Conned by You Read online

  “That’s not us. Our relationship is perfect.”

  “I can second that,” said Meg. “Ava and Justin are disgustingly in love.”

  The detective lowered his gaze and wrote in his notepad. He then looked at Justin. “Does she have a history of mental illness?”

  “What kind of question is that?”

  “Sir, don’t take offense. It’s my job to analyze the person we’re dealing with.”

  Justin leaned forward with his finger pointed at the detective. “I’ll tell you who Ava is. She’s a strong and compassionate woman who would NEVER go anywhere without informing one person. Someone once stalked her, and she is very cautious about her surroundings or going anywhere alone.”

  Detective Gray proceeded to his next question without a reaction to Justin’s statement. “Has she been under stress?”

  “Don’t we all deal with daily stress in our lives?” asked Chase.

  “Yes, but was she under an undue amount of stress or anxiety? Maybe from her job, finances, relationship.” The detective’s eyes darted towards Justin.

  “No, just the upcoming trial.”

  “Trial?” The detective eyebrows lifted.

  Justin explained that Ava is the prosecutor’s key witness in Brandon’s trial. The detective scribbled more on his notepad before addressing the trio. “I understand how worried you are, but what we have is not a missing persons case. You haven’t been in touch with her, but it’s barely been a day. You found her phone, but there isn’t any evidence of foul play.”

  “Someone smashed her phone!”

  “Or she dropped it without realizing it and someone ran it over. Look, I sympathize with you. You said you returned home early from a business trip therefore she wasn’t expecting you to be here.”

  “Your point?” Justin was beyond irritated with the detective’s attitude.

  “She’s probably away at the spa.”

  “It’s evident you won’t take this seriously. I’ll contact the police department to have another detective oversee the search for Ava.”

  “I understand your frustration, Mr. Harrington.”

  “I don’t believe you do, Detective Gray. Imagine if you’d returned home to find the person you love more than anything was not there waiting for you. Not only is that person not home, but they’re not at work, either. Their car is nowhere in sight, and a groundsman has found their phone tossed with its screen smashed. Where would your mind go? What horrors would it play?”

  Detective Gray looked Justin square in the eye. “I have a wife and four daughters. I would turn over every stone if I thought something awful happened to one of them. What I’m saying is give it more time. If you don’t hear from her by tomorrow, contact me.”

  “With all due respect, Detective Gray, tomorrow might be too late when every second counts.”

  He stood and smoothed his tie with a stroke of his hand. “Do you have a photo of her? I can issue a BOLO.”

  “A BOLO? What’s that?” asked Meg.

  “An acronym for our patrolman be on the lookout. It’s the best we can do until it’s an official missing persons case.”

  “I’ll forward a copy to your cell.” Detective Gray gave Justin his card with a cell phone number. He then forwarded him a picture of Ava he’d taken a week ago on the terrace.

  The detective eyed his phone when it dinged. He made swiping motions with his fingers. “Got it. Thank you, folks, for your time. I’ll be in touch.”

  Justin walked him to the door, slamming it after he exited. “He won’t do shit! That was a complete waste of time!”

  “He behaved as expected,” said Chase.

  “I’m not depending on the police. Between the three of us, we can bring her home. I know you have to fly home Meg, but I can still use your help.”

  She stepped forward. “I’m not going anywhere until we find Ava. School can wait.”

  Chase faced Meghan. “Are you sure that’s wise? You’re halfway until mid-terms.”

  “I’m not leaving, Chase!” She turned towards Justin. “What do you need from me?”

  “Listen, Ava wouldn’t want you to miss school, but the decision is yours. I need for you to do whatever you can to contact Tess. Find out what they talked about or what she heard. Reach out to anyone who Tess knows on social media. Hopefully, someone has heard from her.”

  “Got it. I’ll try her sister or mom. Can I use your computer?”

  “Sure. I have a laptop in the master bedroom, or you can use the one in my office.”

  After she jetted upstairs, Chase turned to Justin. “I don’t like her dismissing school, but it’s her friend so I get it.”

  “Ava is like a big sister to Meg. Don’t give her a hard time.”

  “I won’t. Listen, does Ava have a tracker on her car?”

  Justin snapped his fingers and patted Chase on the back. “Why didn’t I think of that? It should have been my first thought.” He opened the app that linked to the tracker. A map of the area slowly loaded onto the screen and then a blinking car icon appeared on the map.

  “Moonlight Beach?” questioned Chase, as he looked over Justin’s shoulder.

  “What in the hell she’s doing in Encinitas?”

  “One way to find out,” said Chase. “Meg! Let’s go!” he yelled.

  Seconds later, she leaned over the stair railing. “Go where?”

  “We have a lead on Ava.”

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Justin reached the parking lot of Moonlight Beach thirty-minutes later. He turned down the first parking aisle on a lookout for Ava’s black sports car. “I’ll search the left side, while you guys take the right,” he said to Chase and Meg, whose eyes were also glued outside the window.

  On the third row of parked cars, Justin spotted the Mercedes, with the rear backed into the parking spot. “There it is!” He stopped his car and jumped out. He ran to the driver’s side of Ava’s car. Nothing looked out of the ordinary.

  “Wait!” shouted Meg. “Don’t touch the car. The police can lift the fingerprints.”

  “If they do their job,” said Justin

  “Do you have any gloves?” asked Chase.

  “No. I don’t walk around with gloves in my back pocket.”

  Meg dug around in her purse, pulling out a plastic grocery bag. She handed it to Justin. “Wrap your hand in that.”

  “You carry plastic bags in your purse?” asked Chase.

  “Only when I travel.”

  Justin wrapped the bag around his hand and opened the driver’s side door. Immediately setting off a loud continuous beep from within the car. “Grab my keys from my car. It’s searching for the key fob.”

  Chase threw Justin his keys. He caught them mid-air and dangled the keyring inside the interior. The car then registered the key fob was near, causing the beeping to cease. His eyes scanned the interior of the car, and it was as clean as Ava kept it. Immaculate, not a dust particle in sight. Justin then popped the trunk and found nothing. “I don’t know what I was expecting to find. But there’s nothing here.” He closed the trunk.

  “It could’ve been worst,” said Meg. “She could have been inside.”

  With his eyes closed, he shook his head at the thought.

  “Sorry,” said Meg. “Sometimes I can’t help but think the worst.”

  Chase placed his arm around her. “You have to believe she’s safe.”

  Justin’s hand stroked his chin and his eyes darted towards the ground as he thought of his next move. He moved towards the rear of the car, and that’s when he noticed something missing. “Guys, come here.” He removed the bag from his hand and gestured towards Chase and Meg. “Look, her license plate is gone.”

  “What about the front plate?” asked Chase, running towards the front of the car. His eyes darted towards the bumper and then back at Justin. “It’s also gone.”

  “Why would someone leave her car and remove the plates?” asked Meghan.

  “So, it wouldn’t be easy t
o trace.” Justin stepped away. With his back turned, he released a sharp breath, and his eyes watered. The gravity of the situation had swept in. Someone had taken her, and he didn’t know why.

  Is it because of my wealth? Are they holding her for ransom?

  His thoughts moved to Ava’s state of mind and the stress she’s been under. “Meg, has Ava mentioned Brandon or the trial to you?”

  She shook her head. “I would bring it up only for her to change the subject. Why?”

  “I didn’t want to mention this in front of the detective, but I underplayed the level of stress the trial has caused her. It got so bad she believed she saw Brandon outside of the house.”

  “What?!” Chase and Meg said in unison.

  “She actually thought she saw him?” asked Chase.

  “Yes. But, with her missing, I’m thinking…”

  “What? That he waited months to escape from jail and drive hundreds of miles to stand outside of her home. Then wait for you to go out of town to kidnap her,” said Chase.

  “Justin, if Brandon was out, Tess would’ve been the first to know,” said Meghan. “She would have called Ava, and at the very least, mentioned it to me.”

  Justin ran his hand through his hair and sighed. “You’re both right. I’m just trying to make sense of the incomprehensible.”

  “Hey buddy, hang tough. We’ll find her.” Chase squeezed Justin’s shoulder.

  Justin nodded. “Damn right we are, and I’m not relying on the police.”

  “You’re not telling them about the car?” asked Meghan.

  “Hell no! We’ll wait here for the car club to tow it to my house. I welcome you and Meg to stay there, or we can meet up again tomorrow.”

  “Where will you be?”

  “Meeting with Blake.”

  Chapter Twenty-six

  “Thanks for seeing me, Blake.” Justin shook the hand of Blake Laredo. A retired Navy Seal, head of Elite Arms Protection Agency. He ran the company with his twin brother, Cameron Laredo, who is an ex-CIA agent.

  “I apologize for not meeting with you yesterday when you called. I had a prior engagement I couldn’t get out of.”

  “No explanation needed.” Justin sat in a chair facing Blake’s gunmetal-colored desk. His high-tech office looked as if you stepped inside a secret room in the Pentagon.

  “Before we proceed any further, how is Chris?”

  “He’s holding his own. Last night the doctors placed him on a ventilator.”

  “Sorry.” The muscles in Blake’s face relaxed as he lowered his head. “I’ll make sure to reach out to Corrine. How’s she holding up?”

  “Like a champ. She insisted I focus on finding Ava.”

  Blake’s gray eyes met his. “I’ve known Chris for many years and never known him to back away from a fight. He will pull through.” He straightened his posture in his chair. “Let’s get to the reason you’re here. I read over the brief you emailed, and I’m not surprised the police blew you off.” He rested his elbows on his desk and clasp his hands together. “Without a trail of birdseeds that connects the dots for them, you’re better off finding her yourself.”

  “What can you do to help me find my fiancée?”

  “First, with your permission, I would like to access your home’s security footage. I’ll look for anyone lurking around during, before, and after you left for Seattle.”

  “Of course, whatever you need.”

  “I would also like to send an investigator to interview Ava’s assistant. I realize you’ve already spoken with her, but…”

  “Hey, no need to explain. You have full access to every employee.”

  “I’m sure you’re aware of the connections we have here. I can get camera access to piece together the route her car traveled from the time it left your company’s parking lot, to where you found it in Encinitas.”

  For the first time, Justin felt hope because steps were being made to find Ava. After meeting with Blake for another hour, he told Justin he would contact him with an update by the end of the day. His sedulous efforts to have a report in a matter of hours did not surprise him. Their firm has worked for the Harrington family as long as Justin could remember. Not only do they provide private security, but they have in-house investigators, computer hackers, and access to a network of ex-military and FBI agents to assist with their specialized skills. He’s more than confident Blake will bring Ava home.

  On his way home, Justin made a detour to the hospital. Although Corrine told him to focus on Ava, he just didn’t feel right not checking on his dad. When he arrived, Justin stood outside his father’s room in the ICU and took in the scene through the glass doors. His father laid with a tube inserted down his throat attached to a machine that blew life into his lungs. His mother asleep on a recliner, on the far side of the room, with a blanket draped over her. Justin moved closer to the door that automatically slid open at his presence. His mother didn’t stir as he stepped towards the bed. The mechanical sounds of the machine filled the quiet space. He sat beside his father and thought of all that has happened in less than a year. Their relationship had gone from the best of friends to threats and plots of revenge, to a mutual love of one another. They may never be like they were before Ava blessed his life, but he has forgiven him. And if his father has taken his last breath on his own, Justin would be at peace knowing they have mended what had torn apart.

  “Justin? What are you doing back here?”

  He turned around and his mother had woken up and moved the blanket aside.

  “I had to check in before heading home.”

  “Any news on Ava?”

  Justin moved closer to Corrine. “The police blew me off. Citing she’s an adult who hadn’t been missing a whole day spiel.”

  “We know her absence is out of character.”

  “That’s why I contacted Blake. I’m kicking myself for not reaching out to him first.”

  “Well, if anyone can find her, Blake and Cameron will.”

  Justin nodded in agreement. “He said he’ll have something to report by the end of the day. It’s much more than what the police offered.” He stroked his bearded chin. “I found her car with the plates missing in Encinitas.”

  Corrine’s forehead creased. “Encinitas? What is going on, Justin?”

  He shrugged. “My gut is telling me someone is holding her somewhere.”

  “For money?”

  “In the business world, you unintentionally make enemies. Someone could have a grudge against myself or any one of us.”

  “And if they can’t get to your father, they’ll go through his son.”

  Justin kissed his mother on the cheek. “I better get going. Call me if anything changes. I’ll stop by tomorrow.”

  Before she could tell him not to come by, Justin kissed his father’s forehead and exited out the door.

  ∞∞∞

  When Justin turned into his driveway, he saw Meg alone in a chair on his porch. Surprised. He exited his car and noticed the sadness in her face. “I hope you don’t mind I waited for you.”

  “Of course not. Where’s Chase?” he asked.

  “At work. He doesn’t know I’m here.” She frowned. “I took a rideshare over.”

  “Have you been waiting long?”

  “I just arrived fifteen minutes ago.”

  Justin moved forward to unlock the front door. “Come in.” She followed him inside. “Would you like a drink?”

  “Yeah, I need something strong. What do you have?”

  “Everything.” He flicked his wrist and glanced at his watch. “It’s noon. What about Jack D?”

  “Sounds good.”

  “One or two shots?”

  “The way I feel… make it two.” She slung her purse onto a chair and removed her denim jacket. She fell back onto the sofa, while Justin moseyed towards the wet bar. He grabbed two shot glasses and poured the golden brown liquid.

  “Here you go,” he said, handing a glass to Meghan. He sat on the opposite e
nd of the sofa and faced her. He downed his double-shot of whiskey in one gulp and placed the glass on the coffee table. They remained silent in their private thoughts until Meghan faced him with teary eyes. “We will find her, right?” she asked.

  “I won’t settle for anything less.”

  “Considering all you’ve dealt with, you’re handling it well.” She retrieved a tissue from her purse and wiped her eyes.

  “Right now, there isn’t much I can do for my father. But it’s only a matter of days before Ava comes home.”

  Meg whipped her head towards him. “Have you heard something new? Did the police get a lead?”

  “No.” He shared with her his meeting with Blake. “I have all the confidence he’ll bring her home.”

  Her lips formed a crooked smile. “The advantages of the rich. It must be nice to have people like that at your disposal.”

  Justin nodded in agreement. “It is. He’s worked for my family for years. We consider Blake and his brother, Cameron, a part of our family. That’s the one reason they’ll make Ava their top priority.”

  “She’s lucky to have you.”

  “I’m the lucky one, Meg. Do you know what we discussed before my trip?” Justin managed a small smile at the memory. “Kids.”

  “Kids?” Meghan looked at him with doubt in her eyes. “Ava, discussed having kids?”

  “Well, no. I spoke, and she listened. I told her I wanted us to marry right away and work on having a family.”

  “And what did she say?”

  “You know, Ava. She listed the many reasons why she’s not ready.”

  Meghan rolled her eyes and chuckled. “She’s ready to become a mom. She just doesn’t know it yet.”

  “You’re right.” He nodded. “She thought she wasn’t ready for marriage until I proposed. At times, Ava gets inside her head and convinces herself why something isn’t practical.”

  “She’s her own worst enemy.”

  Justin smiled. “Exactly.” He snatched his glass from the table. “I need another. How about you?”

  “I’m good.” Her eyes lowered. “My phone is ringing. I’ll step away and take it in the other room.”