But what if there'd been no Reuben Stefanos? What if the name had been an alias Trask had used to hide his funds?
And what if he was using part of that alias now to stay under the radar?
The first combination – Reuben Trask – was a bust. I tried Stefan Trask next. Nothing. Stefanos Reubens. Stefan Reuben. Jackpot.
And then I started to read.
“Son of a bitch,” I breathed.
“What is it?” Toni asked.
I glanced over at Isadora. I didn't want to say it, not with her here. It would break her. Her eyes narrowed as she came over to where Toni and I were sitting.
“What is it, Ash?”
I wanted to tell her not to look, but I knew my sister. That'd just make her more determined to see it.
“When Daniel Trask was arrested, the FBI thought he had a partner named Reuben Stefanos, but nothing was ever found. I was just thinking that maybe Trask was using versions of those names as an alias.” I explained it as quickly as possible so she wouldn't be completely shocked when she saw it. “He was. Stefan Reuben.”
“And you know it's Trask because...” Her voice trailed off as she got close enough to see what was on my screen. “Son of a bitch.”
“Will someone tell me what's going on?” Colton came to stand behind her.
“It's a fucking picture of Daniel Trask.” Isadora's voice was shaking as she read the caption next to the picture. “'Stefan Reuben enjoys local BBQ with wife, Caitlin Holmes, and step-daughter...Lily.”
I read it and I was looking at the picture, but I still didn't believe it. Not even hearing Isadora say it. But there was no doubt. The picture was on the grainy side, but it was clear enough for me to identify the man as Daniel Trask.
And the teenage girl next to him as my ex.
“She was...” Isadora sank down next to me. Her face was pale, her eyes wide. “Do you think...no...I mean...”
“I told you what her letter said.”
Toni wrapped her arms around my waist and rested her chin on my shoulder as I spoke. I put my hand over hers and squeezed, letting her know I appreciated the comfort.
“You think Trask had Lily dating you?” Isadora asked. “That she was spying or something?”
“I don't know,” I answered honestly. I didn't know. But I sure as hell had my suspicions.
“Who's Lily?” Colton's voice was low.
In a hurried, hushed tone, I heard Isadora give her boyfriend a quick summary. Colton uttered a low oath, and I thought I might end up liking him after all.
“Do you think Lily went to Monaco?” Toni asked softly. “After she...left.”
“Where's her mom now?” Isadora asked suddenly.
“What?” I looked over at her.
“Lily's mom. Caitlin Holmes.” Isadora leaned closer to me and gestured at the screen. “She told us she didn't have family. Was she just keeping us from her mom because her mom didn't know what Trask was doing?”
I scrolled further down, and sucked in a breath. “She died.” I felt Toni stiffen behind me. “Caitlin Holmes died two months before I met Lily. Suicide.”
“Can you find the exact date Trask was released from prison?” Toni asked.
I threw a curious look over my shoulder.
“I have a hunch,” she said.
It took me a couple of minutes, but when I found it, I swore again. “He got out the same day Lily disappeared.”
Toni nodded grimly. “That's what I thought.”
We all turned to look at her.
“Share.” The word was terse, but I squeezed her hand to make sure she understood it wasn't because of her.
“I'm just guessing here,” she said. “But I think at some point, Trask told his family who he really was, and when Caitlin committed suicide, he convinced Lily that your family was somehow at fault. He used that to convince Lily to spy on you guys.”
My heart squeezed in my chest. I didn't want to believe what I was hearing, but on some level, it made sense.
“I think she ended up caring about you,” Toni continued. “And when Trask got out of jail, he wanted her to help him with something.” Her eyes slid to Isadora and then back to me. “Maybe a kidnapping.”
“Shit,” Isadora breathed.
“I think she refused, and that's why she left.” Toni let the statement sit for a few seconds before she added, “She wrote that letter and then she...vanished.”
Silence fell for nearly a full minute.
“You don't think she simply moved away, do you?” Colton asked the question I knew everyone was thinking.
I answered it, “Trask killed her for not doing what he wanted.”
“Fuck.” Isadora sank back against Colton.
“Yeah,” Toni agreed. “That about sums it up.”
I couldn't have agreed more.
“We don't have any proof,” Colton said. “But this is probably something Marcum might want to know.”
“I don't want to distract her.” I turned back to my computer. “Not until we know for sure that we have something.”
Eyes turned to me and it was Isadora who asked the question. “How do we do that?”
I pulled up two more browser windows and put searches into all three. Isadora and Toni each leaned in from either side, so I didn't have to explain. They saw it only a few seconds after I did.
An apartment registered to a Lily Trask.
Fuck me.
“I’m going over there,” I said abruptly as I stood.
I hadn't gotten more than two steps when Isadora was right there. “No!” She caught my arm and shook me. “You are not! Didn’t we decide we were going to be smarter than that?”
“We are.” I turned to face her, catching her hands and lifting them to my lips to kiss them gently. “I want you to stay here with Colton and Toni. The security system's been upgraded since they got in before. I have double the security and everyone is working in pairs.” I glanced up at Colton and he nodded at me, knowing what I was going to say next. “And I know Colton's not going to let either of you out of his sight. But I have to go over there.”
“And do what?” She stared at me, terror in her eyes. “You won’t find anything that can help you figure out what happened to Lily.”
“I’m not looking for Lily.” I hugged Isadora without looking at Toni. “You have to understand, sweetie. It’s not about her. It’s about you. It’s about Toni. These sons-of-bitches have done enough. But if they did hurt Lily too...” I didn't want to go there. “Look, I just want to know if they are there, okay? If I see anybody or anything, I’ll back off and call the cops.”
“I don’t want you going over there alone.” She pressed her face against my chest.
“He won’t.” Toni was already on her feet, and pulling on a battered jacket. “Let's go.”
“Wait...no.” I shook my head as Isadora took a step back. “You’re staying here.”
Toni shrugged. “I will if you will.”
“No.” I almost had to force the word out through gritted teeth.
“It's not up for debate.” She twisted her hair into some sort of quick knot, securing it with a band she pulled from her pocket, staring at me all the while.
“No. This could be dangerous.” When all she did was cock her head at me, I had to keep my jaw clenched and count to ten before I responded with one of my usual asshole comments. “It’s not all that likely, but what if they're there? Trask and whoever he's working with are smart. The cops never even found this place.”
“That you know of,” Toni pointed out. “And for all you know, this isn’t anything. But, on the off chance it is? You’re right. They are dangerous. That’s why you’re not going alone.”