It was about revenge. It was about erasing a dead man’s investigation. It was about controlling the daughter of the detective who had almost ruined his life.
“The blue folder,” I realized aloud, my heart hammering against my ribs. “The papers Lucas took from our safe…”
“Your father’s private case notes,” Miriam confirmed. “The only existing evidence linking Lucas to Caroline’s disappearance. Lucas took advantage of your father’s decline to gain access to his house, marry you, and search for those files. When he couldn’t find them in your father’s house, he realized they must be in your safe.”
Everything snapped into focus with blinding, terrifying clarity.
Lucas hadn’t gone to Zurich. He hadn’t just gone to start a new life with Melanie.
He was tying up the final loose ends of a crime committed nearly thirty years ago.
“Miriam,” I said, my voice steadying into something lethal. “Where is the Palm Springs address?”
