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“Does it matter?”
He laughed. “No. I don’t think it does. Come on, we need to start looking through some of the documents and photos we didn’t send to Augusta.”
They got out of the shower and dried one another off. After they were dressed, they joined the others in the kitchen for breakfast, Tracer trotting out in front of them and out the dog door into the backyard. Jessica grinned. “Sudie is in her element.”
Thorn chuckled. “Yeah, these guys are never going to want to leave. Maybe I should propose opening a small office here in Badger’s Drift.”
“That’s not the worst idea you’ve ever had,” said Kenny who had joined the group. “I, for one, will volunteer to join you, provided Sudie promises to keep the office in cookies.”
“Go on,” Sudie said, obviously pleased.
“Rafferty,” called Thorn. “Jess and I are going back to Thompson’s office. I’m not sure we got everything.”
“You need backup?”
“No, we’re good.”
Jessica prepared two travel mugs with coffee, and he grabbed several breakfast burritos. They headed out to the garage, hopped into the Range Rover, and took off back to Thompson’s office. Once inside, they began to meticulously search it. Forensics had been there, but mostly to do a cursory search. He and Jessica found a second, hidden safe containing more photos, correspondence, and other documentation, as well as another laptop/tablet device.
Using the same password that had unlocked the computer, Jessica was able to get it open and began looking through emails that had already been downloaded or stored in the device. Jessica gasped.
“What?” he asked, coming to stand beside her.
“Emails from Miriam Gates.”
“You mean Sophie?”
“No. Miriam.
“Maybe Sophie using her mom’s account?”
“I don’t think so,” she said, shaking her head. “She wanted Thompson to give her everything he had on Sophie. She was not going to let him derail her daughter’s life. Oh my god, Miriam at one time was involved with Thompson, at least I think so.”
Holding one of the files that had been in the second safe, Thorn nodded. “I think you’re right. More than that, I think he got Miriam pregnant. There’s all kinds of notes and letters back and forth. She threatens to accuse him of being the father and he reminds her of the compromising pictures he has of her and—shit, shit, shit.”
“What?”
“Miriam set up the computer system and devised the code. Thompson told her if she tried to take him down, he’d take her down with him. Bastard actually asked her if she wanted to have her baby in prison.”
“He really did deserve to die.”
“I wouldn’t normally agree with that statement, but in Thompson’s case I’d have to agree.”
“Let me call Sudie. She might know what happened and she won’t tell anyone.” Thorn nodded. Jess dialed Sudie. “Sudie, you’re on speaker phone with Thorn and me. What do you know about Rick Gates?”
“He grew up here abouts. His father was a commercial fisherman. Rick joined the merchant marines. He and Miriam fell in love.”
Jessica took a deep breath. “Is he Sophie’s birth father?”
“He was with Miriam the day she was born. He’s the only father she’s ever known.”
“Sudie,” said Thorn. “I know she’s your friend, but this is important, was Gregory Thompson Sophie’s birth father?”
“Yes, but she’s never known. Miriam thought Thompson loved her. You have to understand, Miriam is born and bred Badger’s Drift. Thompson breezed in here in his trendy clothes and fancy cars and swept her off her feet. She thought he was going to be so happy when she found out she was pregnant.” Sudie snorted. “He dropped her so fast it made her head spin. Rick had loved Miriam since grade school. He quit the merchant marines, married her, settled down, and they built a life, a family, and a business.”
“Thanks, Sudie. I don’t think I have to tell you to keep this information strictly confidential.”
“I understand,” said Sudie before ending the call.
