Did she leave you here?

Andrew left for work early the next morning, kissing my cheek before he walked out.

I waited until I heard his car leave the driveway before I moved. The house was quiet. Kelly was still asleep upstairs, and for once, I was alone.

I sat at the kitchen counter and opened my laptop.

Victoria's face from the school office came back to me immediately. So did what she had said.

My name carries weight in half this city because my husband is the CEO of Evans Global Holdings.

I opened the school's official board of education directory and started scrolling through the profiles.

It didn't take long to find her. Her full name was listed as Victoria Dell.

I stared at the photograph on the screen. It was definitely her. But if her name was Victoria Dell, why had the receptionist at Evans Global Holdings called her Mrs. Evans?

Why had she claimed to be Mrs. Evans? And the administrator had even backed her up. I closed the laptop and looked at the phone on the counter.

I picked up it up and looked at the number Marcus had sent me the night before.

My throat felt dry, but I pressed call. The line rang twice before the person on the other end answered. 

“Hello.”

“Is this George?” I asked quietly, glancing toward the stairs. “Marcus gave me your number. He said you could help me.”

There was a short pause.

“Yes. Marcus briefed me. You’re Sallie.”

“Yes,” I said, gripping the phone tighter. “I need an investigation done. On my husband, Andrew Evans. He’s the CEO of Evans Global Holdings.”

“Go on.”

“I suspect he’s having an affair,” I said. “I saw him with a woman on a local livestream a few days ago. I believe her name is Victoria Dell. She’s on the Kingsten academy school board. But there's a complication. Someone at my husband's company referred to her as Mrs. Evans. And yesterday, Victoria herself claimed that her husband is the CEO of Evans Global Holdings.”

“I see,” George replied. “Send me everything you have. Photos, names, locations.”

“I’m sending his picture now,” I said, tapping the screen to forward Andrew’s corporate headshot. “And I’m sending a screenshot of Victoria Dell’s profile from the school website. I need to know what their relationship is. I need to know what connection she actually has to Evans Global Holdings.”

“Received,” George said. “I’ll look into both of them.”

“Please,” I whispered. “This needs to be completely confidential. No one cannot find out.”

“I understand. I’ll contact you when I have something concrete.”

The line went dead. I lowered the phone and let out a slow breath.

I put my phone in my pocket and stood up. Then I thought about Kelly.

I had been so caught up in everything happening with Andrew that I hadn't paid enough attention to her. She had gone through enough yesterday, and right now, she needed her mother.

I went upstairs and knocked softly on her door before opening it.

Kelly was sitting in bed with a book in her hands.

“Hey,” I said. “Get dressed. We’re going out for ice cream, and then we’re going to look at some new school campuses.”

Kelly didn't look up. “I’d rather just stay home and read, Mom. I’m fine.”

“No staying home today.” I smiled at her. “It’s mother-and-daughter bonding time. Come on. Put your shoes on.”

She sighed but closed the book. “Fine.”

The drive downtown was quiet.

Kelly barely spoke, spending most of the time looking out the window at the passing trees. 

When I parked outside the ice cream parlor, she didn't reach for her seatbelt.

“We’re here, Kel,” I said, turning off the engine. “Let’s go get a scoop.”

She kept looking at the dashboard. “Can I just stay in the car and read? Please?”

I looked at her. I felt bad but I didn't want to force her either.

“Okay,” I said, reaching over to pat her knee. “I’ll get the ice cream myself. I’ll get your favorite. Don't open the doors for anyone, okay?”

“Okay.”

I got out, locked the car, and walked into the ice cream parlor.

The shop was mostly empty. 

I was about to walk toward the counter when I heard a child crying. I stopped and looked toward the back of the shop.

A little boy was standing at a corner. He had curly hair, and tears were running down his cheeks. He was holding a small plastic toy and looking around the room.

I looked around, expecting to see his mother but saw no one.

The people behind the register was busy looking at their phone. I walked over and crouched in front of him.

“Hey there,” I said softly. “What’s wrong, buddy?”

The boy sniffled and wiped his nose with the back of his hand.

“I... I can’t find my mommy.”

I looked toward the entrance.

“Where did she go?” I asked. “Did she leave you here?”

“We were walking, and I saw the toy in the window.” His bottom lip shook. “I want my mommy.”

I didn't know what to do with a child who had somehow ended up alone in an ice cream shop.

Then the boy looked up at me. "Miss, you have a phone, right? Can you call my mom?”

I paused. Of course. I hadn't even thought of that.

“Of course I can. Do you know her phone number?”

The boy nodded. “Yes. I know it by heart.”

“Wow, you're very smart.” I pulled out my phone and opened the keypad. “How old are you?”

“I’m six.”

“Well, six-year-old, tell me the number and we'll get your mom here.”

He carefully gave me the number and I dialed it. The call was answered almost immediately.

“Hello?! Who is this?!”

“Hi, don't panic,” I said quickly. “I’m at the ice cream shop across the street from the plaza. Your son is right here with me. He’s safe.”

There was a gasp on the other end.

“Oh my God. Thank God. I’m coming right now!”

Two minutes later, a young woman rushed inside and she went straight to the boy.

“Josh!”

She dropped to her knees and pulled him into her arms.

“Oh my God, Josh. Don't ever do that to me again!” she cried, checking his arms and face. “I turned my back for one second in the market. I am so sorry, sweetie.”

She kissed his forehead several times before finally looking up at me.

“Thank you so much. I was losing my mind. I  regret not bringing his nanny today. He just loves to sneak away whenever I look away for a second.”

“It’s okay,” I said, waving my hand. “Josh is a very brave boy. He remembered your number. I'm just glad he's safe.”

The woman stood and fixed her skirt.

“Thank you, truly.” She took a breath. “If anything had happened to him, Andrew would have been absolutely furious with me.”

I froze. “Andrew?”

The woman looked at me. “Oh, sorry. Andrew is my husband. He's very protective of Josh. If he knew I lost sight of him for even a minute, he'd probably lose his mind.”

I tightened my grip on my purse. I needed to know if this was just a coincidence.

“What a coincidence,” I said, forcing a small smile. “My husband's name is Andrew too. And he's exactly the same way with our child. Very protective.”

The woman's expression brightened. “Oh, really? I guess the name just comes with a lot of stubbornness.” She laughed softly. 

I reached out and shook her hand. "I'm Sallie."

“Mia Evans,” she said casually.