“It’s true that Jean-Pierre has taken over his family’s holiday compound in Thailand. I didn’t even consider…”
“Tell me what’s going on there in Nice, Henry. Any leads? Did you see Abigail?”
“No. I’m sorry. They were already gone by the time I got here.”
“Henry…”
“I’ve been quiet because I immediately got the police involved. It’s been a whole ordeal, Monica. I’m only now in my hotel room. I did my best to get answers out of them, but they were socagey.I even tried speaking French only to be met with more than the usual Francophone scorn. Theyreallydidn’t want to tell me what was going on. About my own daughter!”
“But they were there?” Monica asked. “Abigail and Isabella.”
“Yes. I know they were.Theyknew exactly what was going on. The local police searched once they confirmed the missing children’s report. They discovered a scarf Abigail accidentally left behind. I know it was hers. The same one she wore on our ski trip last month.”
“God…” The Easter purple one with yellow polka dots. Abigail was big into garish pastels and Monica did her best to accommodate her daughter’s tastes with what meshed in their society. The ski trip was one instance where Abigail could dress however she wanted, and that included the purple and yellow scarf. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Isabella made her leave it behind. She must hate that…”
“Monica.”
His prompting to get her back on track did not go unnoticed. “I’m sorry.”
“Are you sure they’ve moved on to Thailand?”
“It has to be Thailand. Where else could they hide out while Isabella plots her next move? The Beaumonts are clearly collaborating with her!”
“If she knows we’re on her tail, she might run again once she’s settled in there. My mother was a master at squirreling away money for herself. I guarantee she’ll head to Russia if she thinksshe can hide there and stretch her dollar. She has connections to an oligarch named Peter Stanovich. He might even be an ex-lover of hers, for all I know.”
“Russia!” That was worse than Thailand!At least I know how to get to her there.“We have connections in Russia, too, Monica. So does Ethan. We’ll find her. I promise.”
“At this point, it’s not just finding her. It’s bringing her home.” Monica refused to cry, a vow that was disturbingly easy to maintain now that she was exhausted. “I want her home before something unspeakable happens to her. It’s only been two days. She might still be having fun, you know?” Monica sniffed. “Having fun with her grandma…”
“Seeing new and exciting places…”
“Be introduced to people…”
“Hearing new languages and learning new cultures…”
It was everything they wanted for their daughter, who was destined to be a worldly woman of intelligence and class.On our terms, though…What Isabella did was more unconscionable than taking her on a romp through Europe while school was in session.She doesn’t intend to bring Abigail back at all…
At least Monica knew she wasn’t crazy. Eva believed her. Henry believed her. Hell, even Ethan believed her. And Jackson…
I can’t think about him right now.Not while on the phone with her husband, her protector.
“I love you.” Henry’s voice cut through the shit and hit Monica right in the fragile heart. “I love our girl. We’ll be whole again soon. I promise.”
She whimpered beneath the covers.
“I’m flying to Thailand as soon as it’s feasible. I’m exhausted. But I’ll meet you there.”
“I’ve hired a group to take me where we need to go. They swore they knew the exact place we were talking about. Somewherecalled ‘Mercy’s Grove’ south of Phuket. It’s near the beach. I bet Abigail is having a lot of fun…”
“I bet she is, too.”
They were silent for a moment, Monica living through the image of her daughter running barefoot on a Thai beach as she picked up shells and shrieked at the water touching her toes. It was bad enough that she couldn’t be there. The thought of what might happen next…
“Your mother trafficked our daughter,” she said.
Henry was still silent. Then, “I know.”
“This is the point of no return, Henry. Your mother is banned from our home. I want her arrested. I want hergone.”
