True Deceit (Blindsided Book 1) by A.J. Carella

between the properties.
    “Sorry, dear, I didn’t recognise you. It’s Sam isn’t it? Jennifer’s sister?”
    “Sarah,” she nodded. “Actually, I’m looking for Michael.”
    “I don’t think he’s here, dear, I saw him putting a bag in his car yesterday and he hasn’t been back since. Terrible business. It will probably do him the world of good to get away for a few days.” She looked at Sarah with a concerned look on her face. “And how are you coping, dear?”
    The look of concern on the lady’s face and the question itself threatened to reduce Sarah to tears again. Swallowing hard she held them at bay and managed a small smile. “Oh, you know, just taking things one day at a time. I don’t suppose he told you where he was going, did he?”
    The old lady shook her head. “I’m sorry, dear, he didn’t.”
    “Not to worry, I’ll give him a call.” She turned to walk back to her car and then paused. “Thank you. I know my sister really enjoyed having you as a neighbour.”
    She didn’t look back as she walked towards her car, not wanting to see the tears that she knew were running down the old lady’s face. Now what? She was fuming. How could he leave town without telling her? And where would he have gone? She slipped her cell phone from her pocket and once more dialled his number. Yet again it went straight to voicemail but she didn’t bother leaving a message this time. Frustrated, she flung the cell phone onto the passenger seat and hit the steering wheel with her hands.
    Taking a deep breath she made herself calm down. Think, Sarah, where would he have gone? If he’d just taken off somewhere random for a few days, she had no hope of finding him. But the chances were that he’d gone somewhere familiar, but where? Suddenly it hit her. His mother’s house. She remembered Jennifer telling her about his mom’s passing and the empty house that needed clearing. She knew it was fairly nearby, certainly driving distance, but she didn’t know exactly where.
    Looking out the car window she saw that her sister’s neighbour had gone back inside. Quickly getting back out of the car she hurried up to the house avoiding the front porch this time and letting herself through the gate and into the backyard. Keeping her fingers crossed that it was still where Jennifer had told her it was, she lifted the heavy plant pot that sat just to the right of the door. Yes! Grabbing the key, she opened the back door and went inside.
    Heading straight for the study, she paused briefly at the door. What she was about to do felt like a complete invasion of privacy and something she would never normally consider doing, but what choice did she have? Going to the desk, she went through the drawers until she found what she was looking for. Folding the letter that had his mother’s address on it she shoved it in her back pocket and left the house.
    Punching the address into her satnav she put the car in drive. She didn’t know if he would be there or not, but it was worth a try. When he sees what I’ve found he’ll change his mind. He has to.

Fifteen
    It had taken Michael several hours to go through the papers in the desk. Long, boring hours. Most of it was junk that he put straight in the trash, but some were important documents that he needed to keep, mostly relating to the house. Sliding his hand into the last drawer to check that it was completely empty, his finger brushed across what felt like a button protruding at the back. Curious, he pulled the drawer out completely and set it to one side. With it out of the way he was able to peer inside the cavity and see what it was that his fingers had felt. Surprised, he realised it was in fact a button. Not knowing what to expect, he pressed it. There was an immediate sound, a definite thunk, before another draw popped open. Stunned, he slid it all the way out, revealing a small wooden box nestled in the cavity.
    Gently he lifted it out and placed it on the desk in front of