At 7:45 Fairview time, my phone rang. Ryan’s voice.
I’m at the house. Tamson’s car isn’t here. All the lights are off.
Agent Blake, proceed carefully.
The safe is behind the dresser. I’ve got it. Digital keypad.
Silence as Ryan entered the code.
Then it’s open.
What’s inside? Blake asked.
Cash. A lot of it. Approximately $80,000. Passports. Multiple passports. Three different names. Maria Santos. Elena Rodriguez. Carmen Duca. All with Tamson’s photo.
Pause.
Wait. Two more. Children’s passports. Grace Santos, age six. Liam Santos, age three. They’re photos, but wrong ages, wrong last names.
My heart stopped.
Tickets. Airline tickets to Madrid, Spain. departing Thursday night.
Blake, how many tickets?
A long pause.
Three tickets. Maria Santos, Grace Santos, Liam Santos.
Only three, I heard myself ask.
Only three, Ryan confirmed. My name isn’t on here. Neither is yours, Juliet. She was planning to take them and disappear.
Ryan’s voice broke.
Without me, without you.
There’s a USB drive labeled SI. Blake, immediately take it. That’s priority one.
One more thing, a photo tucked behind the passports. It’s Tamson and a man. Beach setting. Very intimate.
Describe him, Blake asked.
Dark hair, sharp features, expensive suit. Maybe mid4s.
That’s Ivanov, Blake confirmed. There’s writing on the back.
To my darling Sergey, our new life soon. Forever yours t.
A sound half sobb, half gasp. Background noise, hurried footsteps, door opening, water running. He’d run to the bathroom. We heard him vomit.
Blake muted our side. The man just realized his marriage was a lie.
Ryan came back.
I’m fine. I’m documenting everything.
Camera shudder sounds.
Now close it up and get out, Blake ordered.
Suddenly, headlights, car turning into the driveway.
Go, Blake barked. Back door now.
Ryan running. The front door opening. We could hear it through the phone.
Through the phone, we heard Tamson’s voice, distant, “Why isn’t anyone answering?”
Ryan whispered, “Backyard behind shed. Does she see you?”
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