That single word nearly destroyed whatever restraint remained.
“You did nothing?”
“I hired private investigators.”
“Private investigators?”
“I couldn’t trust company security.”
“You could have gone to federal law enforcement.”
“I was afraid.”
Taylor stepped closer.
“My wife disappeared.”
“I know.”
“My daughter lost her mother.”
“I know.”
“You knew she was investigating your company.”
“Yes.”
“And you stayed quiet because you were afraid?”
Victoria’s eyes filled.
“Yes.”
Taylor laughed.
Again, no humor.
“Do you have any idea what they said about her?”
“Yes.”
“They said she left us.”
“I know.”
“They found a note.”
Victoria went still.
Taylor saw it.
“You know about the note.”
She looked down.
“Victoria.”
“Yes.”
His voice broke.
“Was it fake?”
Victoria could barely answer.
“Yes.”
Taylor staggered backward.
Rachel grabbed his arm.
He pulled away.
Not from her.
From everything.
The note.
I’m sorry. I can’t do this anymore.
He had hated Megan because of that note.
Sophie had cried over it.
Taylor once burned the original police photocopy after Sophie found it and asked why Mommy did not want them.
His daughter had spent years believing abandonment was somehow connected to her.
Taylor whispered:
“Who wrote it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Gregory?”
“Possibly.”
“Your father?”
“I don’t know.”
Taylor looked at her.
“I need you to understand something.”
Victoria nodded.
“If Megan is dead because your company protected a contract…”
His voice disappeared.
He tried again.
“If she is dead…”
“I know.”
“No.”
Taylor stepped closer.
“You do not get to say that.”
Victoria looked at him.
“You don’t know what it was like raising Sophie when she woke up crying for her mother.”
“You don’t know what it was like telling her there was no answer.”
“I know I don’t.”
“You watched us?”
Victoria’s eyes filled.
“Yes.”
“Birthday reports?”
“Yes.”
“School?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted to know you were alive.”
Taylor stared.
“That is not kindness.”
“I know.”
“It is surveillance.”
“I know.”
“Then stop saying you know.”
Victoria fell silent.
Rachel moved beside Taylor.
“Sit down.”
“No.”
“You’re shaking.”
“I’m fine.”
“You are not.”
He looked toward her.
Rachel’s eyes were wet too.
“Neither am I.”
That brought him back slightly.
They sat.
For several minutes, nobody spoke.
Outside the clinic window, morning was beginning to lighten.
Victoria eventually said:
“There is something else.”
Taylor almost laughed.
“Of course there is.”
“Gregory knows you.”
Taylor looked over.
“He threatened me at the hotel.”
“No.”
Victoria shook her head.
“He knew who you were before tonight.”
Taylor stared.
“How?”
“You were hired deliberately.”
Everything stopped again.
“What?”
Victoria continued.