“I can’t believe Cassie told her.” He sounds absolutely broken. My heart aches, and I so wish I hadn’t dredged up this piece of history.

“Cassie never told me. She always said that the two of you had grown apart. It’s probably not relevant. It was just a loose end. I probably should never’ve asked.” It would have been over three years ago that he cheated. I shouldn’t have brought it up.

“I don’t know who it was. If you’re looking for probable suspects, I can’t help you.”

Wait, what?

“Fuck. I hate Sophia found out. She never once said anything to make me think she knew.”

“Cassie cheated on you?”

“She came clean when I returned from a business trip early.”

“Did you walk in—”

“No. Nothing like that. She could’ve gotten away with it. I think guilt was eating at her. She told me. We separated. At some point after the divorce, we started having family dinners on weekends when I was in town. We began growing closer. She asked if I could ever give her another chance.”

“What did you say?”

“I had a lot of travel coming up. I told her I’d think about it. That was three days before she died. She never said anything to me about Sophia knowing.”

“Were you at Cassie’s house when she asked about getting back together?”

“Yes. Why?”

“Because I bet Sophia overheard you. That’s around the time she started collecting articles.”

He huffs. I wait, expecting him to say something more, but there’s only silence.

“And she never told you who she had the affair with?”

“No. But, whoever it was…she wasn’t in love with him. She was just… This isn’t the lead you’re looking for.”

His words trail off, and I don’t push for more. It’s a loose, interesting end, but the timing isn’t right. A jilted lover would have no reason to kidnap Cassie’s daughter three years after Cassie’s death.

Ryan enters the room. I put my index finger up to my lips.

“Well, I’m sorry for dredging up old memories. And, Jack, for what it’s worth, I know Cassie loved you.”

“Thanks. Keep asking questions. We’ve got to find her.”

“We will. Try to get some sleep.”

The line clicks. Jack isn’t in a good place at all.

“Was that Jack?”

“Yeah. I called him. I wanted to ask… I didn’t think it was anything. And it wasn’t.”

“What?”

Cassie and Jack’s marriage feels private, and I am awash in guilt for digging where I shouldn’t have.

“I was asking about something that might possibly lead to a motive…but no dice.” It’s close to the truth without airing their dirty laundry.

“Motive.” The word rolls off Ryan’s tongue as if he’s weighing it. “Theoretically, if someone wanted him out of the CEO role, that could be a motive.”

“By chance, have you asked Jack if that might be the case?”

“I did. He understands our logic but says there’s no way. Wayne fought him on stepping aside. His uncle didn’t want it to happen. His uncle’s concern was the fiduciary responsibility to the board. He doesn’t want to be sued by investors. Once this is over, Jack will resume as CEO.”