“I need to see them.”
“Seeing them won’t tell you where the money went.”
“No.”
“But it will tell me whether the rest is real.”
She sighed.
“Document. Don’t create a scene.”
“I won’t.”
I meant it.
ADRIAN THOUGHT I WAS AT WORK
At 9:20, I arrived at Bellmere International Airport.
I wore jeans.
Baseball cap.
Sunglasses.
I felt ridiculous.
Like someone in a bad spy movie.
Then I saw my husband.
He was near the premium security lane.
Not wearing the suit he packed.
He had changed into light trousers and a navy polo.
Beside him stood Vanessa Hale.
She wore a white jacket.
Her suitcase matched his.
They looked comfortable.
That was worse than watching them kiss.
Comfort is intimate.
Adrian held her coffee while she searched her purse.
She adjusted his collar.
He smiled.
Then she leaned against him.
Not dramatic.
Familiar.
Six months?
A year?
I didn’t know.
I stayed fifty feet away.
They cleared security.
I followed.
I already had a ticket.
Not to Evermere.
To Westhaven.
The real destination Adrian had lied about.
I bought it that morning because I needed access beyond security.
It was the strangest hundred and eighty dollars I ever spent.
I never boarded.
Instead, I watched Adrian and Vanessa enter the Bellmere International Executive Lounge.
I sat outside.
Waited.
Twenty minutes later, Vanessa came out alone to take a phone call.
She stopped less than fifteen feet from me.
I heard:
“Yes, he says everything is handled.”
Pause.
“No, the wife doesn’t know.”
My entire body stiffened.
Vanessa continued:
“The funds are available.”
Then:
“We sign Friday morning.”
I stopped breathing.
She laughed softly.
“No. He said she barely checks anything.”
The wife.
That was me.
The woman who apparently barely checked anything.
Vanessa walked back into the lounge.
I sat frozen.
Affair.
Money.
Signing.
Property.
Suddenly, Monica’s warning became very loud.
Don’t focus only on the affair.
I BOUGHT A TICKET TO EVERMERE
Not their flight.
The one ninety minutes later.
I called my mother and asked her to keep Lily overnight.
Then I called the school.
Family situation.
Please release Lily to Grandma.
I told no one else.
From an airport restroom stall, I called Monica.
“I heard Vanessa say they’re signing something Friday and that funds are available.”
“What time do they land?”
“About one.”
“Send me everything.”
“I’m following them.”
“I assumed.”
“You sound disappointed.”
“I’m a lawyer, Claire. I’m professionally disappointed by clients.”
Despite everything, I laughed.
Then Monica became serious.
“I’m going to have a forensic accountant look at the transfers.”
“Today?”
“Yes.”
“Do not sign anything.”
“I’m not the one signing.”
“Claire.”
