Page 80 of Little Hidden Fears

“Given your nephew’s misbehavior, it’s easy for me to suspect he could have been the person talking to Dawn that day,” I said.

Alexander offered a slight shrug, pausing, and then saying, “Theft and abuse are two entirely different things, are they not?If you’re right, and I don’t believe you are, I wouldn’t know anything about it.”

For a moment, I looked at him, and he looked at me, neither of us speaking. I’d paid close attention to his demeanor when I voiced my opinion about Owen. He showed indifference, nothing more.

Maybe he’d had a lot of practice when it came to accusations pointed at himself and members of his family, whether true or not.

“If I may,” he said, “we can agree on one thing—my nephew has grossly mismanaged money coming into the club. It’s important to note that he’s been dealt with and will be working at the club no longer. I can assure you, as long as I draw breath, he will never again work in a position that involves our family’s money in any way. As to your feelings on Owen speaking to the woman in question, even if it was him, he’s no abuser of women.”

Prior to what he’d learned about Owen in the last week, he may have said the same thing about his thievery.

It was possible he didn’t know his nephew as well as he thought he did.

Or he did know him well, and he was lying to me.

“Dawn hasn’t been seen since she left the women’s center,” I said. “Noelle hired a private investigator to find her, which was an uncharacteristic thing for her to do. It makes me wonderwhyshe did it.”

“I’m guessing the investigation into Dawn’s whereabouts was not a success or you would have more answers than questions. Pity Noelle didn’t hire you. I’ve no doubt your search for the missing woman would have been far more successful.”

“You’re right. The investigator never found her. I was given a copy of the file he turned over to Noelle with his findings, or lack thereof.”

“A file that was stolen, correct?”

I nodded.

“Were you able to look through it beforehand?” he asked.

First, he’d questioned me about whether I’d gotten a good look at my attacker. Now, he was asking if I’d seen the file.

Suspicious.

“I’ll find Dawn, with or without the file,” I said.

“I have no doubt.” He reached for the teapot next to him, pouring himself a cup. He took a sip, frowning as he muttered something about the tea going cold.

“You know from our last visit that I’m a frank man,” Alexander said. “I’ll admit, as much as I enjoy our visits, my patience is running thin. If there’s a point to all of this, beyond what you’ve already said, you best get on with it.”

“All right, I will. I believe there’s a connection between Noelle’s death and Dawn’s disappearance, as I’m sure by now you’ve realized. The way I see it, the person who assaulted Dawn was someone Noelle knew, and the tennis club seems to be at the center of it all.”

“You may be right. Time will tell.”

“Here’s how I see the chain of events. Noelle saw Dawn arguing with someone from the club. At some point after that, Dawn was assaulted. Noelle assumed she knew who did it. She confronted the person, possibly even making a threat to share what she knew, and she was murdered for it.”

“All good theories, until they’re proven.”

“I plan to speak with Owen.”

“Owen is unreachable at present.”

Even more suspicious.

“I don’t understand,” I said.

“Upon visiting him at his home, or I should say, entering his home without his knowledge, I discovered an assortment of drugs. It explains his actions, his need to steal from the club. Hewas confronted and given an ultimatum—enter drug rehab or be cut from my will.”

“I’m guessing the rehab facility does not allow visitors, which is why he’s unable to speak with me, right?”

“You are correct. He isn’t supposed to have any contact with anyone outside of the facility. I have some pull, however, and if you permit me, I will speak to him about our conversation today ...onlyif he’s of the right mind to receive it.”

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