Posted March 19, 2020
Thank you to my beta Lisa Louise. I tinkered with it after she edited so any mistakes you find are my own.
SnowGoose
Missing
Chapter 23, Looking Deeper.
It was surprisingly easy to find a detective to look into Tanya's background. In fact it was so easy because Charlie already had him and everyone else I needed on standby. Apparently Charlie was ready for me to just say the word. Not only did he give me a private detective, but a forensic accountant and forensic computer analyst.
I had initially argued against the computer analyst but Charlie explained that it would be better to let a third party find any evidence of wrong doing. Charlie pointed out that any evidence I find might be contested in court.
I asked Charlie why he was so ready for me to ask for this help. I guess I could understand him wanting to look into Tanya, but I wondered what made him think I needed to look into my business and its finances. Charlie said that Bella had told him what our taxes said we made and that she had trouble believing that I didn't think it was enough to raise a family on. She also told him how many hours I work and some of the names of the companies I have done business with. His feeling was that the numbers didn't match. Charlie felt that I wasn't ready to face this but that he would be ready to help me when I was. I asked him how he knew I would come to the realization that things were not right. His exact words were, "You my boy, are a Blind fool, but you aren't stupid."
I've already talked to my lawyer. He is actually wants to assemble a team of lawyers within his firm. His instinct is that this may be a lot bigger than I think. He agrees with Charlie about my taxes and actual earnings is way off and that it could have even led to me being arrested for tax fraud. There is an old law that hasn't been used in years here in the state of Washington. The Alienation of affection lawsuit was intended for a wronged spouse to sue the boyfriend or girlfriend of a cheating partner. Jason Jenks wants to use that law in conjunction with embezzlement against Tanya. He thinks that she has been skimming from the top and that she was hoping to get Bella to leave me so she could seduce me. I told him to be ready as soon as the detective team gives us the evidence. I cannot begin to express how angry I am at that woman right now.
Dad is working with the detectives so that I can concentrate on reading Bella's journals. I still have about three years left to read and less than three months to read through them. I still need to work through all the emotional fallout from it.
I settled myself in the middle of Bella's reading chair in our room. I have so many memories of her sitting here reading or even writing in her journal. This is where she would sit waiting for me to emerge from the shower to "pounce on me". I took a deep breath and opened her journal.
~0~
Dear Journal.
I guess it is kind of dumb to think that after so many years together that Edward and I would still be celebrating the anniversaries of our firsts. Until recently, Edward has done something special to commemorate every little one of our firsts.
* The first time he saw me in the lunch room.
* The first time he got the nerve up to talk to me and offer to fix my computer.
* The first time he asked me out.
* Our first kiss.
* Taking me to my first art gallery showing.
* The first time he played the piano for me outside of church.
And so many other dates that most people would consider to be insignificant. But to Edward, it was always so important to remember them. He once told me that something in him changed the moment he saw me, like it recognized in me as his other half. It's cheesy and ridiculous, but yes, I felt it too. I don't know, maybe it's the artist in both of us.
Like I said, most people don't celebrate these things after so many years. But Edward and I always did. He might write me a note telling me how he felt on that day or maybe he would bring me a single red rose. At the very least, there might be a text just to say he remembered the date and that he loves me beyond measure. I would often make him a special dinner and make him a card with a watercolor painting on it to commemorate the date.
Thing is, he is starting to forget. He was late coming home last night, on the anniversary of the first time he snuck into my room. He had such a look of guilt on his face when I gave him his card with the painting of my open window. I know he is busy, and it is silly to keep celebrating the little things. I think I am going to just let it go. I don't want him feeling guilty over little things that other people wouldn't even think are important at all.
{Bella, just because other people don't celebrate those kinds of things, does not make them any the less significant to me. Each of those "silly" things are the mini milestones that brought us together. That is why they are important to me. I cannot tell you how sorry I am to have stopped.
I have learned some things about myself. I had become very single minded. My main focus had just been to get through each day of work. I relied on my digital calendar to let me know of any things that were coming up. I can only assume, that between some kind of tampering with my calendar and my single mindedness that I could have let those fall to the wayside. If it were in my power to take it all back, I would.
You are the most important being in my life and I can only hope that one day you will trust me once again to be a part of yours. Every day I had with you, was something special that I should have cherished.} _
A.N.
Alienation of affection is no longer used in the state of Washington to the best of my knowledge but for purposes of my story I am reviving it and letting Edward use it since he will have proof that Tanya tried to separate him from his wife.
