Then Wren said:
"The message said Mommy left me another thing."
Conrad froze.
"What thing?"
"A recording."
"Did it say where?"
"In the playhouse."
"Did you find one?"
"No."
He frowned.
Why mention recording?
Someone wanted Wren looking for it.
Maybe because they believed a recording actually existed.
When Conrad returned to Chicago that night, Detective Sloan had already traced the tablet access.
Login from an IP address connected to a hotel network.
The same hotel Maureen occupied.
Conrad stared.
"So Mom sent it."
"Not necessarily."
"Come on."
"We need proof."
"Who else had her login?"
"Possibly someone using Maureen's devices."
The hotel provided hallway footage.
At the relevant time, Maureen remained in a restaurant downstairs.
Her laptop was in her room.
Who entered?
A man wearing a hotel-maintenance uniform.
Face partially visible.
Detective Sloan showed Conrad.
He didn't recognize him.
Marisol did.
"That's Mr. Pike's assistant."
Conrad turned.
"Leonard's?"
"Yes. I saw him at the house once."
Name:
Gavin Price.
Financial assistant.
Currently missing.
The net widened.
Detective Sloan said:
"We believe Price accessed Maureen's room and used one of her devices."
"Why?"
"We don't know."
"Was Maureen involved?"
"She claims not."
Conrad almost laughed.
Then Maureen herself called.
He stared at the screen.
Detective Sloan nodded.
Answer.
Conrad did.
"What?"
Maureen sounded different.
No arrogance.
"Is Wren safe?"
"Yes."
"Thank God."
He said nothing.
"Conrad, I did not send that message."
"Why should I believe you?"
"Because Leonard is trying to protect himself."
"Leonard is in custody."
"He has people."
"Like Gavin Price?"
Silence.
She knew.
"Mom."
"Yes."
"What did Leonard hide?"
No answer.
"Why would his assistant want Wren?"
"He wouldn't hurt her."
Conrad felt rage.
"Stop saying that as though it's comforting."
"Listen to me."
"For once, tell me everything."
Maureen's breathing shook.
"Leonard believes Elise recorded him."
Conrad stopped.
"Doing what?"
"Talking about the foundation transfers."
"Did she?"
"I don't know."
"Why would he think Wren has it?"
"Because Elise told him she gave her daughter insurance."
Conrad remembered the playhouse.
Elise used to hide scavenger-hunt clues there.
"Where would the recording be?"
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
"No."
Conrad's voice hardened.
"You terrorized my daughter for months looking for Elise's evidence. You know more than you're saying."
Maureen began crying.
For the first time, Conrad didn't immediately soften.
"What did Leonard do?"
"He moved money."
"We know."
"What else?"
"He forged Everett's signatures."
"We suspect that."
"What else?"
Silence.
Then:
"After Elise went to federal investigators, Leonard found out."
Conrad's heartbeat slowed.
"How?"
"I told him."
There.
A confession.
"Why?"
"I was scared."
"Of prison?"
"Of everything falling apart."
"What did he do?"
Maureen whispered:
"He went to Elise."
"When?"
"Three weeks before she died."
Conrad felt cold.
"What happened?"
"She recorded him."
"You said you didn't know."
"I lied."
Of course.
"Where is the recording?"
"I don't know."
"Why does Leonard think Wren does?"
"Because Elise told him if he ever threatened her family, the recording would reach Conrad through Wren."
Conrad closed his eyes.
Another secret entrusted to a five-year-old in coded form.
Then Maureen said:
"Conrad."
"What?"
"There's one place I never searched."
His stomach tightened.
May you like
"Where?"
"The playhouse."
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