Chapter 10 - The Best Man)
Lucas did not confront Ryan.
Not immediately.
He hated himself for the hesitation.
Ryan had been his best friend since college.
Ryan had carried Rachel's casket.
Ryan was Emily's godfather.
Ryan had stood at the altar waiting to watch Lucas marry Vanessa.
And Ryan had also been photographed beside Thomas Vale and Evan Morse one year before Rachel died.
Molina asked the obvious question.
"Did Ryan ever mention knowing either of them?"
"No."
"Would he have reason to?"
"Maybe the charity event."
"What's his work?"
"Commercial insurance."
"Any Wynn companies?"
"I don't know."
They checked.
Ryan's firm had insured three Wynn Development properties.
Nothing criminal.
Nothing unusual.
Except Ryan had personally handled one account connected to a company whose board included Thomas Vale.
Lucas went home and found Ryan already there.
He was making grilled cheese for Emily.
"Daddy."
Emily smiled.
"Uncle Ryan burned mine."
Ryan looked offended.
"It was artisanal."
Lucas stood in the doorway.
The ordinary scene almost destroyed him.
Molina's advice repeated in his head.
Do not reveal what we know.
Lucas forced himself to smile.
"Looks dangerous."
Ryan glanced at him.
"You okay?"
"No."
"Any news?"
"Nothing useful."
The lie tasted awful.
Later, Lucas watched Ryan help Emily with a puzzle.
Could this man have tracked Rachel?
Could he have fed information to Vale?
Could he have known about the blue box?
Ryan noticed Lucas staring.
"What?"
"How long have we known each other?"
"Fourteen years."
"Fifteen."
"You're counting freshman orientation?"
"Yes."
Ryan smiled.
"Then fifteen."
Lucas looked at Emily.
"Did you ever meet Rachel before I introduced you?"
Ryan's smile vanished.
"No."
"Vale?"
"What about him?"
"Did you know him before the wedding?"
Ryan paused.
Too long.
Lucas felt his heart break slightly.
"I knew of him."
"That's not what I asked."
Ryan looked toward Emily.
"Maybe we should talk elsewhere."
They went into the study.
Lucas closed the door.
"Did you know Thomas Vale?"
"Professionally."
"Why didn't you say that?"
"I didn't think it mattered."
"Rachel is dead. Vale was secretly connected to her. He targeted my family. You knew him and didn't think it mattered?"
Ryan's face hardened.
"Watch what you're implying."
"Then answer."
"I handled insurance for a company he advised."
"Did you meet him?"
"Yes."
"How many times?"
"A few."
"Dr. Evan Morse?"
Ryan stared.
"Your therapist?"
"Yes."
"No."
"There's a photograph."
Ryan exhaled.
"A charity golf tournament."
"So you remember."
"Now that you mention it, yes."
"You were standing together."
"There were eighty people there."
"Did you talk?"
"Probably."
"About me?"
"No."
"Rachel?"
"No."
"Emily?"
"Lucas, what is happening?"
Lucas wanted to believe him.
That was the problem.
Before he could answer, his phone rang.
Vanessa.
He almost ignored it.
Then answered.
"Lucas."
Her voice sounded breathless.
"Where are you?"
"Home."
"Is Ryan there?"
Lucas looked through the glass door.
Ryan stood ten feet away.
"Why?"
Vanessa whispered, "Get Emily away from him."
Lucas's entire body went rigid.
"Why?"
"I found Thomas's old account ledger."
"What does that have to do with Ryan?"
"There's a name."
"Whose?"
"Mercer."
Ryan watched Lucas.
Lucas kept his expression blank.
"Send me a photograph."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Thomas is here."
The call went dead.
Lucas stared at the phone.
Ryan said, "Who was that?"
"Daniel."
"You look like someone died."
Lucas walked to the study door.
Ryan stepped into his path.
"What's going on?"
Lucas looked at him.
"Move."
"Lucas."
"Move."
Ryan slowly stepped aside.
Lucas collected Emily and took her upstairs to Caroline.
Then he texted Molina.
Vanessa called. Claims ledger contains Mercer. Vale is with her. Trace phone.
Ryan waited downstairs.
When Lucas returned, Ryan stood beside the front door.
"You think I did something."
Lucas said nothing.
"Say it."
"Did Vale pay you?"
Ryan stared.
"No."
"Did a Wynn company pay you?"
"For insurance work."
"Did Vale ever ask about Rachel?"
"No."
"Did you ever give him information about my family?"
"No."
Lucas watched his face.
Ryan looked hurt.
Angry.
Maybe innocent.
Then police vehicles pulled into the driveway.
Molina entered.
"Lucas."
"What?"
"We traced Vanessa's phone."
"Where?"
"An office building downtown."
"Vale's office?"
"No."
Molina looked at Ryan.
"Mercer Insurance Group."
Everyone became silent.
Ryan whispered, "What?"
Molina approached him.
"We need you to come with us."
"This is insane."
"You're not under arrest."
"Then I'm not going."
Lucas looked at his best friend.
"Go."
Ryan's face changed.
"You believe this?"
"I don't know what I believe."
Ryan nodded slowly.
"That's worse."
They drove downtown.
Vanessa's phone signal came from the tenth floor.
Ryan's company occupied floors nine through eleven.
Police entered.
The tenth floor was mostly dark.
They found Vanessa in a conference room.
Alive.
Terrified.
Alone.
Thomas Vale was gone.
On the table sat the ledger.
Vanessa looked at Lucas.
"He knew you were coming."
"How?"
"I don't know."
Molina took the ledger.
Pages listed dates, accounts, coded payments.
Mercer appeared eleven times.
Ryan stepped forward.
"That is not me."
Vanessa looked at him.
"No."
Lucas turned.
"What?"
Vanessa pointed toward the line.
"Mercer isn't Ryan."
"Then who?"
She opened the back cover.
A full name appeared.
Elizabeth Mercer.
Ryan's mother.
Lucas stared at Ryan.
Ryan looked as shocked as he felt.
"My mother has been dead for seven years."
May you like
Vanessa shook her head.
"According to Thomas Vale, she isn't."
