Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“Holy shit, Cadie.”
I nodded. “Once I got in the lobby, I calmly walked out the front, and my Uber was already there waiting for me. I had booked it to go to my condo, but I changed it to another house instead. My lawyer’s house. His name is Randy. He was my father’s lawyer, or one of them; I had known him my whole life. I told him what I saw and asked if I should go to the police, and he said no. I needed to leave. So, we came up with a plan that night. I would disappear, and he would find someone to buy the bakery immediately. He was the one who set up everything as far as selling the bakery, changing my identity, and getting me the money after the sale of the bakery. He somehow even managed to get my money out of my bank account and put it in another account with my new name.”
“I don’t even want to know what kind of lawyer he is.”
I smiled.
“Once we had the plan down, I returned to my condo. I wasn’t sure if Michael knew I had seen what had happened or not. Lauryn stumbled upon me packing up a bag. I told her I needed to leave but couldn’t tell her anything else. She wanted me to go to her boss, but at that point, after seeing the police in the room, I wasn’t even sure I could trust him. I left Boston and drove south per my lawyer’s instructions. I met up with a guy I sold my car to. He gave me cash and looked the other way. I then went to North Carolina, where I met the guy my lawyer set me up to meet. He gave me my new identity. He kept my first name; he just changed the spelling. He told me if I could stick to the truth with everything, then I would be okay. So, that’s what I tried to do, but I knew that my being so quiet about my past would draw attention, and it did. From your sister Macy especially.”
“What happened then?”
“Um, after he gave me my new driver’s license and passport, he handed me a bag filled with some of the cash from the sale of the bakery. He told me to use cash for as much as possible, but he gave me a credit card if I needed to use it. He also gave me a debit card to a new bank account that had my new name on it. They even gave me a new Social Security number. He even went so far as to give me a fake resume and told me that if anyone called the two numbers, it would go through him when someone called for references.”
Kian’s eyes widened. “And this guy was arranged by your lawyer?”
I nodded. “I know, I thought the same thing. What in the hell is Randy doing with a guy who makes a completely new identity for people. I’m pretty sure Randy works for the government and that his cover is that he is a lawyer. Why my father has a friend like that…I don’t want to know.”
“It could be innocent. We have a guy in our office who arranges things like this for people who are in protective custody.”
I nodded. “That makes sense.”
“Did you dye your hair?” Kian asked.
Reaching up, I grabbed my hair and said, “No, why?”
He shrugged. “I was just curious. You’re beautiful as a brunette, but I can’t imagine you as a blonde.”
I laughed and felt the vise around my chest ease some. “No, this guy said I needed to stay as close to myself as possible.”
“What happened after you left there?”
“Randy and I figured that if Michael did look for me, he would assume I would get as far from Boston as I could. So, I drove back north in the car that Randy’s guy had waiting for me. Anyway, I planned to go to New Hampshire or maybe Maine. The rest I already told you. I stumbled on Moose Village, and here I am.”
Kian dropped my hand and stood. “Jesus, Cadie.”
“I know. I didn’t want you to know the truth because if Michael and his family are looking for me, it would put you in danger. I only told Opal about me owning a bakery because she already had an idea. And a part of me was tired of lying.”
Kian was pacing. “I think the first thing we need to do is find out about what happened that night. Was it in the paper or the news?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t had any contact with Randy or Lauryn. I wrote a letter to my brother and parents and told them I had to go into hiding, but I couldn’t tell them why. The secret identity guy mailed those letters for me.”