After a ride to the top, I pulled out my keys. When the lock disengaged, I pushed the door open to the place I’d once loved. The view of the water was the first thing I saw, and it was still breathtaking, but it didn’t have the same effect. Looking at it from here, I imagined Carson standing on the beach across our ocean. Even though thousands of miles separated us, it still connected us.
Locking the door behind me, I took my bag and headed to my bedroom. Placing the bag in the chair, I pulled out the last T-shirt Carson had worn and brought it to my nose. His scent was like a lifeline for me.
Stripping off my clothes, I showered quickly and dried off. I could never sleep without showering now.
Slipping a bed pillow inside his shirt, I got into bed and wrapped myself around it. I picked up my phone and pressed his number.
He answered after two rings. “Hey, baby. Are you just getting home?”
I smiled into the camera. “Yeah. I’m getting ready to crash. Just wanted to see your face before I slept.”
Carson’s hazel eyes were glassy. “I’m glad you called.”
“Me too. I’ll call you when I wake up.” I looked at him closely. “And you should get some rest, too.”
He nodded. “I will, now that I know you’re safe.”
“I love you,” I said. “We’ll talk soon.”
“I love you. I’ll be waiting.”
I ended the call before he watched me fall apart at the sweetness.
The incessant ringing of my phone woke me from my exhausted sleep. I patted around on my bed until I found it.
The screen lit up with George’s name, so I swiped to answer quickly.
“George?”
His familiar, friendly tone filled my ear. “Hello, Colin. So sorry to wake you, but I’ve waited as long as I could.”
I sat up. “No, it’s okay, George. What time is it?”
“Almost six a.m. your time. Nine p.m. here in London.”
I yawned and scrubbed a hand over my face. “I’m sorry. The jet lag is really getting to me.”
“I know, son, I can imagine. Carson said you got in about five yesterday, so I wanted to give you a chance to sleep before I gave you the news.”
I sat up straighter. “What news? What’s happened? Is Carson okay?”
I switched to speakerphone to see if I’d missed any messages.
“Yes, he’s fine. I’m calling because you’re going to need to go see my friend, Richard Withers, as soon as you can. He’s the forensic accountant I hired on your behalf. When he emailed me yesterday, I told him you were going to be there.”
I scrubbed my hands over my face. “Okay. Why am I going to see him?”
“He’s figured out where your money went, Colin. And he wants to see you before he alerts the police.”
My heart rate picked up. “It’s that much?”
He sighed. “Yes. He’ll explain it all. If you can be at his office at eight, I’ll still be up should you need me.”
“Have you told Carson?” I asked, whipping back the covers.
“No. I called you first. It’s up to you to tell him.”
“Yeah,” I said, running my hand over my head. “What time is it at home? God, I hate math.”
