Depths Of Deception

It was all because of that damned book. Sarah wished she had never found it.

That thought went through her head on a regular basis these days. She remembered it like it was yesterday. She had suspected her husband of cheating for a while. So, she started following him. She rented a car on a regular basis, had even bought a wig to disguise herself. On one outing, when she got into her usual rental, the black notebook was tucked in the visor. It had fallen when she flipped it against the sun. She didn’t have time to inspect the book until she got to the rendezvous point where her ex-husband had gone. Once she was parked, she pulled the notebook out while she waited. Inside, where the endpaper should’ve been glued down, it had been pried from the cover just enough to create a small pocket. There was a small key tucked inside. She recognized it belonged to People’s Bank. She had banked there before she switched to a joint account with Andrew at Chase Bank.

“When are we going to get there??”

That was always the question when you have kids under the age of 12. Or any age when they’re reliant on the parents for transportation really.

“We’re almost there”, Sarah replied to the whining voices in the back seat. She knew they had to be tired and hungry. They’d been on the road now for how long? She’d lost track of time somewhere.

As they pulled into the cottage house, the excitement was palpable from the back seat. Bailey was already unbuckling her own seat belt as Sarah got out to get her younger sister, who wasn’t quite as adept with the harness that was holding her in place.

“Quit kicking so I can get you out Sam!”

She let out a whimper of excitement as she watched her older sister run down to the dock without her.

Finally, Sam was free. Set her on her feet, she grabbed her mother’s hand by the ring and pinkie fingers. Her little hand only able to fully grasp just those two. They headed down to the dock where Bailey was already throwing sticks and stones into the lake that she had gathered on the way there.

“Wock…wock!” Sam said in her gibberish style talk.

Sarah stopped so Sam could pick up a few of her own rocks to throw into the lake. As they made their way to the dock, Sam let loose of her fingers and ran the rest of the way to meet her sister.

“Be careful Sammie!!” She stopped short, just inches from the edge making her heart do a double take. Sam started to throw her rocks, joining her sister in their ritual.

“That girl is going to be the death of me someday”, Sarah thought.

If only she knew how right she was….

“Where did they go?”

“I think to the cottage house, sir.”

“Does she have the book with her?”

“Sir?”

“THE BOOK! Does she have it with her?”

“Oh, right. Yessir, we believe she does.”

“Well, believing and knowing are NOT the same thing. Find out.”

The two men, dressed like typical businessmen, left the room silently with their orders.

They arrived at the cottage house unannounced the same time Sarah and her girls were making their way into the cottage.

“How are we going to get the book from her, if she even has it?” asked Ethan.

Bernard was behind the steering wheel watching as the trio entered the home. “I don’t know yet, but we damn sure can’t go back without it.”

Bernard and Ethan took up post near the cottage where they were sure they wouldn’t be seen.

She was tidying up from dinner while the girls occupied themselves with toys they hadn’t seen for a few months. Once the dishes were clean and put away, she made her way to the family room where Bailey was quietly playing, and Sam had fallen asleep cuddled up in a blanket she found tucked away in the toy box. She sat in her favorite chair in the corner next to the fireplace and pulled the small black book out of her back pocket. Watching the slow, methodical rise and fall of Sam’s breathing, Sarah felt the soft leather against her skin as she turned the book over and back again in her hand.

“What am I going to do”, she asked herself quietly. She knew they were most likely looking for her, or better yet, the possession she held in her hands. But surely, they wouldn’t know about this place. How could they? It was still in her ex-husbands name even though she fought for it in the divorce. It was the only thing she really wanted. Aside from custody of the kids. Andrew still got them every other weekend, typical custody style. She couldn’t do anything about that. She wondered if she should’ve left them with him for their safety. That didn’t matter, they were here now. No going back.

The money was long gone. She knew she shouldn’t have spent it but after the divorce, she was short on funds. Twenty grand came in handy at that time in her life. It was almost as if someone made sure she found it for just that cause. She tried to convince herself of that but, she knew better. Sarah opened the book and looked at the lists of names that had been scribbled on almost every page. It must’ve gone through several different hands in its lifetime, the handwriting changed every few pages. On the last page, Sarah stared at the final one. It was her youngest daughter’s name. But why?

Andrew sat in the chair across the desk from Ryker. He had an easy appearance, well dressed, but not overly so. Ryker didn’t like to draw more attention to himself than was necessary. He held a steady gaze on Andrew which made him more on edge with each passing of the second hand. He had to refrain from speaking, he knew to do so would only worsen the situation. Finally, Ryker’s gaze left him, and he was able to relax, only for a moment. Ryker picked up a crystal tumbler from his desk and swiftly smashed it to the floor, commanding Andrew’s full attention.

“So, Andrew, tell me. What are we going to do about this situation?”

“I’m not sure what situation you’re referring to, sir.” Andrew stuttered. He didn’t dare let it be known that he was the one that had taken the notebook.

“Let’s say I believe you. Hypothetically speaking. You don’t know what I’m referring to. Then by all means, I’d have to tell you. Which would mean that I would have to repeat myself. Don’t make me repeat myself Andrew.” Ryker spoke in such a way that he demanded attention. He had a very intimidating way about him. And everyone listened.

“Yes, uh…sir. Right…. you’re referring to the situation concerning the black notebook?”

“Are you asking me?” Ryker was clearly becoming agitated with Andrew’s lack of compliance.

Not wanting to risk causing him to lose his temper completely, Andrew said “No sir. The black notebook, that’s’ the situation you’re referring to.”

“Yes! Andrew! There you go!” The change in Ryker’s demeanor would’ve left anyone who didn’t know him questioning what had just happened. The swift change to almost jovial was meant to throw him off. But Andrew knew better. He didn’t let his guard down.

Ryker stood from behind the desk and came around resting himself on the front, just in front of Andrew.

Before Ryker could say anything more, Bernard and Ethan came through the door.

“Sir. We need to speak to you.”

“Bernard, as much as I respect you and whatever it is that you feel is so urgent to tell me that you intrude into my office in the middle of a meeting, I’m going to have to ask that this wait.”

“Sir, you’re going to want to hear this.” It was Ethan this time, demanding Ryker’s attention.

With a sigh and a slight shake of his head, Ryker stood and met the two men at the door. Andrew could hear their hushed voices but couldn’t make out what they were saying. He could tell though that it was not going to bode well for him. Finally, Ryker came back to where Andrew was seated. Bernard and Ethan left the room.

“Andrew, my good man. It seems as though the situation may have righted itself”, he said with a slight smirk on his face that made every hair on Andrew’s neck stand up.

Ryker made his way back around his desk where he opened a drawer. He sat down and laid his Glock in front of him. He sat back and watched as he saw the questions swimming in Andrew’s eyes.

Andrew didn’t hear the door open again behind him. What he did hear made his heart speed up to a pace he’d never experienced. There was a slight sniffle and as Andrew turned around in his chair, he heard a tiny, all too familiar voice, “Daddy?”.

They had Sam.

“No, no, no…” Those were the last words Andrew muttered before his world went dark.