Chapter 5 - WELCOME HOME
David walked into the empty foyer laughing.
Julianne followed him with two designer shopping bags.
“Maya?”
His voice echoed strangely.
He took three steps.
Then stopped.
“What the hell?”
The furniture was gone.
The paintings were gone.
The rugs.
The lamps.
The antique table.
Everything.
Julianne frowned.
“Did you get robbed?”
David dropped his suitcase.
“Maya!”
He stormed into the living room.
Then froze.
Agent Reed stood in the center of the room.
Two federal agents were behind him.
David's face drained.
“Who are you?”
“David Vance?”
“Yes.”
“Special Agent Marcus Reed.”
David looked toward Julianne.
Then back to Reed.
“What is this?”
Reed held up identification.
“You are being served with federal warrants relating to financial fraud, wire fraud, identity theft, conspiracy, and obstruction.”
Julianne stepped backward.
“What?”
David stared at her.
“Don't move.”
She let go of his hand.
That tiny gesture almost made me smile from the surveillance room.
David saw it too.
“Julianne.”
“I didn't do anything.”
Reed spoke.
“Ms. Cross, you'll have your opportunity to explain your involvement.”
Her face went pale.
“Involvement in what?”
David turned on her.
“Shut up.”
The agents immediately focused on him.
Reed remained calm.
“Mr. Vance, I recommend you do the same.”
David looked around the empty room.
“Where's my wife?”
Reed didn't answer.
“Where's Maya?”
Silence.
Then David asked the question.
“Where's Lily?”
I stopped breathing.
Reed looked toward the small white envelope on the fireplace mantel.
David followed his eyes.
“What is that?”
Reed picked it up.
“This is for you.”
David tore it open.
He unfolded the document.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then stopped.
I watched the video feed.
His knees buckled.
“No.”
He read it again.
“No.”
Julianne frowned.
“What is it?”
David's lips moved, but no sound came out.
Reed said nothing.
David finally whispered, “This isn't real.”
Then louder.
“This isn't real!”
He looked around wildly.
“Where is she?”
Reed's face was stone.
“Your daughter died thirteen days ago.”
David stared at him.
“No.”
“Meningitis.”
“No.”
“Your wife called you from the ICU.”
David's mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
“She called fifty times.”
David dropped the paper.
“I didn't know.”
Reed's voice hardened.
“You were told it was an emergency.”
“No, she—”
“You rejected the calls.”
“I thought she was being dramatic.”
The words hung in the empty room.
Even Julianne looked at him differently.
David noticed.
“Don't.”
She stepped back again.
David grabbed his phone.
His fingers trembled as he opened his messages.
He found mine.
LILY IS IN THE ICU.
His face broke.
Then another.
DAVID PLEASE ANSWER.
And another.
THIS IS AN EMERGENCY.
He sank onto the floor.
“Oh God.”
He pressed both hands to his head.
“Oh God.”
For one second, I wanted to stop watching.
Then he said my name.
“Maya.”
He looked at Reed.
“Where is she?”
“Safe.”
“I need to talk to her.”
“That isn't happening right now.”
“Give me her number.”
“You already have it.”
David stared at him.
Then the agents stepped forward.
“Turn around, Mr. Vance.”
David looked up.
“What?”
“You're being taken into custody.”
“No.”
He stood abruptly.
“My daughter is dead.”
“Yes.”
“My wife is gone.”
“Yes.”
“You can't arrest me right now.”
Reed's expression didn't change.
“Your grief does not erase your crimes.”
David looked toward Julianne.
“Tell them.”
She stared at him.
“Tell them what?”
“That I didn't do this alone.”
The room went silent.
May you like
Julianne's face changed.
And David realized his mistress might be the only person willing to destroy him faster than I could.
