Chapter 2 - The Woman Who Disappeared Before Dawn
Sloane Calder had never felt lonelier than she did while sitting inside her sister's Brooklyn apartment.
The television was off. Rain tapped against the kitchen window. A half-empty mug of peppermint tea rested between her hands.
Her older sister, Harper, watched from across the table.
“Did he hurt you?”
Sloane shook her head.
“Not like that.”
“Then what happened?”
Sloane stared at her swollen stomach.
“He kept leaving.”
Harper waited.
“Every time Tessa needed something, he ran. Every appointment. Every dinner. Every promise. There was always an emergency more important than me.”
“And last night?”
“He missed choosing our daughter's name.”
Her voice cracked.
“That sounds stupid when I say it.”
“No,” Harper replied quietly. “It doesn't.”
Sloane pressed her lips together.
“The worst part is that he genuinely believes he hasn't done anything wrong.”
Her phone lit up.
Rafe.
One message.
She read his apology twice.
Then placed the phone face down.
Harper reached across the table.
“You don't have to decide your whole future today.”
“I know.”
“Then eat something. Rest. Let me make breakfast.”
For the first time in months, Sloane allowed somebody else to take care of her.
By noon, she had fallen asleep on the guest-room bed.
She woke to the sound of Harper arguing in the hallway.
“I said she's not receiving visitors.”
A man's voice answered.
“Tell Mrs. Calder that I have information about her husband.”
Sloane sat upright.
She recognized the voice.
Grant Kesler.
Rafe's business ally.
A man whose smile had always made her uncomfortable.
She stepped into the hallway.
“Grant?”
He turned.
“Sloane. Thank God.”
Harper moved in front of her.
“You know him?”
“Unfortunately,” Sloane replied.
Grant raised both hands.
“I came because you're in danger.”
“From whom?”
“Someone close to Rafe.”
Sloane's heart began pounding.
“What are you talking about?”
Grant glanced toward the windows.
“Last night wasn't about Tessa's safety. It was about a flash drive.”
“I know about the drive.”
“Then you know it contains proof that Calder Maritime is being used to move stolen assets.”
Sloane folded her arms.
“Why would you tell me this?”
“Because somebody forged your authorization on the financial documents.”
Her stomach tightened.
Grant continued.
“When the authorities investigate, they'll follow your name.”
“That's impossible.”
“I wish it were.”
He reached into his coat.
Harper immediately stepped forward.
But Grant only removed a printed photograph.
It showed Sloane entering her obstetrician's office.
The date was two weeks earlier.
Someone had circled her face in red.
Beneath the photograph was a typed instruction.
IF CALDER WON'T COOPERATE, USE THE WIFE.
Sloane's knees weakened.
Harper caught her arm.
Grant lowered his voice.
“There's something else.”
Sloane looked up.
“The photograph wasn't taken by one of my men.”
“Then who took it?”
May you like
Grant hesitated.
“According to the surveillance contract, the order came from inside your husband's own security company.”
