Bryce shrugged. “I have no idea. I’m just telling you what I found.”
Ian snapped the folder shut and looked up at the PI bathed in the soft glow of the dying sun. “I don’t understand why he did this. What is he trying to hide?”
“Money,” Bryce replied, pausing to fold his arms over his chest. “That’s why most people have offshore accounts, and it’seasier to have all of this in Kelly’s name because no one will think to check on a dead woman.”
Ian dug his nails into his palms. “How is this still happening? My mom’s been dead for a long time. Shouldn’t the bank accounts be closed by now?”
“If no one’s informed them, how will they know? As far as they know, your mom is alive and well.”
Ian’s grip on the folder tightened. “Okay, how do we stop this? Or how do we prove Eric is the one who did it?”
Bryce raked his fingers through his hair. “Look, if you want my advice, I’d suggest you hire a lawyer, and a good one too. Don’t get a novice or someone who’s green. You need a shark because that’s the kind of team Eric has.”
A sliver of unease raced through Ian. “This is going to make things worse for me, isn’t it?”
Bryce lifted his gaze up to Ian’s and didn’t look away. “You knew that if you poked the bear, it would lead to some serious consequences. Eric doesn’t know you have these yet. I’d suggest you move quickly before he comes after you again.”
“Is there any way to keep him from finding out it was me?”
“After you told him you wouldn’t back off? It’s a little too late for that.”
Ian grimaced and looked out at the horizon, at the pavement on either side of them with a thick green forest in the distance. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“I’ll keep digging, and I’ll get in touch with my friend again. For the right price, he might be willing to dig in further.”
Ian held his hand out and waited to give Bryce’s hand a firm squeeze. “I appreciate the effort.”
Bryce put his glasses on and straightened his back. “Thanks for taking a chance on me. I know we got off on the wrong foot, but I’m glad I’m getting the chance to make this right.”
“How’s your father? Is there anything I can do to help?”
A shadow settled over Bryce’s face. “I’ve got it. Thanks, though.”
Without waiting for a response, Bryce got back into his car and drove off, kicking up dust and gravel as he did.
Overhead, dark clouds began to gather, blocking out the sun. In the distance, thunder clapped, and a streak of yellow lightning lit up the sky. Ian tilted his head back to study the clouds, the kaleidoscope of dark colors giving him pause till the first drop of rain fell.
It rolled down Ian’s cheek and onto the ground beneath his feet.
He lifted up his hoodie and hurried to the car, where Jeff, Jonathan, and Dean were leaning against the hood, heads bent together in conversation. Hastily, the four of them made their way back into the car, and Jonathan started the engine. The car roared to life, and Jonathan twisted his arm over the seat back to make a three-point turn. Once he was settled, Ian patted his pockets for his phone.
Lily’s voice was tight and breathless when she answered. “How did it go?”
Ian lowered the phone and set it on speaker. “Were you waiting by the phone or something? Don’t you have anything better to do?”
“Am I on speaker? I can hear some kind of weird echo.”
“You are. Jonathan, Jeff, and Dean came with me to meet up with Bryce.”
Lily said something in the background, her voice muffled and unfocused. Then she came back on, still sounding breathless and impatient. “I’m sorry. We adopted a puppy, and I’m trying to potty train her. It’s a lot harder than it looks.”
“You should ask Sophia for tips.”
“I will. So, what did Bryce dig up that you had to drive for three hours to get off of him, and why couldn’t he send it over email? I mean, he lives in Nantucket, for heaven’s sake.”
“He was worried someone would hack into my email or his and make our lives difficult. One virus and a lot of the evidence will be erased,” Ian explained after a quick look around the car. “Anyway, I feel like the drive was worth it. Eric has several offshore accounts.”
Lily sucked in a harsh breath. “Crap. I guess you wouldn’t have offshore accounts if you had nothing to hide.”
