Page 17 of Max's Mission

“Can you tell us what happened?” Max asked.

Sorenson and Agent Gallagher shared a quick glance, then the latter spoke.

“Dr. Gaultier, when was the last time you spoke to your husband?”

Max ground his back teeth together. He should have brought his attorney along. They’d dodged the question.

Margot’s brow furrowed. “Before work the day he left us. And he’s my ex-husband. We’re divorced.”

“You haven’t spoken to him since he left you? How did you divorce, then?” Gallagher asked.

“He left divorce papers on the counter with a note, asking me to tell the girls he loved them. I tried contacting him through the attorney’s office listed on the documents, but he never responded. He’d already signed them, giving up everything he didn’t take with him, including custody of the twins. The only thing I really wanted him to take possession of was his car, but once it became apparent even his attorneys couldn’t contact him, I dropped that and just signed on the dotted line.”

Sorenson frowned. “So, the car we found isn’t his?”

“It might be, but it’s not the one he had when we were married. I sold it and paid off the loan. How did you know to contact me?”

“We found fingerprints in the car that came back to his name. A quick background check revealed his marriage to you and your daughters. With your confirmation of those items”—he pointedto the photos—“we’re fairly certain the man we found is your ex. The DNA sample you submitted from one of your daughters should give us a positive ID.” Sorenson twirled his pen between his hands.

Max’s frown deepened. “You know, I understand why you wanted her to look at the photographs and confirm that those things belong to Tad, but with the DNA sample from Lily, why did you need us to come here? We could have done all of this over Zoom.”

Again, Sorenson and Gallagher exchanged a look.

A hollow pit formed in Max’s stomach, and suddenly, he knew his previous suspicions were correct. “You think Tad was murdered, don’t you?”

Seven

Margot couldn’t stop the gasp that escaped at Max’s question. With wide eyes, she looked at him. “What?” Her gaze shot to Sorenson. “Is he right?”

The detective looked at Gallagher again, and she snapped.

“Stop silently talking. Answer my question. Was Tad murdered?”

“Dr. Gaultier?—”

She held up a hand. “I am here voluntarily, and as you said, I came a long way. If you want me to answer any more of your questions, you need to answer mine.” She was done with their runaround. Honestly, she should have asked for more information when Sorenson asked her to come up, but she’d been too shocked by the news of Tad’s death. The idea he’d been murdered had rumbled around in the back of her mind, considering the condition they found him in, but hearing it out loud was jarring. And it was enough to snap her out of the nervous state she’d been in.

“Yes,” Gallagher answered. “We think he was murdered.”

“Why?” Max countered.

The agent’s gaze bounced between him and Margot for several moments. “An ice fisherman found his body. Snagged his line on it.”

Sorenson took over. “When we got there, we widened the hole in the ice to get him out and it was quickly apparent he didn’t fall in and drown. He was bundled in plastic and rope. We think he was tied to something to keep him down.”

Margot felt the color drain from her face. A chill that rivaled the one outside settled into her bones. It was like watching a movie where mobsters murdered their mark and tossed him into the river. That didn’t happen in her world.

She sucked in a deep breath through her nose and looked away, covering her mouth. Her hand trembled violently, and her heart raced as jumbled thoughts tumbled through her mind. How could this have happened? Who could have done this? And why?

Max spun her chair so she faced him and put his free hand on her knee. “Hey. Margot, honey. Look at me.”

With watery blue eyes, she met his gaze.

“Are you all right? They don’t have to continue. We can leave.”

For several interminable moments, she stared at him, focusing on the furrows formed on his face by his concerned frown.

Something shifted in her as the deep concern in his expression registered. She couldn’t imagine facing this without Max. He was like an anchor for her emotions. His supportive presence was something she could yank on and strain against, but was always steady. Always there to keep her from getting completely lost. Somewhere along the line, he’d become essential to her well-being. That should scare her and make her want to back away—considering how she’d been burned by Tad—but it didn’t.

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