It's been five years since the sudden disappearance of Cora Cadigan's mother. Five years since the case was closed before it even began.
In the final summer before the end of high school, Cora knows it's her last opportunity to find the answers she...
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"He's an alright guy from what I know."
It had been easier than I had thought to get an appointment with Marcus Wainwright. A fake appointment, nonetheless. But he didn't need to know that just yet.
I'd spoken to him briefly over the phone, interested in getting my 'tax return'. He'd seemed pleasant enough, but I could hear the edge in his voice. The authority was clearly there.
I didn't know Marcus very well, but from what I did know, he was extremely rich. One of the only accountants in our town and on the Yacht Club committee. Who fucking knew why a yacht club needed a committee but plenty of things in New River didn't make sense.
He was the type of man I had only ever heard of. Not someone who tended to hang out around town in New River. There were a few people in this town who I didn't know well. Some people who distanced themselves from the tourist life.
Marcus Wainwright was one of those people.
I'd probably met him once or twice before in my entire life. My parents had never been able to pay for an accountant. Ryan was the only person I knew who had parents who used him. Other than people like Rhys Laderman, of course.
"Maybe you don't know him then," I remark.
Ryan had offered to drive me today and I knew he'd be offended if I turned him down. I knew he'd think that I was choosing Rhys over him again too and I wasn't in the mood for one of his lectures.
Honestly, it felt different this time. When I went to the bank, it wasn't about talking to someone who could be linked to my mum, in the flesh. But this was. And I was scared. Scared that he might even be my dad.
"My parents haven't ever had a problem with him. He's always been trustworthy."
"A liar begins with making falsehood appear like a truth, and ends with making truth itself appear like falsehood."
"Was that—"
"Shakespeare," I nod, winding down my window.
"Who knew you were paying attention in English class."
