Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN HE COULDN'T FIND
Beckett had not slept properly in a week.
He spent hours staring at Laurel's abandoned car.
The police had returned it after completing their initial examination.
It now sat in a private garage.
He opened the glove compartment.
Inside was an old photograph.
Laurel and Beckett, sixteen years younger.
Standing beside the convertible.
Laughing.
He remembered buying the car.
They had barely enough money for rent.
Laurel insisted they didn't need it.
He bought it anyway.
They drove to the coast with the windows down.
She had leaned her head against his shoulder and told him she would follow him anywhere.
Now he wondered how many years she had spent following him into places she never wanted to go.
His phone rang.
It was Taryn.
He ignored it.
She called again.
He answered.
“What?”
“Beckett, we need to talk.”
“About what?”
“Pierce.”
Beckett went still.
“What about him?”
Taryn hesitated.
“He told me to come to the anniversary party.”
Silence.
Beckett sat down.
“Explain.”
Taryn's voice trembled.
“He said Laurel was going to expose us.”
Beckett stared.
“What?”
“He told me if I appeared publicly, she'd lose control. He said it would make you choose me.”
Beckett felt sick.
“And you believed him?”
“I wanted you.”
He closed his eyes.
Taryn continued.
“Pierce said it would be better if Laurel left.”
Beckett opened his eyes.
“Why?”
Taryn began crying.
“I don't know.”
Beckett ended the call.
Then stared at the photograph of Laurel.
For the first time, he understood that the anniversary party had not simply been a disaster.
May you like
It had been arranged.
And someone had wanted his marriage to collapse.
