Chapter 34
Catherine sat across from Garrett and Franklin in the sitting area of the hotel room. Garrett was not happy about this, and
told Franklin he had nothing to say.
“That’s fine,” Catherine said, “but I have something to tell you. You’re going to want to hear it.”
Garrett stared at her, mouth set, but she saw the curiosity in his eyes.
“I know you’re married, Garrett. We executed a search warrant on the residence of Hope Davidson. We know her name was Audrey
Dolan when you married her because we found your marriage certificate. You may or may not know, but her real name is Clara
Dolan. And she is a suspect in the disappearance of Becca McCarthy.”
At the mention of his ex-girlfriend’s name he flinched, a tiny crease popping out on his forehead. But he didn’t speak.
“I don’t know when exactly you met Clara, but it was in the months before Becca came home from graduate school for the Christmas break.
You went over for dinner one night. Her family likes you.
You and Becca talked. She told her sister and her parents that she planned to visit you in Scottsdale, because you were taking a job at a resort there.
She thought that maybe you both had grown up enough where you might have a relationship again.
Driving back to school, she disappeared. ”
“I had nothing to do with that,” Garrett said flatly.
Franklin, in a monotone, said, “You don’t need to answer her questions.”
“I loved Becca,” Garrett said, ignoring his lawyer. “Her father told me the police think some asshole predator picked her
up while she waited for a tow truck.”
“I don’t think you hurt her,” Catherine said. And watching him now, she went with her first instincts—that Garrett really
had nothing to do with Becca’s disappearance, and had no idea that Clara had killed her. Something Catherine felt deep in
her gut was true, but she couldn’t prove.
“Clara found out that you had dinner with your ex-girlfriend—a lovely young woman, very smart, and your first love. She suspected
you still loved her, and if Becca returned those feelings, you’d dump Clara immediately. That was not going to happen, not
to Clara. She gets what she wants. She killed Becca—I believe Becca was the first person Clara killed. I don’t know what she
did with the body, but there are a lot of mountains and ravines in the Santa Barbara area.
“Instead of Becca, you took Clara to Scottsdale. You moved from resort to resort. You married in Las Vegas. She lied on her
marriage certificate. Her name isn’t Audrey, it’s Clara.”
“Then you have the wrong person.” Garrett’s voice exuded confidence, but a hint of doubt clouded his eyes.
“You didn’t know,” Catherine said with a nod. “Interesting. Because Clara Dolan has a ten-million-dollar trust fund she’s
been living on. How do you think she was able to buy that lovely beach house?”
“I’m done,” Garrett said.
“If you help us find our missing agents, I’ll help you by going to the DA and asking for leniency.”
“I said I was done. I don’t need leniency because I didn’t do anything, and you have no evidence that I have.”
Michael reached over and showed Catherine a text message on his phone from Ryder.
Zack found something. He’s on video chat now. You should be here.
“Think about it,” Catherine said. “I’ll give you fifteen minutes to consider whether you want to spend the rest of your life
in prison, or maybe get out before you’re wrinkled and gray. But if Matt and Kara die, you will face the death penalty.”
“I didn’t take them,” he said calmly.
Catherine rose. “Accessory to the murder of federal agents is a capital offense. My guess is that Clara has no intention of
returning here to get you.”
She walked to the door with Michael. Garrett said, “Where are you going, Franklin?”
Franklin said, “I’m not staying here alone with you.” And he followed Catherine out.
“Stay in the hotel,” Catherine told Franklin.
“I’ll be in the bar,” he said and strode down the hall to the elevator. He glanced back at Catherine. “I’m not drinking,”
he added. “I just need to think. I really hope we’re doing the right thing here, or my family is going to pay for our failure.”
Catherine and Michael walked into the cramped security office. Ryder, Jim, and Sloane were sitting around a computer screen
that showed Zack Heller, the team white-collar crime expert. He was talking fast, as usual.
Ryder said, “Excuse me, Zack, Catherine and Michael just came in.”
Ryder moved over, but Catherine waved for him to stay. She stood behind him. “What do you have?” she asked Zack.
“I’m still working through all of Dolan’s SmartGirl LLCs, but I have two things. First, her current lawyer for the LLCs. He’s
not returning calls, but Tony sent someone to his house. We have a warrant for the records. Second, I have all the LLC filings.
The one labeled SmartGirl Fun is small, just over a million dollars. SmartGirl Business is worth about five million dollars.
They both have moderate investments and pay Dolan a monthly stipend totaling eight thousand a month. The SmartGirl Properties
account is the largest and buys and sells property. The house in Flagler County is there, as well as several other properties
she owns all over the country. The LLC has done extremely well buying property low and selling high. Its assets are now in
excess of fifteen million. There have also been periodic deposits of large sums into the business account that I haven’t been
able to trace yet.”
Ryder said, “She owns property or has owned property in every city she or Garrett worked in, except for New Orleans. There,
the LLC rented an apartment in the French Quarter.”
“When Jim sent his report,” Zack continued, “I searched the records for all property in northern Florida and southern Georgia.
The property LLC owns five hundred acres of farmland in Clinch County, Georgia.”
“That’s it,” Jim said. “That’s where the victims were. Where Matt and Kara must be.”
“Send me plot numbers, an address, anything you have,” Ryder said. “I’ll map it out.”
He opened his laptop as Zack said, “Sending now.”
Catherine said, “Keep digging, specifically property within a day’s drive of Jacksonville. She’s going to run. If we don’t
find her in Clinch County, we’ll find her at one of her other properties.”
“I’m on it,” Zack said and the screen went dark.
“Sloane and I will head out there now,” Michael said. “Call with updates and exact location, and call the sheriff’s office as soon as you have a location.”
“I’ll reach out now, put them on alert,” Catherine said. “I should go with you.”
“Only you can break Garrett Reid,” Michael said. “He knows more than he’s said, and if we find that Matt and Kara are . . .”
He couldn’t say it. “You said she’s not coming back.”
“I could be wrong,” Catherine said.
“But you think the odds are she’ll run.”
Catherine nodded.
“Then get everything out of Reid. I don’t think he believed you that her true name isn’t Audrey. He knows her as Audrey. Prove
she’s not who she told him she was, and I think he’ll talk.”
Catherine’s lips curved up. “So you’re the shrink now.”
“I’m a man who has once been deeply in love. We don’t like being played for a fool.”
Michael opened the door to leave and Ryder said, “Wait. I think—I think Matt just emailed me. It’s through some else’s X account.”
“Whose?” Catherine asked.
“I don’t know, but it came in through my junk mail. I could have missed it.”
“Read it,” Michael said.
Ryder cleared his throat. “‘It’s Matt—we’re safe for now. Garrett has a female partner. Attractive blonde, thirties. Garrett’s
lawyer is Franklin Graves and is being blackmailed—Garrett’s partner abducted his wife, Lily, and son, Nathan; they are with
me. Get him protection ASAP. We’re in an abandoned farmhouse approx. one mile west of the flooded Sweetwater Cannery in GA.
Lily’s phone is cloned; don’t respond or call. I’ll be in touch when I can.’”