Chapter 14
Geneva woke to the sounds of loud voices.
Were her parents arguing? She got up and slipped on her robe before quietly going out into the hallway and heading to the top of the stairs.
The voices grew louder as she approached, and she could clearly hear her mother’s angry voice.
“That’s so unlike her,” she murmured to herself. “Mom never shouts.”
Tiptoeing down the stairs, she crept toward the kitchen where the voices were coming and stood in the hallway, listening to the argument.
“Sh-h-h, Judy, you’re going to wake Geneva,” her father, Robert, said.
“Then you should have thought of that before you went and shot a man. How could you?” her mother demanded. “It’s one thing to hire that idiot private investigator to do the job for us, but it’s another to get rid of him.”
“He knew too much,” Robert said.
“That was the risk we took when we hired him,” her mother said, her voice lower this time. “And look how worried Geneva has been since she learned that Travis was abducted. How long are we going to keep it from her that he’s fine?”
“A few days more,” her father said. “Once we know that Delvecchio’s body has been found and there are no leads back to us.”
“Are you certain no one saw you go to his office last night?” Her mother asked. “Wasn’t that risky?”
“It was dusk, and I parked in the alley just like he wanted. He left the back door open for me.” She heard the familiar annoyance in her father’s voice. “I had our cleaner go in as soon as he left the office for dinner and tidy up.”
“Please tell me you didn’t kill him too?” her mother pleaded.
“No. I had him blindfolded until we got there and after we left he was well compensated for that job, and I put him on a flight to Barbados as soon as I left there.”
“What insurance do you have he won’t talk once he returns,” she demanded.
“Who says he’ll be returning?”
“Robert! What has gotten into you?” she cried.
“Sh-h-h. Watch your voice,” he warned. “I don’t want Geneva overhearing us. We don’t know how she’d react, and she has been doing so well. I’d hate to see her backslide.”
Geneva felt her breathing get labored as she listened and tried to make sense of what she was hearing.
Had her father killed a man? And was he saying to he was going to have another one killed while out of the country?
But more important of all, did her parents know where Travis is? Were they behind his abduction?
“I really think we should tell her.” Her mother’s voice drifted into the hallway. “She should know her son is safe.”
“Not yet,” her father said. “Not until we know that the police will not pull her back into the station for more questioning.”
“Very well,” her mother said. “But I think we’re risking how she will react the longer this goes on.”
Geneva listened and heard footsteps approaching. She quickly tiptoed back to the curved staircase and went up a few of them. Then she called, “Good morning, is anyone here?”
Her mother stepped out into the foyer, a pleasant smile on her perfectly made-up face. “Good morning, darling, did you sleep well?”
“I did. Is father still here?” she asked.
“Having coffee in the kitchen. Do you want to join us?” her mother asked. “Goodness, you forgot your slippers.”
She nodded, looking down at her bare feet. “I did, coffee sounds marvelous. I need my morning caffeine rush to fully be at my best. Where’s Esmé?”
“She took the morning off for her doctor appointment. I’m afraid if you want something you’ll have to make it or go out,” her mother said.
“I can do toast,” Geneva said, following her into the kitchen. Once she had her coffee, she put bread in the toaster and leaned against the counter, sipping her beverage and studying her parents. “Tell me what the two of you were arguing about? I could hear you all the way upstairs.”
“It was nothing, just a business deal we are thinking about and have differing opinions over,” her mother said trying to brush her question away.
“I don’t believe you,” Geneva said. “You and daddy never argue. Even over business.”
“We disagree all the time,” her father contradicted sternly. “And it is nothing for you to worry about.”
“It is my concern, especially if you’ve done something illegal,” Geneva said.
There was a silence that fell over the kitchen and her parents exchanged worried glances.
“Do you know where Travis is?” Geneva asked, and her voice rose.
“Did you have something to do with his going missing? Because I swear to God if you did, I’ll never forgive you.
I’ve been working so hard to get and stay sober so I can get him back in my life.
I will not be able to live if you have ruined that for me. ”
“I don’t know what you thought you heard, but that isn’t it at all,” her father said.
“Don’t lie to me, Daddy,” Geneva said. “I’m too old for you to fracture our relationship with lies.”
“Geneva,” her mother said.
“I want the truth,” Geneva shouted. “I want to know what you’ve done with my son!”
There was another silence in the kitchen as neither of her parents spoke but stared at one another. Then her mother looked at her and shook her head. “We only wanted to get him away from Nathan. For you. It was all for you.”
The coffee cup in Geneva’s hand shook and the hot liquid sloshed over the rim and onto the floor. “What did you do?” she repeated.
The toast popped up, but she ignored it.
“We hired someone to take Travis and he’s been keeping an eye on the boy ever since at a house we bought for you and Travis to live in together.”
Geneva stared at her father in disbelief.
“How are we supposed to do that? When you basically hired someone to kidnap him? Do you think the police are going to believe I had nothing to do with this?” Her voice was loud and high pitched.
She sat the cup on the counter and pointed an accusatory finger at them.
“How could you do that to your own grandchild? He has to be frightened of being held against his will by a stranger.”
“He knows nothing because he sleeps all the time,” her father said. “He’s given a sedative to keep him quiet.”
Geneva’s mouth dropped open. “You’re drugging him?”
“No,” her mother said.
“That’s what it sounds like,” Geneva yelled. “How could you? How could you? If you’d do that to him what are you going to do to me now that I’ve found out?”
She didn’t wait for their answer, instead, she ran from the kitchen and back up to her room, locking her bedroom door. Grabbing her phone from the bedside table, she dialed 9-1-1.
“9-1-1, how can I help you?” the female voice said.
“I’d like to report an abduction. My son Travis McGinty was taken at the Miami zoo by my parents Robert and Judy Reyes.
I don’t know where they’ve hidden him, but I know they purchased the house, so maybe that’s where he is.
But I’m afraid they’re going to kill me!
Can you send Detective Curt Simons to 6842 Whispering Pines Lane. ”
“Have they threatened you?” the female asked.
“No, but I heard my father say he killed the man he paid to take my son from the zoo,” Geneva wept. “If he’ll go to those lengths to prevent the man from talking, what wouldn’t he do to me?”
Banging sounded on the door and the knob rattled as someone tried to get in.
“Geneva. Geneva, open this door,” her father’s bellowed, and the door rattled as he slammed his weight against it.
“Hurry,” she begged, looking at the door “They’re trying to break down my bedroom door.”
“Please stay on the line. I’m sending patrol cars to your address,” the woman said.
“Send Detective Simons,” Geneva screamed and hurried into the bathroom to lock herself inside.