Page 75 of Primary Seduction
“Wait. What did Samuel say when you called?”
Trent shook his head. “I had to leave a voicemail. He must be in court or something.”
They walked up the path to the house, and Harper let herself in, calling for her mum. “Mum! You home?” Max noticed there was only a faint tremble to the words as he closed the door behind them.
No one answered from without the house, so they began to look around.
“Mum?” Jocelyn shouted.
They searched the whole house, only realising something was wrong when they reached the main bedroom, drawers were open haphazardly, clothes littered the floor, wardrobe doors were half open.
“It looks like she’s gone,” Trent murmured, studying the room and ensuite. “Toiletries are gone, some clothes are gone. It looks like she knew we were coming.” Trent sounded as confused as Max felt.
How would she have known they were on their way to see her? They’d not told anyone except each other and none of them had been apart since the decision to confront her. Except Max, but he knewhehadn’t rung her. It must’ve beenhiscall that had tipped her off.
Trent began to go down the hallway. “Harper? Check your bedroom, see if anything is missing. Little things, like keys or money or cards or anything you wouldn’t have had on you.”
Max noticed tears streaming down Harper’s face but before he could go to her, Jocelyn was with her, guiding her to the bedroom. This must be excruciating for them. Their own mother had not only stolen their money but had also, it seemed, skipped town.
He followed Trent down the stairs and into the lounge. It was just as he remembered except a little more lived in. He watched as Trent scanned the bookshelves, table, chairs, then went into the kitchen to do the same thing, finally the office. There they found a drawer slightly open, which when fully opened showed some receipts.
Trent sat in the office chair, then began to sift through the receipts. “What the fuck.” He studied them harder, then slumped back in the chair again. Max took the receipts from him. He didn’t understand why they’d upset Trent. The receipts were for pawn shops showing a watch, cufflinks, a pocket watch, a few necklaces and a ring. “What’s the matter, Trent? These are just from pawn shops.”
Trent laughed without humour. “Some of those things listed were things I had go missing. I bet if I checked, I’d be missing a few more things too.”
“How did Trish get them?”
“Probably the same way she entered the house that night we were together. She must have got a key from somewhere. It includes my dad’s watch. It was a family heirloom. I was waiting for one of the kids to get married, then I’d pass it on.”
“So, she let herself into your house and stealing your things to sell to pawn shops? Why did she need all this money? Even with everything you told me earlier, this still amounts to a lot of money for what she seems to have had.”
Trent rubbed his hands over his face vigorously. “I have no idea, Max. This is getting more fucked up by the minute.”
Just then, Jocelyn and Harper came in. “My key to your house is missing, as is some jewellery and my wallet. The one I had my extra money in,” Harper said, barely keeping herself together.
Trent stood and went to her, wrapping her up as she fell apart. “Shhh, it’s okay, sweetheart. We’ll sort it all out.”
Max indicated for Jocelyn to go with him, and they headed for the kitchen. “We need to write a list of everything that seems to have gone missing from what Trent and Harper have said so far and from what you know.” He saw a notepad on the fridge and pulled it down. Grabbing a pen, he sat at the table with Jocelyn and began the list. By the time Trent and Harper had joined them, the list covered nearly a full page.
“If you add in anything else you know is missing, we’ll be able to give it to whoever needs it,” Max said.
“Thanks, Max. I think we need to call the police in now. As much as I don’t want to do this, I think we need to. Trish has gone too far. I’m so sorry girls, but I think this is the best route.”
Jocelyn and Harper nodded but didn’t say anything. Trent stood, indicating for Max to come with him. At the doorway to the lounge, Trent said, “Could you please stay with them while I call Samuel and the police? Could you maybe order some takeaway or something, even if they don’t want to eat, they might when it gets here.”
“Of course I will.” He wrapped his arms around Trent. “How are you holding up?”
“By a string, to be honest. It just seems so unlike her. And yet, everything so far points to her. I don’t get it. She never used to be bothered about beauty and money when we were married, it was more about status. Anyway, the police will figure it out, I’m sure.”
Max felt powerless to help him in any way, so he just kissed him. Just a small kiss to let him know he was there for him. For as long as Trent wanted him.
****
Five hours later, they were all flagging, but it was over. Samuel had turned up before the police had and made sure everything was documented should things need to be taken further. Samuel had said he thought they had a good case against Trish, if they found her, which was going to be the crux of the issue.
Trish had, apparently, skipped town with the last of the university money. Hence the taillights.
Max couldn’t believe what had been coming out in the woodwork. Little things here and there that individually no one would have thought about, but together they painted a different story. Things like her being home at different hours of the day, she’d quit her job as a PA two years prior and had nothing to support her or Harper, except for Trent, who for obvious reasons, couldn’t pay for everything she needed, let alone wanted.
