My Wife Is Missing(94)

“What I didn’t tell you is that Michael knew Audrey from before, from long ago.”

Kate listened intently as Natalie recalled discovering Audrey’s body, Sarah Fielding’s investigation, her search for the missing birth certificate, and the reverse image search that led to a shocking discovery. Then Natalie made her big reveal: that Audrey was the sister of the woman Michael had murdered, that his mother hadn’t died of cancer, that Michael was born Joseph Jacob Saunders, that he wasn’t from South Carolina but rather New York, that he’d gotten off at trial but everyone remained convinced of his guilt, and that Audrey had died at his hands because—and this Natalie said was speculation on her part—Michael’s cover was about to be blown.

“If Audrey wasn’t murdered, I wouldn’t have involved Sarah Fielding and I never would have learned the truth about Michael,” Natalie told Kate, who sat stunned and motionless in a checkered wingback chair.

“Honey, is this true?”

Natalie nodded vigorously.

“Of course it is. Why? Do you think I’d lie to you? It’s all true, Kate.”

To drive home her point, Natalie showed Kate her correspondence with Marjorie Saunders that confirmed every bit of her story. Any lingering doubts Kate may have harbored regarding the veracity of Natalie’s story were swept away by the barrage of corroborating evidence—including a picture of young Joseph Jacob Saunders being led away in handcuffs.

Kate put her hand to her mouth, a stunned look on her face.

“What is it?” Natalie asked, sensing her friend’s distress.

“I’ve done something,” said Kate.

Natalie’s stomach tightened.

“What did you do?” she asked.

“You’ve been acting so off. Seeing things, hearing things, and then Chuck and I found out that Michael had reported you missing, and included in that report was mention of your insomnia and that you might be delusional.”

Kate cut short anything more she had to say. She wrung her hands together with nervous apprehension.

“What did you do?” Natalie repeated, speaking slowly, holding back her panic.

“I called your mother,” Kate confessed, blurting out the words. “I got her number. She’s been posting about you online, so it wasn’t hard to find her. I was worried about you, and the kids, and your mental health and—”

“No!” Natalie was up from her chair in a flash. “Tell me you didn’t. Tell me, Kate. Tell me it’s not true.”

“I’m so sorry, Nat. I didn’t understand. Given everything I—”

“You thought I was lying about Michael? You thought I made up a story about him being a murderer?”

“It just seemed you weren’t all right, emotionally that is.”

“What did my mom say?”

Kate bit at her lower lip, deepening the grimace on her face.

“She told me she was going to get in touch with Michael. She called back some time later to tell me he was with someone, a policeman, and they were coming here, to our farm to get you.”

“A policeman?” Natalie huffed. “That’s a good one. Michael wants me dead. Oh, Kate, why, why, why did you do that?”

Kate’s eyes held much sorrow.

“I was frightened for you,” she said. “I’m so sorry.”

“When?” Natalie barked, snapping back into herself. “When did you make that call?”

“I called right around lunchtime while I was at the vet.”

Natalie frowned, hating that answer.

“Where was he? Do you know? Did my mother say?”

She loomed over Kate who sat dazed, absolutely still.

Natalie collapsed to her knees.

“Where is Michael?”

“Your mom called back, told me he was just outside Indianapolis,” Kate said. “He was coming from Toledo.”

“Toledo, of course he was,” Natalie muttered to herself. She didn’t bother explaining to Kate that it was her ruse that had sent him there.

“Evidently, Michael had already figured out you were staying here. He was driving to Elsberry when your mother reached him.”

“He’s been on the road most of the day,” Natalie realized. “That means he could be here any minute now.”

“Chuck knew I was going to call your mom,” Kate continued, still trying to justify her actions. “He encouraged it. He was worried about you, same as I was.”

“Well, now you can both worry a whole lot more,” Natalie retorted as she rushed out of the room.

“Where are you going?” asked Kate, following behind. “Please, talk to me.”

They were three-quarters of the way up the stairs. Natalie whirled around, sending Kate a fierce glare.

“You want to help me?” she said. “Go get my kids. I’ll pack their stuff. I need your truck.”

“Where are you going?” asked Kate.

“I’m going to do what I’ve been doing for days now,” said Natalie with bitterness. “I’m going to run.”





CHAPTER 39





MICHAEL


It took two tries before Michael found the small white sign advertising the entrance to Hildonen Farms. He drove too fast down a rutted dirt road, avoiding potholes and rocks like he was in a video game. Kennett’s probing gaze scanned in all directions as if he expected Natalie to emerge from the dense forest lining the road. Michael caught his squinting stare in his peripheral vision. He seemed troubled by something.