Chapter 7 - OWEN SAW SOMETHING
Sarah felt the hospital corridor tilt beneath her feet.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying Richard may have approached Owen on purpose.”
“That makes no sense.”
“Did Owen go anywhere alone before the incident?”
Sarah thought.
“He went to get dessert.”
“Where?”
“The side table near the service hallway.”
Eleanor’s face changed.
“That hallway leads to the private offices.”
“So?”
“That’s where the foundation’s financial files were being kept during the event.”
Sarah stared.
“You think my son stole something?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“I think he saw something.”
They went back into Owen’s room.
Sarah sat beside him.
“Honey, I need to ask you about last night.”
Owen looked nervous.
“Am I in trouble?”
“No.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
Eleanor remained by the door.
Sarah continued.
“Before that man bothered you, did you see him anywhere else?”
Owen thought.
“Maybe.”
“Where?”
“By the office hallway.”
“With anyone?”
Owen nodded.
“A man.”
“What man?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did you hear them talking?”
Owen looked down at his muffin.
“He was mad.”
“Richard?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
“I don’t remember.”
Sarah leaned closer.
“Owen, this is important.”
He closed his eyes.
Then suddenly opened them.
“He said, ‘Move it before Eleanor finds it.’”
Eleanor went still.
Sarah looked at her.
“Move what?”
Owen shrugged.
“I don’t know.”
“Anything else?”
“The other man said he already moved the first half.”
Eleanor’s face drained of color.
“And then?”
Owen swallowed.
“I dropped my fork.”
Sarah’s heart sped up.
“They saw you?”
“Richard did.”
“What happened?”
“He asked what I heard.”
Sarah’s stomach turned.
“What did you say?”
“I said nothing.”
“Then what?”
“He told me to go back to my mom.”
Sarah squeezed his hand.
“And later he came after you?”
Owen nodded.
“He said I needed to learn how to mind my own business.”
Sarah’s eyes burned.
“That’s why he took your crutch?”
Owen’s lower lip trembled.
“He said nobody would believe some crippled kid anyway.”
Sarah shut her eyes.
For one second, she couldn’t breathe.
Then Eleanor said,
“Oh my God.”
Sarah stood.
“What?”
Eleanor took out her phone.
She made a call.
“Marcus, check the private office from last night.”
She listened.
“Everything.”
Another pause.
Her face went blank.
“What do you mean it’s gone?”
Sarah’s stomach dropped.
Eleanor ended the call.
“The financial files disappeared sometime after the incident.”
Sarah looked at Owen.
Owen looked terrified.
Then his phone chimed.
A new message.
Unknown number.
Owen read it.
His face turned white.
“Mom…”
Sarah grabbed the phone.
The message contained one sentence.
TELL YOUR MOTHER TO STOP ASKING QUESTIONS.
May you like
Then another message appeared.
NEXT TIME, WE WON’T MISS.
