Through the partly open doors, Campbell watched Ellie for a moment or two. Marker in one hand and ruler in the other, she added lines and words to some kind of diagram. He knew her well enough to imagine she was putting everything she knew about Jack’s disappearance into some form of order. Not that there was any reason to believe she would solve what might be unsolvable.
His chest was heavy with the news he carried. It was time she knew the truth and it would hurt her so much. Jack’s decision was meant for Jack to explain. Not those he’d left behind, wherever it was he’d gone.
Campbell tapped one door as he pushed it open. “May I join you?”
Ellie spun around, eyes wide. “Oh. Sorry, yes.” Her mouth softened into a smile. “I was miles away.”
As he drew closer, he read some of the words on the whiteboard.
‘Dad’ at the very top. Then his name, hers, Dennis, Meredith, Paul, Michael. Why Michael’s? This was at the very bottom, along with notes too small for his eyes. In the centre of the board, in red, the words ‘Last known contact’. Apart from Michael and Ellie’s names, the others had arrows pointing to the phrase.
“Don’t take any of it literally, Campbell. I’m sorting, that’s all. You should’ve seen how much I’ve already erased, you know this is simply my way of putting this into a kind of perspective.”
“I thought as much. You’ve always loved puzzles and mysteries, but when it comes to your own father, it must be incredibly difficult.”
She nodded. “Would you join me at the table for a few minutes? I’d like to talk if you have time?” She sat at one side of the table and he chose the opposite side.
“Campbell, today has been awful.” She crossed her arms on the table, leaning on them. “I saw the body of poor Frank Barlow. He wasn’t Dad, and for that I am so grateful, but he was someone’s husband. And Dennis is being interviewed about a missing gun. And a man phoned and threatened me. And Michael.”
“They did what? Who would do this?”
“I answered the reception line. There was a man on the other end who wouldn’t tell me who he was. He said I needed to stop the sale. That he knows where I live, and where Michael is.” Her eyes glistened although her voice was strong and steady. “And I know something is being kept from me, and I need you to tell me what it is.”
The heaviness moved to his stomach like a stone and he closed his eyes. Who else even knew about Jack’s arrangement, let alone wanted it stopped? With a deep breath, he opened his eyes and held out a hand.
“Child, I am so sorry someone threatened you. And you are correct. There is a secret.”
Sudden panic flashed across Ellie’s face and she gulped, as though holding her emotions in with a steel vice. She took Campbell’s hand.
“I’ve known you for all of your life. Even while you were at university, I still saw you those couple of days a week you worked here. I never met Detective Rossi, but I knew a bit about him. He was such a friend to your brother,” Campbell said.
“This isn’t about Ben.”
“Yes and no. When you left for a year, Jack was shattered. He was already in a bad place after…after Michael’s—accident.”
“It wasn’t an accident.”
Ellie’s hold on Campbell’s hand was tight, almost painful as her long nails dug into his skin. She wasn’t aware, her eyes intent on his face.
“Regardless, in Jack’s eyes he’d lost you both. Dennis came along and they hit it off. The skill set was right but you know all of that. You returned, created the amazing Foundation, and for the first time in years I saw Jack happy again. Like when he first married Gabi. The business grew and he even remarried.”
“Why the history lesson?”
“To give you some context. Your father came from nothing to build a fortune. Then effectively lost his son and he thought his daughter. His wife had long gone. With you back, it was as though he finally found some peace. Someone he loved actually came back to him. But Meredith wasn’t making life easy. She wanted more. More of his time, of her friends, of the things she thought he owed her.”
“And the pre-nup meant she would never leave him. Are you saying he left her?” Ellie released his hand and leaned forward. “Is this about where he is now?”
“No, no, I would have told you if I knew.” He sighed. “This is about the company. He lost heart. When you went to London, he found out Dennis was seeing Meredith and it kind of broke him. It wasn’t just about his feelings anymore. He wouldn’t confront your husband or fire him. Dennis has a solid contract.”
Ellie’s lips parted but she said nothing. She clasped her hands together on the table and waited for him to continue.
“Against my advice, Jack decided to sell.”
“Sell? The house?”
“No, Ellie. The business. He has a buyer for the group.”
“He…but he wouldn’t. This means everything to him, and the Foundation. Oh, God, what about the Foundation?”
“That was the draw card for the buyer. The shining jewel in an already beautiful crown. I am so sorry, Ellie, but Jack was only waiting for you to come home before signing the papers.”