Page 16 of The Me I Left Behind

Jerking up, she peered into Maggie’s eyes. “I’m staying home today and helping you find whatever it is you need to find.”

She hated to do that to Carol. “It’s your first day back at school.”

“Fuck school. This is more important.”

“Language.” But she knew Carol had almost as bad a potty mouth as she did. “I don’t want him to blame you, honey. I’d rather he just be mad at me.”

“Isn’t that what you’ve been doing for years, Mom? Taking all the blame for everything us kids did wrong? Not this time. I’m staying and helping. Besides, this affects all of us.”

Maggie blew out a breath. “The first thing we need to do is find the other fucking camera.”

“Yes.”

“And get the littles up and off to school.” Standing, she stretched the kinks out of her back. How long had she slept hunched over his desk? At least a couple of hours.

“Right,” Carol said. “Then we can dig in here.”

She nodded. “I’m going to call Julia and get her advice.”

“Good idea. She might know what we should and shouldn’t do.”

“I think she will say that we’ve already crossed the line.”

Carol glanced about at the messy office. “Probably.”

“Look,” Maggie said. “Go get the littles up and keep them away from this room. Can you fix breakfast? I’ll search for that damn camera.”

“I can do that.”

“Hopefully, I can locate and destroy it before I have to take the kids to school.”

“I can drive them.”

That wasn’t their usual routine, but what would it matter? Chloe’s school was one street over, and Jason’s a few blocks further. She’d had her driver’s license for over a year now. Surely, she could manage a ten-minute drop-off.

“Are you sure?”

She nodded and grinned. “I got this.” Heading for the door, she paused and then turned back. Her gaze met Maggie’s and held for several seconds. “I love you, Mom.”

She left quickly, and Maggie was glad. Carol didn’t need to see her cry right now.

Four

“I can be there in two hours.”

Maggie pushed back her hair and sat again, hunched over Max’s desk. Carol had just left, taking Maggie’s car to drop the littles off at school. “Julia, I didn’t call so you would come. I just want your advice. What can I look for to get something on Max?”

“Look. I’m almost dressed. And believe me, you’re going to need my advice. Hold on.”

Maggie heard shuffling and low talk in the background. It sounded like she was saying goodbye to Sam. Had she made a mistake pulling Julia into this, when she’d sent her a copy of the video Max texted earlier?

“Seriously, Julia. It’s okay. I can handle it. Don’t come. Stay with Sam.”

Julia gave a mocking laugh. “Mags, it’s not okay. You’ve committed a crime, and Max has it all on video.”

“Crime? It’s my own damn house!”

“True, but Max’s office was locked, and you entered without his permission.”