Chapter 13 - She Ran
Sloan did not answer calls.
She did not answer texts.
By noon, Rachel had sent formal notice instructing her not to use or distribute any of my personal financial information.
By two, I had filed the police report.
Saying my son's name to the officer was one of the hardest things I had ever done.
I did it anyway.
Harrison sat beside me through the interview.
When the officer asked whether he had made unauthorized transfers, he said, "Yes."
No excuses.
No "borrowing."
Just yes.
It was the first thing he had done in months that made me proud of him.
That did not make it disappear.
The officer asked about Sloan.
Harrison told them about the forged signature, the copied documents, the reverse mortgage inquiry.
Then he gave them the address of Sloan's sister.
She was not there.
That evening, Brenda arrived with Chinese takeout and sat beside me on the patio.
The frosting stain was still faintly visible between the stones.
"You going to clean that?" she asked.
"Not yet."
She nodded.
Some friends know when a mess is serving a purpose.
Harrison came outside holding his phone.
"I found the watch buyer."
I stood so quickly my chair scraped the patio.
"Where?"
"A dealer in Milwaukee. He still has it."
"Can we get it back?"
"He wants what he paid plus fees."
"How much?"
"Thirteen thousand eight hundred."
I did not hesitate.
"I'll pay it."
Harrison shook his head.
"No. I will."
"With what?"
He looked embarrassed.
"I'm selling my car."
Before I could answer, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Mrs. Bennett? This is Detective Larkin. We located Sloan's vehicle."
My grip tightened.
"Where is she?"
"The vehicle was abandoned at O'Hare."
"And Sloan?"
"We believe she boarded a flight."
"To where?"
He paused.
"Phoenix."
Harrison's face changed.
May you like
I asked, "Why does that matter?"
He whispered, "Her ex-husband lives in Phoenix."
