Chapter 5 - The Langford Account

I called Monica.

She answered immediately.

“Grant.”

“Your father.”

A pause.

“What about him?”

“Did he move money with mine?”

Silence.

That was enough.

“Monica.”

“Yes.”

I looked at Evelyn.

She nodded once.

Monica continued:

“My father worked with yours.”

“How long?”

“Years.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because it ended before we were together.”

“That is not an answer.”

“No.”

I heard her breathe.

Then:

“He financed Holloway expansion.”

“Through hidden accounts.”

“Yes.”

“Did Desmond know?”

“Yes.”

“Did Vincent?”

“Yes.”

I closed my eyes.

“Did you?”

“Some.”

“How much?”

“Enough to know our marriage wasn’t only personal.”

Jolene looked away.

I stared at the wall.

“You knew it was a deal.”

“Yes.”

“And you still said yes.”

Her voice broke.

“Yes.”

“Did you love me?”

“Yes.”

I believed her.

That made it worse.

I asked:

“Where is your father?”

“At home.”

“Stay there.”

“Grant—”

“Stay.”

I hung up.

Evelyn watched me.

“You sound like your father.”

“I keep hearing that today.”

She almost smiled.

Then handed me a flash drive.

“What is this?”

“Copies.”

“Of?”

“The Langford account.”

I inserted it into the motel laptop.

Transfers.

Companies.

Dates.

One name repeated.

Richard Langford.

Monica’s father.

Then another.

Desmond Holloway.

Then Vincent.

I looked closer.

One transfer 5 months ago.

$500,000.

Recipient:

MERCY DOCUMENT SERVICES.

My body went cold.

“The fake death.”

Evelyn nodded.

“Someone paid for it.”

“Who?”

The authorization code traced to a Langford company.

I stared.

“Monica.”

Jolene shook her head.

“No.”

I looked at her.

“She did not authorize that.”

“How do you know?”

“Because she was with me when Desmond arranged it.”

I looked at Evelyn.

She nodded.

“The account code belongs to Richard Langford.”

Silence.

Monica’s father.

I called Trent.

“Where is Richard Langford?”

“Savannah.”

“Exact.”

“His estate.”

“Any movement?”

“Two cars left 15 minutes ago.”

“Where?”

“Industrial district.”

My warehouse.

I stood.

Jolene said:

“Grant.”

I looked at her.

She held Elias.

“You are not taking him.”

“I wasn’t.”

She studied me.

I continued.

“I am going to find out why Richard helped fake your death.”

Evelyn stood too.

“You need to know one more thing.”

I stopped.

She looked at the screen.

“The $500,000 did not pay to hide Jolene.”

I frowned.

“What did it pay for?”

“A second identity.”

“For who?”

Evelyn looked at me.

“Your mother.”

Everything stopped.

“My mother died 18 years ago.”

Evelyn shook her head.

“No.”

I laughed once.

“No.”

“Grant.”

“No.”

Jolene stared at her mother.

Evelyn continued:

“Your mother left.”

I felt nothing.

Not yet.

“She was sick.”

“No.”

“She was afraid.”

“No.”

“Your father helped her disappear.”

I stared at Evelyn.

“My father told me she died.”

“Yes.”

“Desmond told me she died.”

“Yes.”

“Where is she?”

Evelyn looked at the flash drive.

“I don’t know.”

I stepped closer.

“You brought this up now because?”

“Because Richard Langford knew.”

Silence.

“And if he helped fake Jolene’s death,” Evelyn continued, “he may have used the same people who erased your mother.”

My phone rang.

Desmond.

I answered.

“Grant.”

His voice was urgent.

“Do not go to the warehouse.”

“Why?”

“Richard is there.”

“I know.”

“No.”

Desmond breathed hard.

“He is not alone.”

“Who?”

Silence.

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Then:

“Your mother.”