Reid
“Reid, we’ve just received some very interesting information that we want answers to.” I try hard to swallow the lump that has formed suddenly in my throat. It’s not budging. It becomes even more restricting when I search West’s expression to find his eyes cold and his lips pursed.
“I’ll help however I can,” I reply in a voice that rattles with uncertainty due to this sudden change in West’s demeanour. I shift nervously on my feet. They’ve obviously figured out about the night I had with Linda, the one leading to a make-out session that’s had me shaken ever since.
“Reid, can you explain to us why you organised and then removed fifty thousand dollars from your joint account with Morgan, the day prior to her going missing?”
My heart races. Fuck. How am I going to explain this? I need to fess up and tell the truth. It’s now or never. My eyes grow wide, and I twist my head towards Linda searching for any type of reaction … she looks furious, her scrunched face says more than any words she could say. I shift my attention back to West to find his eyebrows are crossed and he’s waiting for some sort of explanation that will put me in the clear. I’m not even sure what to confess, or even where to start in delivering my confession. I shake my head. “Fuck!”
“Can you tell me why you withdrew the money.” West is still waiting. His arms are crossed over his chest. His head is tilted slightly.
I take a deep breath. “I withdrew it because I was suspicious that Morgan, might be planning on leaving me. I didn’t want her to drain the bank account and take it all. I also …” I can’t say it. I need to, but I can’t.
“Go on.”
“I did something I’m not proud of.”
“It’s in your best interest to tell me the truth here Reid, because this is not looking favourable for you.”
“I know.” I lower my head and stare at the shag carpeting. Now or never. “I thought Morgan might have learnt about what I did. I … I kissed someone … It was Linda, on a business trip recently, a couple of months ago.” I pause, waiting for something. A gasp. A groan, something, but there’s nothing.
“I see.”
“Morgan was acting strange after I returned. I gathered she found out what took place. Things have been getting worse between us, so I took most of our savings to keep it safe. Women get angry and want revenge about shit like this. Morgan might have been planning to end our marriage.” I hear myself and want to instantly punch myself in the head. I’m so broken, stupid, and exhausted. I wish I could close my eyes and open them again and this will be over. My heart aches. How the fuck could I screw up my marriage like this?
“Linda?” West says.
I look to her for confirmation.
“I kissed him, yes. We never slept together. I didn’t tell Morgan. We, Reid and I, decided it was an irresponsible mistake, although harmless, and it’s one that should never be spoken of. I don’t think Morgan knows like Reid suspects. I’m pretty sure she has no clue about our mistake at all.”
I sigh.
“But I thought you said your marriage was fine, Reid? This is obviously not the truth, then is it?” West says.
My fists clench and my jaw tenses. I’m an idiot. I’m the biggest idiot to walk the earth. “The money is here. I didn’t use it to do what all you think I did. It’s in the safe in the office.”
“Where’s the office, again?” West speaks calmly.
“This level, down the corridor past the kitchen. It’s the last door on the right, and the safe is inside the cupboard.”
“It’s best you take us to the safe now, Mr Banks.”
Shit! We’re back to Mr Banks again.
I’m escorted not only by West, but Gleaton, Maloney and one of the two other officers. The tall lanky one stays behind in the loungeroom with Linda, even though nobody said a word about him doing so. We walk in a conga line down the hallway and when I stop at the office door I know I’m going to be fine, and in the clear, because they’ll see the money is there and know I’m finally giving them the whole truth. My hand hovers over the door handle and even though I’m hesitating, I feel letting this skeleton out of the closet will finally end some of the guilt I’ve been carrying. Secrets make people do stupid shit and this entire situation with Linda has had me making stupid decisions and doing stupid shit.
We enter. I slide open the cupboard door that’s positioned directly across from my desk. It’s a moderately sized, metal safe and I’m now looking directly at it.
“We saw this on search of the lower level, sir. We have listed it on our form,” Maloney says.
“Good,” West replies.
I say nothing. With a tensed finger, I punch in the combination, 3.6.5.9.2.1 … the latch opens. Crouching down, I outstretch my hand and move to retrieve the sports bag of money from the floor of the safe where I left it. My hand runs across the bottom of the metal. Panic sets in as I fail to locate the bag.
“It’s not there,” I choke out. “It’s gone.” The shock radiating through my limbs has my legs growing weak and my arms following suit.
A generic ring tone plays from the pocket of my sweat pants.
I rise slowly from the floor.
“Where is the money, Reid?” West, says. Displeased would be an understatement as to how he looks at me when I come to face him. I’d say, he’s about ready to haul my arse down to the cop shop and lock me up for life.
I retrieve my phone taking a moment to glance at the screen. Morgan’s dad is calling. Morgan must have found the money and hid it somewhere. That has to be it. There’s no other logical explanation.
“Reid.” Gleaton’s tone is clipped.
“I have to take this,” I say, softly.
“What could be so important?” Maloney is calm, yet there’s a subtle strain to his words.
“It’s Morgan’s Dad, Ronald. I need to take this call.” I’m dazed, confused and downright furious. Why did Morgan take the money?
“Answer it,” West orders.
I go to leave the room.
“You can answer it here.”
“Hello,” I say.
“Put the call on speaker,” West instructs.
I immediately switch the speaker on. “Hey Ron.”
“Reid, we’re delayed. There’s been an accident on the highway. A cattle truck has rolled over. It looks like a pretty nasty accident from where we’re sitting. For now, we’re stuck waiting. You know what these country highways are like when a truck overturns?”
“Yeah, I do.” I scan the room to find eight sets of eyes all focused on me. “Are you two okay though?”
“Yes, we’re fine. Now is there any news on Morgan, yet? Have you heard from her? Do you know anything more?” His tone is a mix of despair and worry.
“No, we haven’t. Not yet. Linda’s here now though.”
“Oh, that’s good news. Has she heard from Morgan? Does she know what’s wrong? Why Morgan hasn’t come home?”
“No sir, she doesn’t.”
“Okay. Can you please ring me if you learn anything or have an update?”
“I will.”
“Her mother is beside herself right now and quite frankly I’m worried. I wish we didn’t live so far away.”
“I know. Me too.”
“I’ll talk to you soon, Reid.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll let you know when we’re moving again.” He sighs.
“Drive safe, and I’ll see you soon.”
“We are. Ring if there is any news.”
“I will.”
“Bye.”
“Bye.”
The call disconnects.
The majority of the afternoon is spent being interrogated by the two detectives who no doubt believe I’m their prime suspect. I was allowed to call one person after I spoke with Morgan’s dad and that person was my father. He’s currently contacting a lawyer and he’s pissed as hell at me after I explain everything that’s transpired since we last talked. My dad is going to kick my arse when he gets here and I’m going to deserve his boot planted fair up my arse too.
“I don’t know where the money is. Morgan knows the code to the safe. She doesn’t go in there as far as I know.” I pause. “Look, I’m the only one who uses it. I’ve already told you this.”
“So why would ––” I cut West off.
“I don’t know. All I do know is, Morgan has the code and she could have taken the money out. I can’t tell you anything else. I’ve been telling you this for ages now.”
“Where’s the money?” West isn’t letting up.
“I’m telling you the truth. It was in there. I don’t have the foggiest idea where it is now.”
Another hail of the identical questions gets hurled my way by Detective West, and soon Gleaton takes his turn of asking them all over again.
“What else can I say? I’ve told you everything. It’s all I know.” I feel like a hole has been dug so deep, I’m about to be buried in a very unpleasant way. Twenty-five to life, throw away the key is what my future holds and our children’s lives are about to be so royally fucked up, that breathing becomes an almost impossible task.
“I’m going to ask you one more time, where is the money?” West says.
“Where are you Morgan?” I say under my breath, sitting at the very table I sat at last night, awaiting her arrival home.
“Reid, let’s go over this again.” Gleaton is like a hungry shark who’s only mission is to fire questions at me until he penetrates the protective cage I’m trying to find security in.
I drop my head to the table and fold my arms over the back of my head. Why keep asking me these fucking questions? The answers aren’t going to change.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
It’s the home phone.
My balls instantly launch into my throat and my heart sprints. It has to be him.
“Go. Wait for me to pick up the other line.” West is out of his chair as fast as I am.
I nod.
I’m staring at the phone which is gripped in my hand. I’m waiting for West to give the go ahead or a sign to indicate I need to pick up the line. I can see the time on the screen, 5:28 p.m. He hasn’t rung again all day. This must be him.
“Go,” West mouths with his hand cupped over the speaker and his finger poised over the accept button.
“Hello. Reid speaking.”
“Reid, can you do me a favour please?” The accent is British.
Who is this? I narrow my eyebrows and look at West who mouths, “Say nothing.”
I don’t.
“Could you say hello to Detective Astin West for me. Go on.”
West again mouths, “Say nothing.”
The line goes dead.