Chapter 6 - Thomas Is Missing In Cancun
The Mexican authorities entered Thomas’s room after U.S. investigators coordinated with them.
His suitcase was there.
Passport.
Medication.
Shoes.
Wallet.
The black flash drive was gone.
There was no sign he planned to disappear permanently.
No note.
No packed luggage.
Nothing suggesting a romantic escape.
Thomas was missing.
Claire was not.
She had gone to the local police at 11:06 PM.
She reported Thomas missing.
I sat down when Marcus told me.
For twelve hours, I had believed my husband had abandoned me.
Claire had apparently spent those same hours trying to find him.
“Why didn’t she call me?”
Marcus answered carefully.
“She says Thomas told her not to.”
That made me angry again.
Everyone seemed determined to decide what I could handle.
Claire eventually spoke to me through a secure video call.
She looked exhausted.
“I’m sorry.”
“Did you sleep with my husband?”
“No.”
The answer came immediately.
“Did you lie to me?”
“Yes.”
That one did too.
Claire said Thomas approached her two months earlier because he discovered irregularities in his consulting business.
He suspected Daniel Mercer.
Thomas needed someone who understood my mother’s estate records because Mar Azul had somehow obtained documents connected to them.
Claire agreed to help.
They kept me out of it.
“To protect me?”
Claire closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
I nearly ended the call.
May you like
Then she said:
“Evelyn, your mother’s estate is why they targeted Tom.”
