“I had a bad dream,” Susannah said, tears in her eyes. “Daddy was hurt and no one would help him.”
Abby’s heart wrenched as she pictured what her daughter described. “It was only a dream. Try to think of happy things, okay?”
“Okay, Mommy.”
Abby tucked Susannah back in bed and left the room, trudging back to her own bed. She quickly fell back to sleep and began to have a bad dream of her own. Someone was walking around her room and she was all alone, defenseless.
The dream woke her.
Without opening her eyes, she strongly felt the presence of someone in her room. Her heart thrashed in her chest as terror flood her veins. Warm breath surged past her ear and she froze. Then a hand clamped over her mouth. She tried to scream as her eyes flew open.
“It’s me, Abby. Eric,” he whispered.
Relief and joy swept through her as she looked at her husband kneeling next to the bed.
“Shhh,” Eric said, removing his hand from her mouth.
“Eric,” she whispered, throwing her arms around him. “I can’t believe you’re here.” Her thudding heartbeat began to slow. “You scared me half to death. I could feel someone in the room and I was terrified.”
He lay down next to her and wrapped his arms around her. “I’m so sorry. You don’t need to be frightened.”
Laying her head against his chest, she reveled in his warmth, then began crying with relief. “Eric, I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’ve missed you too. You can’t imagine how much.”
Then all the frustration she’d been feeling for the past several weeks boiled up and she pushed away from him. “Where have you been? What is going on?”
He frowned. “I can’t explain everything right now.”
“Please try,” she said, her body tense. “I mean, how can you be gone for weeks and then just show up without any explanation? I think I have the right to know.”
“Yes, you do. But there’s just not time to explain it all right now. Please understand.” He paused. “I can tell you that I’m working with the FBI to make everything right.”
Abby sat up against the pillows and tried to control her frustration, and Eric moved next to her. “The FBI?” she asked. “Someone came to see me from the FBI. His name was Agent Franklin.”
“Yes. That’s the guy I’m working with.”
“What do you mean, ‘working with’?” Disappointment shot through her as she considered what Eric could mean. Was he working out a deal to escape going to jail for embezzlement?
“I don’t want to get into it all right now. Your mom could come upstairs any minute, and it’s unsafe for you to have information.” He paused. “I need to know if you found a small key.”
Her disappointment in her husband was strong, but Abby shook her head in resignation. “No, I haven’t found a key.”
“Are you the one who cleaned up the front hall closet today?”
“I guess my mother did. Why?”
Eric hesitated. “I was here last night, looking for something, and I think a key fell out of my pocket when I was hiding in the closet.”
Abby pulled back. “You were here last night? And you didn’t wake me up?” Fresh anger mixed with her feelings of relief. “Do you have any idea how horrible it’s been not knowing where you are or what’s been going on? How could you not wake me up when you were right here?”
“I wanted to. You have no idea how badly I wanted to.”
“I don’t understand. What’s going on? Does this have anything to do with Tim Meher?”
“Tim?” Eric said, surprise on his face. “What has he said to you?”
“Lots of things.” She turned away briefly. “He said you stole money from the company.”
“Do you believe him?” Eric seemed visibly hurt by the idea that she did.
“I don’t know what to believe anymore.” She paused. “I found money in our closet.”
“You did?” He paused. “How much?”
“Fifteen thousand dollars.” Abby wondered if there was more to be found.
“I didn’t steal it,” Eric said, obviously seeing the doubt on Abby’s face. “You have to believe me.”
“I can’t help but remember when you had that drug relapse. I’m having trouble knowing what to believe. And your father told me you stole money from a past employer.”
“Drugs are not the issue here. Not at all.” Eric sighed. “I promised you I wouldn’t touch them. And I only stole money once. I repented of it, Abby.”
“What is the issue? Please, Eric. You have to tell me what’s going on.” She reached for the nightstand and picked up the book about disappearing. “I found this, too.”
Eric took it from her, clearly puzzled. “What’s this?”
“It was in your dresser drawer.”
He held it out to her. “It’s not mine. I’ve never seen it before.”
Abby wasn’t sure if she should believe him or not. “Then what was it doing in your dresser? It has a picture of you in it.” Abby pulled out the picture.
Eric seemed to be in genuine shock. “Abby, I’ve never seen this woman in my life. It must’ve been planted just like the money—to make me look guilty.” They heard the TV shut off and footsteps coming up the stairs. “Look,” Eric whispered. “We’ll have to figure this out later.”
Abby sighed, frustrated at not knowing the facts but recognizing that Eric wasn’t going to tell her anything more now. “Fine,” she surrendered, not certain what to believe. “So what about this key? What’s it for?”
“What did you do with the money you found?”
“I put it in a safe place. In the bank. Why?”
“Okay. That’s good.” He paused. “Keep it there and don’t touch it. We’ll have to give it back soon.” He glanced around the darkened room. “I need you to ask your mother if she found the key. If you find it, put it under the front doormat tomorrow. I’ll come and get it.”
“What’s the key for?”
“A safe-deposit box.”
“What’s in it?”
“The money that was planted on me.” He tried to smile. “Just try to get the key for me.”
“Didn’t the bank give you a backup key?”
“No. Why? Were they supposed to?”
“When I got a safe-deposit box, I was given two keys.”
Eric shook his head in annoyance. “Well, I guess someone screwed up then, because I was only given one key.”
“Isn’t there another way to get into that box?” Abby just wanted the ordeal to be over with.
“I don’t know. I never asked. I didn’t think I’d be dumb enough to lose the key.”
“Do you want me to ask my mother right now?”
Eric considered the idea. “No. She would wonder why you need it during the night. I don’t want her to know anything.”
“What about the money I found? Do you want to give that to Franklin?”
“I will eventually. But right now I need to get into my safe-deposit box.”
“The girls miss you terribly, you know.”
He sighed. “I know. I miss them too. But I can’t do anything about that right now.”
“I talked to your father. He knows you’re missing. I think you’d better let him know you’re okay.”
“I’ll talk to him when I can.” He paused. “Did he sound like he wanted to talk to me?”
“He’s worried about you. He’s your father, Eric.”
“I know.” Eric glanced around the room, then looked at Abby. “He probably thinks I’m using drugs again, doesn’t he?”
Abby sighed, afraid to admit she had thought the same thing. “Just let him know you’re safe.”
Eric grimaced. “Did you change the code on the burglar alarm too?”
“Yes. I also changed all the locks. You obviously figured out the code, and it’s the same for the alarm.”
“Thank you for trusting me,” he said, “and for being so clever.”
> Abby paused a moment, her feelings stronger—she did trust him. But before she could respond, she was interrupted by a nearby sound—her mother checking on the girls. It sounded like Tiffany was awake.
“I hate to tell you this, but I have to leave now,” Eric said.
“No, Eric. Please don’t go.” Abby grabbed his shirt.
“Don’t make this harder than it has to be. I promise I’ll be home again soon.” He pulled her into his arms and held her tight for several moments. “I love you, Abby,” he whispered fiercely.
She sobbed as he left.
Abby awoke feeling better than she had in a long, long time. Though she’d been devastated when Eric left, she’d treasured the time she’d had with him and was grateful to have some idea of what was going on. Her feeling to trust Eric had been reconfirmed and she walked around the house enjoying the feeling before stopping in front of the bookcase.
The origami bird was still perched on the shelf, and Abby realized that in all the excitement of seeing each other, she’d forgotten to have them unfold the bird together. It felt like a bad omen as she considered the idea that they might never get the chance—Eric was still in danger, she still couldn’t contact him, and she didn’t know who was harassing her or why.
Chapter Thirty-Three
“Oh, yes. I’d forgotten all about it,” Barbara said after Abby asked her about the key. “I left it in my room. I’ll go get it.”
Abby followed her mother up the stairs into Tiffany’s room, relief cascading over her. Barbara walked over to the dresser and scrutinized the top of it.
“I thought I left it right here.” She turned to Abby and smiled wryly. “You know, old age can be hard on one’s memory.”
“Well, it’s not there. Where else might you have put it?” Abby said, anxious to get the key to Eric.
“I’m thinking, I’m thinking. Oh, yes. I remember now. I set it on the bedside table.” Barbara stepped over to the bed and stared at the tabletop. She reached for the book she had set there earlier, but there was nothing beneath it. She smiled at Abby apologetically. “I’m sorry. I know I left it on the table.”
That’s what you said about the dresser. Abby felt more panicky by the second. “Could it be in the dresser among your things? It’s really important I find it.”
“What’s it for?” Barbara asked as she walked to the dresser.
Abby wasn’t about to mention Eric’s visit. “It’s for something I need, that’s all.” Abby stood next to Barbara at the dresser. “Here, let me help you look.”
They searched the drawers together but couldn’t find the key.
After a few frustrating minutes, Abby said, “Thanks anyway, Mom.”
“I’m sure it will turn up,” Barbara said.
Abby went down the hall to her bedroom and sat on the love seat in her alcove. Anxiety at not finding the key made it difficult to relax. She knew it was critical that Eric get into the safe-deposit box, so she decided to leave a note under the mat to let him know she couldn’t find the key, but would keep looking.
Under cover of darkness Eric lifted the porch mat. Instead of finding the precious key, he found a note from Abby. He read it quickly, then went back to his motel to try to think of another plan. He’d just have to meet with Franklin and tell his story. Maybe the Feds would have the authority to get into the box.
The next day it was time for Barbara to head home. As Abby hugged her mother good-bye, she was surprised to realize she was going to miss her. It was the first time she could recall truly enjoying spending time with her mother. Having Eric missing was the worst thing that had ever happened to her, but along with that challenge had been the blessing of drawing closer to her mother and sister. For that she would always be grateful.
“Bye, girls. I’m going to miss you,” Barbara said as she gathered Tiffany and Susannah in a big hug.
“Good-bye, Grandma. I’ll miss you, too,” Susannah said, wiping a tear from her cheek.
“Now, don’t get all teary-eyed on me. If nothing else, I’ll be back when that new baby brother or sister arrives.” Barbara looked at Abby for her agreement.
“Yes, of course. Grandma will be back before you know it. Now give her one last hug before she goes,” Abby said with a smile.
The house seemed emptier with her mother gone. Abby went into Tiffany’s room to strip her bed in preparation for her daughter to reclaim her room, and as she pulled the fitted sheet from the bed, she thought about the key. Her mother had found it in the closet and brought it to the room, but where could it have gone?
Impulsively Abby lifted the corner of the mattress. It wasn’t too heavy and she was able to peek underneath. Her heart beat hard in anticipation of finding the key, but it wasn’t there. She dropped the mattress back in place and, with a heavy heart, brought the laundry downstairs.
Waiting outside the door of Agent Franklin’s office, Eric compared the two papers in his hands, then thought back to when he had come into possession of one of them.
Just a month before, when he’d been doing the books at Central Valley Construction, he had noticed payments to a supplier he’d never heard of. The amounts weren’t huge—only ten to fifteen thousand dollars each time—but enough that he decided to investigate. When he hadn’t found that supplier on the approved list, he had gone to Tim, the senior accountant, and asked if he knew anything about it.
“I think something might be going on,” Eric had said to Tim as he showed him an invoice for the unknown supplier.
Tim looked puzzled for a moment, then relieved. “No, no, no. This is a new supplier. Didn’t you get the memo with the new list?” Tim opened a folder on his computer, then pulled up a document listing their current suppliers. “Look.” He motioned for Eric to come around and look at his monitor. “It says right here that they’re one of our suppliers now.”
Eric looked at the monitor, surprised to see the name of the company from the invoice. “That’s weird, because they’re not on my list, and I’m sure my list is current.”
“I don’t know what to tell you. I guess Brock forgot to email you the latest list,” Tim said. “I’ll forward it to you.”
“I guess you’re right. Thanks.”
Once back in his office, Eric had gone through the invoices and purchase orders and was stunned to find his signature scrawled across the bottom of each PO. He knew he hadn’t signed those purchase orders—obviously someone had forged his signature. Then he added up the invoices and was alarmed to see they totaled over sixty thousand dollars. The checks had been mailed to a post office box.
He immediately realized he’d been set up.
Completely caught off guard, when he’d gotten home he’d discovered five thousand dollars stashed in his home office. In a panic, he’d locked all of it in one of his desk drawers. Later, he’d taken the money and the few purchase orders and invoices he had found and put them in a safe-deposit box at the bank. That evening he’d gone online, searching for information on embezzlement and tried to decide what to do.
That night he’d tossed and turned, arguing with himself about a course of action. Obviously someone had the ability to get into his house and hide incriminating evidence there. What if the authorities were called and they found more evidence against him? Would he be arrested? Would he go to jail? Before the night was over he’d decided to go on the run until he could prove his innocence.
And then, under the driver’s seat in his Jeep, he’d discovered more money along with a note implying he had asked for the cash. Clearly it was meant for the authorities to find, but Eric had found it first and he’d kept it locked up with the cash in the safe-deposit box. Abby had found the rest of the money that had been planted, along with an incriminating book about disappearing and a photo of a fake second family.
He thought of everything—forge my signatures on the phony purchase orders, then make it look like I had a second family I needed to escape with. There’s my motive. That, plus my past drug history. It would b
e a slam-dunk to pin the embezzlement on me.
Eric had realized he couldn’t go to the authorities until he had evidence he wasn’t behind the embezzlement. He knew they would investigate his past, and since he had a drug arrest on his record, they would immediately suspect him. Such an investigation would not go well for him unless he had irrefutable evidence he was being set up.
While in hiding he’d done some research on the Internet, and he’d found a legitimate company with the same name that was used for the bogus company, but not at the address the checks had been sent. He had the P.O. Box number where the checks had been sent, but he needed to verify it wasn’t a P.O. Box the legitimate company used.
He had tried to call them several times but had continued to get voice mail. Finally he’d obtained a new email account under an assumed name and had emailed the company. When he’d finally gotten a response saying they weren’t a supplier for Central Valley Construction, he’d done everything he could to track down evidence that he wasn’t the embezzler, but the only good thing he had was what he’d witnessed at the casino. There was more to this story than he had originally realized, and it was obvious now why the embezzler had felt the need to steal.
Eric was pulled from his thoughts as Agent Franklin opened the door and ushered him in.
“I don’t have all the money yet, but I can explain,” Eric began, holding out the note from his car.
Chapter Thirty-Four
“It’s for you, Mom. It’s Grandma,” Tiffany said, handing Abby the cordless phone.
“Hi, Mom. Everything all right?” She’d been sitting on the couch reading a magazine, her feet tucked underneath her.
“Of course, dear. I thought you’d like to know I found that key we were searching for.”
“Oh.” Abby swung her feet to the floor. “You have it now?”
“Yes, right here in my hand. What do you want me to do with it?”
“The girls and I will come up and get it right now.” Abby leaned forward intently, pleased to have the key found. When she hung up, she loaded the girls in the car.
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