When they investigated, there was no evidence of foul play, and they had no leads. He’d just vanished. The authorities decided that the evidence they did have suggested Theo left of his own accord, and with him being an adult, the investigation was closed.”
“And does that Theo look like our Theo?” Lila asked.
“We’ve got to get you up to speed on the music industry.” she teased. “Yes! Now that I think of it, they look a lot alike. Let me put you on speaker and search for him. I’ll text you a photo.” Piper hummed from afar as Lila waited.
Lila’s phone pinged with the image of a gangly guy in his late twenties. She zoomed in to get a better look at Theo Perry’s face. He had the same hair color as the Theo she knew, and it looked like his eyes were also blue. As she studied him closer, something registered. There was a little smirk on the lips of the guy in the photo. The same little smirk she’d seen on her Theo’s lips. “He’s so skinny… but I think it might be him.”
“It’s interesting that your Theo suddenly went missing, just like the famous Theo Perry. Seems like this could be his exit of choice: disappear without a trace.”
Lila tried to piece together the unanswerable questions she’d had about him. Her mouth dried out.
If this was the same Theo, and he had chosen to disappear like he had yesterday, did that mean he wasn’t planning to return?
“You okay?” Piper asked, pulling Lila from her thoughts.
Lila took a deep breath. “Honestly… I don’t know.” But if he wasn’t planning to return, he’d have no problem with abandoning the envelope that she held in her hand, would he? And what if he hadn’t abandoned them and something had happened? Would there be some clue inside? She shouldn’t open it—definitely not.
“You should open the envelope that was delivered so we can see what’s inside,” Piper cut in.
“I can’t,” Lila said.
“Given the circumstances, I doubt Theo would even care.”
“Still, though,” she said, noticing the flap was only closed by the envelope’s brass clasp.
“What if his life depends on it?” Piper asked.
“Okay, okay,” Lila said, giving in. She unclasped the envelope and pulled out a small piece of notebook paper with a handwritten message.
Theo,
You have ruined our family’s reputation, and I’ll never forgive you for that. If you think you can run from me instead of facing the mess you’ve made, you’ve got another thing coming. You’ve stolen from our family and you’ve disgraced my name. I’ve been looking for you since the day you left, and I’ve got the best people on this case that money can buy. You’d better call me, or I’ll be coming to you.
A.
“Whoa,” Piper said. “That’s heavy.”
“Definitely. I wonder what it all means.” Lila was at a loss. She slid the letter back into the envelope and snapped the flap shut, setting it on Theo’s desk. “Looks like I’m not the only one who needs answers,” she said in a whisper.
Seventeen
There was a knock at the cabin door. Lila kicked the blanket off her legs and set her mug of hot cocoa on the coffee table. She’d been sitting in the living room since leaving the coffee shop, trying to relax and get her head together for her next move, but the mysterious letter she’d signed for and the bits of information she’d gathered that suggested Theo was involved in something possibly criminal kept running through her mind. She’d debated whether to send Theo a text letting him know that she’d figured him out. She’d typed and deleted about three different messages, never sending any of them for fear she’d only push him further away—if he was running away at all. She kept replaying their last conversation and wondering if she’d missed something. Had she said anything to make him want to leave? So many emotions were racing through her. She answered the door to find Eleanor holding a red-and-green Christmas box.
“Your treats,” she said, holding out the gift.
“Oh, thank you. You’re too sweet. Come in,” Lila said, opening the door wider and accepting the box.
Eleanor wrinkled her nose. “It smells damp in here.” She unwound her scarf and hung it on the hook by the door. Her boots squeaked against the wooden floor as she worked to slide them off. “It’s looking like snow again. I hope the plumbing issue won’t impact the warm water in the cabin. If it does, feel free to come