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“Preserve Connor’s work records while they do that,” I tell him. “His emails, loan reviews, access history, and the contents of his office.”

“Those records are subject to bank policy,” Rick insists.

“Then tell the people applying that policy that the documents in my hand were submitted under my company’s name. I expect a written answer.”

Rick looks at Reid, who remains beside me with his pen over the pad. “I’ll make the request.”

“Make it today,” I tell him.

We spend another twenty minutes on the invoices. Rick acknowledges two names in the loan files but says he can’t identify who supplied the supporting documents until the bank completes its inquiry. He gives Reid a contact in the fraud department. When I ask again about the one account number he recognized, he promises to check it himself.

At the door, Cassie stops him. “If the police confirm that’s Connor’s car, I want them to tell me what they find.”

“They should,” Rick says, turning to her. “You’re his family.”

“That didn’t answer why I heard it from you first.”

“I understand you’re angry with me.” His voice is gentle. “I hope you’ll remember I came to you as soon as I could.”

Cassie looks at his coat, still damp at the shoulders. “I’ll remember exactly when you told me.”

Rick meets her eyes for a moment. Then he thanks Reid for arranging the meeting and leaves with Tessa. From the window, I watch him walk toward his car. Drew speaks briefly to him near the steps, likely getting the investigator’s details. Rick hands over a card before climbing behind the wheel.

Reid waits until the car has gone. “I’ll call our counsel and have them send the preservation request in writing.”

“Do it,” I say. “Then find out whether anyone has notified the police about the car.”

Reid looks at Cassie. “I can check the terminal parking information too. There may be a record of when it entered the garage.”

“Thank you,” she says. She’s closed Connor’s book and holds it against her chest.

Reid leaves us alone. The office door clicks shut, and Cassie moves to the window Rick stood beside when he arrived. She watches the workers below without looking like she’s watching them.

I close the folder Rick left open on the table.

“You questioned every word he said in there.” She turns the book in her hands, pressing her thumb against its worn spine.

“I had reason to.” I set the folder aside and face her.

Cassie turns from the window, her brows drawing together. “Then why do you look as though you believe him?”

“I don’t know if he told us the truth about the car.” I take out my phone and message Drew to verify the investigator and Rick’s police call. “Until we know, we have to consider it.”

“Connor wouldn’t leave me those messages and then disappear with a bag of cash.”

“He could have left the messages before he decided to go.”

“He told me to keep looking.” She lifts the book. “He wanted me to find what he moved from his apartment.”

“I know what he wrote.” I keep my voice level, though her expression tells me she heard the doubt. “I’m saying we need the facts before we decide what happened at that terminal.”

“What happened yesterday wasn’t enough?” she asks. “Somebody used Connor’s card to bring us out to that station. Somebody tried to force us off the road while a man got through your fence. Now Rick arrives with a car and a bag he says his investigator found.”

“All of that makes Rick worth investigating,” I assure her. “But it doesn’t tell me everything Connor was doing before he vanished.”

Cassie’s eyes narrow. “Do you think Connor was part of the fraud?”

“I think he knew about it and didn’t tell us how much he found. We’ve had two messages from him, and neither says where he put the thing he moved.”