Atlantis by Jessica Rosberg Page B

Sloane."
                  Once outside, Sloane let out a slew of obscenities that weren't fit for a sailor let alone a young woman. "Now what?" She threw her hands up in defeat.
                  "Just, let me think for a minute." Candice paced the sidewalk, her hand on her forehead. "We're not broke, so that's a good thing. We need to go see a lawyer and our accountant."
                  Sloane nodded. Candice was right, but there was something Sloane wanted—no, needed to do. "You go to the lawyer's office. I'll meet you there soon."
                  "Why? What are you doing?"
                  "Just get to the lawyer. I'll be there soon." Sloane hailed a cab and took off, leaving Candice staring after her. Sloane felt bad, but if she told Candice what she was up to, Candice would try to stop her. And nothing would stop Sloane from doing what she had to. She gave the cabbie directions to Nate's building. It was close, and she probably could've walked the couple of blocks, but she didn't have any time to waste. "Thanks." Sloane tossed some money at him and got out.
                  She took the elevator up to the tenth floor and rushed down the hallway to his apartment. Banging on the door, she wasn't surprised that he didn't answer. Thankfully, she hadn't given his key back last night. Digging it from her purse, she quickly unlocked the door and stepped inside.
                  The apartment was empty. All of Nate's furniture was gone; all of his pictures and paintings were missing from the walls. Sloane made her way through the apartment. It was completely empty. Even all the food was gone from the refrigerator. "Shit," she muttered. Jeez, they didn't waste any time, did they?
                  Sloane dug her cell phone out and dialed Candice. "They're gone," she said as soon as her sister answered.
                  "Who?"
                  "Nate and Mom, they're gone. Nate's apartment is empty, and I'd bet anything that Mom's house is cleaned out, too."
                  "Are you serious?" Candice asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
                  "Yeah, I'm serious."
                  On the other end of the line, Candice sighed heavily. "Meet me at the lawyer's office. I just got here."
                  "Okay." Sloane hung up and went outside to get another cab. Just when she thought things were looking up, getting better, something like this had to happen. As if sleeping with her boyfriend wasn't bad enough, her mother now had to steal all their money and take off. It hurt—she'd be lying if she said otherwise. Geraldine was her mother, the woman Sloane had always trusted and looked up to. How could a mother do this to her own children?
                  The trip to the lawyer's office was quick, but by the time she arrived, Candice was outside waiting for her. "Well? What did he say?"
                  "He's going to look into it. But basically, because she's still legally, on paper, our business manager, she has every right to access the business funds. However, if she uses them for anything other than business expenses then we can file charges against her."             
                  "We know she used the funds for personal reasons. She and Nate took off. They're probably half way to Mexico by now."
                  "But we don't have any proof. That's the problem." Candice adjusted her purse strap on her shoulder. "He said he'd investigate their disappearance. In the meantime, he's filing all the necessary paperwork to have her removed as our business manager and to have her name taken off any and all financial accounts."
                  "Good. Now what?" Sloane asked. She had a boost of adrenaline zap through her system. She'd been eager to get their mother out of their lives since last