“Ryan, please,” she said desperately. “Are you really going to believe them? Your mother has hated me since the day we got married.”
“I don’t hate you,” I said quietly. “I’m worried about my son. And I’m worried about my bank account.”
Detective Parker placed another sheet on the table.
“One more thing,” he said. “There’s a charge from a hotel in Miami. Two nights, three weeks ago.”
Ryan frowned.
“Miami? But you said you were visiting your cousin in Dallas that weekend.”
Vanessa opened her mouth.
But nothing came out.
At that moment her phone vibrated on the table.
The screen lit up.
None of us wanted to look.
But we did.
A new message appeared.
“MARK: Thanks for the watch. Miss you already.”
Ryan went completely still.
The color drained from his face.
“Who’s Mark?” he asked quietly.
Vanessa tried to grab the phone.
Too late.
And in that moment I understood something.
The card…
the money…
weren’t even the worst part.
Because the real blow for my son…
was still coming.
Ryan didn’t shout.
He simply stared at Vanessa like he didn’t recognize her anymore.
“Who’s Mark?” he repeated.
She hugged the phone to her chest.
“He’s… someone from work.”