Page 51 of The Vanished

“As far as I know, Logan was comfortably off, especially since…” Quinn’s voice trailed away.

“Since what?”

“Since his… our mother died. She owned a house and had investments and savings.”

“Did everything come to him?” Malone asked.

“No, her assets were divided between her two sons.”

“What about you? Were you not included in her will?”

Quinn sighed. “My mother and I hadn’t known each other very long. She gave me up at birth, and we had only recently connected. Sylvia died at the start of the pandemic. She did not have time to make changes to her will.”

“Did you feel resentful towards your brothers for not cutting you in?”

“Are you suggesting I murdered Logan and disposed of his body to get my hands on his money?” Quinn snapped.

“You said it, not me,” Malone said with a shrug. “So, you don’t think this is about money?”

“I honestly don’t know what to think.”

Quinn was taken aback by the man’s unpleasant demeanor. He wasn’t antagonistic, exactly, but he wasn’t sympathetic or friendly either. Perhaps he needed to get her measure before he arrived at any conclusions, or maybe he was just a disagreeable and suspicious person. Mistrust came with the job, and, aside from Sean Cadogan’s endorsement, he had no reason to trust her.

The detective’s expression suddenly softened. “There’s been a development in the case,” he said.

“What sort of development?”

“Logan’s car was found in Ealing. It was burned out.”

“Was there…?” Quinn couldn’t bring herself to articulate what she was asking. Saying the words out loud made them all too real. Malone immediately understood, though.

“There was no body. And we weren’t able to get anything from CCTV. The lot where the car was dumped doesn’t have CCTV, and the traffic cameras picked up someone driving the vehicle, but it was impossible to say with any certainty if the driver was Logan Wyatt.”

“What about the man and woman connected to the case? Were you able to identify them?”

“Without a name, a clear image, or a way to determine how they knew your brother, it will take time.”

“So, what are you going to do?” Quinn asked. She hadn’t meant to sound accusing, but her family could be in danger, and she was justifiably afraid.

DI Malone was clearly trying to look sympathetic. “Because someone tried to abduct Max, we have to assume that these people are either after the child or intended to use him as leverage. Which is why I need to ask you a few personal questions about Logan.”

Quinn sighed. She knew where this was heading. “Go on.”

“It is my understanding that when Max was born, Logan was still with his partner.”

“Yes. He and Rafe parted ways three years ago.”

“Might Rafe want the child?”

“He never expressed an interest in remaining part of Max’s life.”

“Is Logan Max’s biological father?” Malone asked.

“He is.”

“And the mother?”

“Logan and Rafe used a surrogate.”