Chapter 5: 10,000

Cori jolted awake violently to a blaring alarm. She hadn't even opened her eyes as she stressed for the phone in her hand to press silent. She released a sigh when the quiet came back— now awake. The more her senses came to, the more she awoke to a certain change. His breath warmed the back of her neck, his arm draped over her hip. There was comfort of his skin against her back. She dimmed a smile, remembering now every synapse of events last night. He wasn't awake yet, he was sleeping so deeply behind her. She slowly turned herself over to face him, and the rustling of the bed stirred him a little. His glasses were still on the bedside table by the Himalayan lamp. She kissed Edward softly, not enough to startle him, but to wake him. His hand moved up her arm as he returned the kiss, confirming he was awake. He opened his eyes to her. He wearily smiled back, his eyes closing again.

"It's 7:30." She whispered, gracing her fingers under his chin.

He opened his eyes again, "Is it?"

"Yup. You ready to get up?"

Edward weakly sat up in bed, and Cori did the same. She tucked the blanket up to her chest covering her naked body. Edward was too, but he let the blanket fall to his lap before his waist. He rubbed his eyes for a moment until he flicked them to her suddenly. He seemed spooked, but the more he looked at her the more his face leaned to amazement.

He asked huskily, "Last night really happened?"

"It really happened." Cori cooed in a smile, still holding the blanket to her chest.

"Wow," he sighed, "I almost thought I dreamed that."

"Me too."

"Never woke up beside a woman before. Gotta say… I don't hate it."

Cori giggled, "It's nice, right? I'm a good bed warmer."

Edward chuckled with her, their voices still hoarse. He looked around her room again before stating, "I gotta have a shower."

"Me too."

Cori got up from the sheets, letting the air of morning hit her skin. She ambled to the bathroom, looking back to him, "You coming?"

"You want me to join you?" Edward asked shakily.

Cori nodded a grin, "Yeah. Saves time, right?"

Edward pulled the blanket off him slowly as he scooted off the bed, "Yeah. Yeah, of course."

He walked in behind her jokingly, "If we're doing this naked; I can't promise I'll keep my hands to myself."

Cori cracked a laugh as they closed the bathroom door behind them. The awkwardness was long gone when he entered her home last night. Long before the couch. Somehow the nature of their company brought more comfort the more that company was fed. The more they spoke and enjoyed what the other had to offer. Showering together wasn't a concern, as not even five minutes in, Cori was up against the wet ceramic tiles. The water poured down over her like rain, muffling her moans and Edward's heated breath as he held her up by her thighs. By the time they were finished the water was cold.

Cori got dressed and her routine tried to stay the same, but the chatter and giggling took place instead of the usual silence. Edward wore the same clothes he wore the night before. Cori pulled on a wool sweater and jeans, honouring the fall colours outside. She tied her hair back still wet, Edward's dried faster than her own. He cleaned his lenses of the smudges from Cori's skin, put on his raincoat and backpack.

She waited at the door for him, "You ready?" She had a rejuvenated giddiness.

He smiled back, "Ready."

As she opened the door, she was pulling up KTMJ, Edward's forensic accounting firm, on her maps app. When they walked out, Shirley Kipson, Cori's next door neighbour, was bringing her miniature poodle back from a walk. She said chipper, "Cori! How are you?"

Edward followed after her, startling Shirley who was not used to a man coming from Cori's room. She cracked a nervous smile, "Oh my. Who is this? Hello."

Edward flatly smiled as he closed the door behind him, "Hello."

Cori awkwardly looked back from Edward and Shirley, a half smile on her face, "This is… Edward."

Shirley chuckled, "Well, now that explains all those strange noises I heard last night. Good for you two."

Cori flushed in embarrassment, nodding quickly as she took Edward's hand (who was still gawking at Shirley like a deer in headlights), "Right, we gotta go. Bye, Shirley."

They fled down the hallway as Shirley waved down to them, "Have a blessed day!"

They didn't exchange many words on their way to the car park, they didn't need to. Silence was shared mutually, both too deep in their own thoughts of the events last night. Cori got in the drivers and quickly threw the mail and papers from his passenger seat into the back. He opened the door, she called, "Sorry."

She set her phone on the hold on the vent so she could see the maps app. Edward settled in, strapping his seat belt as Cori attempted to start the car. It whirred and turned over, then whirred again and turned over.

Edward asked her then, "You wanna pop the hood?"

"Nah, it's fine it always does this," she replied stubbornly, jamming the key.

Edward lightly tapped her arm, "Trust me. Pop the hood."

He opened his door, and Cori was a bit taken back, but did as he asked. He opened it for no more than 3 minutes, wiggled around the battery for a moment, then closed it and headed back to his seat.

"Okay," he groaned as he got back in the sedan, "Now try."

She turned the key and the car started like the first day she got it, no struggle or sputtering as it usually greeted a morning. Cori beamed a grin and celebrated, "What the hell! What did you…"

"One of your terminals were loose. Just had to twist it back in," he shrugged, dimming a smile back.

She giggled, "Can I keep you?"

Edward shyly smiled, looking straight but not able to contain a small giggle. He replied finally, "Too late, you already have me."

Cori began to drive the car from the lot as she asked, "You're a car guy?"

"Not really," he replied, "I just like to know how things work. I read a lot of books."

"You're just a jack of all trades," she said back giddily.

"Vehicles are kinda like big, running puzzles. It's all connected, the magic is knowing how it all works. I had a brief fascination in high school. Still have the knowledge today."

Cori joked, "Well shit, my vehicle shits the bed I know who I'm calling."

"The shops overcharge, anyway," he winked to her, still keeping a gratified smile.

Cori pulled up on the street to KTMJ. She could already make out the building by the large letters above the doors. She pulled up close to the entrance, a few people coming in or waiting outside the steps.

"This is it," he sighed dejectedly. He then pointed subtly, "See that guy there with the smoke? He's got glasses and a beard."

"Yeah."

"That's my boss, Mr. Stone."

Cori nodded, but her attention was distracted to a white guy with spiked blonde hair and a flashy blue blazer, speaking on the phone loud enough they could hear it in the car. She irked, "Who's that?"

Edward said quite deflated, "That's Zach… my case manager."

He walked inside the building throwing his whole head back as he laughed on the phone.

Cori grumbled, "He kinda looks like a douchebag."

Edward sputtered at the comment, snorting a laugh out of his nose that he was trying to suppress. Cori giggled to his reaction, "What?"

"Nothing," he sniggered, rubbing his mouth but his amused smile stayed. He looked at Cori then and sighed, "You're amazing."

Cori grinned, "He is, isn't he?"

"Big time."

She let out a hearty laugh then, "I knew it!"

Edward opened the car door but stayed in his seat, he looked back to her, and she rested in her seat, smiling to him in return.

"Can I see you tonight?"

"Of course."

Cori took his hand then, totally natural and unwavering. They only knew each other face to face for one night, but the link wasn't kinked in any nerves.

He said again, "I feel like… you're the answer I've been searching for. All these rooms were dark, and the lights are turning back on. If that makes sense. I want to keep seeing you."

Cori bit her smile and cooed, "Makes perfect sense. You got me now. You'll be hell bent in getting rid of me."

"Something changed radically. I feel like it's only up from here."

Cori leaned over the console and Edward did the same, giving her a peck that soon turned to a soft, indulging kiss. Mr. Stone caught a glimpse of the two before heading inside. Cori smiled and said, "Have a good day, Edward."

"You too, Cori."

She watched him go inside, smiling to herself as he did. When he left behind the slow closing tempered glass, she clutched her steering wheel in a spurt of glee. She clasped her face, letting the flutters rise from her stomach to her throat. She giggled into her palms, squinting her eyes and bouncing in her seat.

Yup. That really happened.

Now was her first moment to finally absorb all the information of last night to now. When he first entered her apartment, introduced himself, told her his tortured past, then they kissed and actually had sex. She doubted she would, but it happened like it was far out of her control. Not just once, but three times. There were no regrets as would be so commonly encountered in these situations. There wasn't any anxiety or deterring, just anticipation to see him again. As she sat outside KTMJ she fully accepted the fluffy and elating truth she found a boyfriend. Quite suddenly out of nowhere, but so naturally.

What she would do after Edward's shift became a routine, their shared routine, for weeks. She'd pick him up everyday. Take him back to her place, and they would lose themselves in each other. It never staled or got repetitive, as every experience was different. Whether it was a movie, a walk, a drive, or just horseplay in her bed, it was a series without an ending. Every moment a new download of who each other were, each coming to adore more and more. Playfulness was the product of repetitiveness, their comfort zones coming into focus as every day passed. There was nothing more gratifying or exciting to Cori than seeing Edward break laughter shamelessly or play her down to her bed. His relentless tickling and her body being pulled up by his arms became a sanctuary. Each time more thrilling than the latter. She wouldn't be self conscious as she was, she wasn't scared of the plummet into love. She took it day by day and soon they were inseparable. He was rarely at his own apartment anymore; her home became theirs. Contacts on Cori's side that weren't work related were slowly fading away, as her company with Edward became the focus of all things. He was her best friend, the favourite person, the first and last thought of everyday when she'd rise and when she'd sleep. Their bodies were explored thoroughly by the other, each time a different experience. Edward like a teenage boy going through puberty.

Years of stagnancy and withdrawal from intimacy of any kind and now it was coming on so suddenly, he was insatiable for it. They were both intimate beings, both deprived of it for so long like starved animals. Touching was a need, loving words said in their embrace, always. Both their kindred need for it only validated it, allowing to stay in their bubble letting the madness of the world muffle outside. A small nest where they could confess the deepest thoughts and darkest memories and be provided consoling from a partner who understood the pain. Where their trauma was always valid, always empathized and comforted. The co-dependency between these two individuals was slowly growing firm like roots. The real world called outside their door, and eventually they would need to answer. Work was the necessary distraction, then they were back together everyday. They met in September and stayed to November, two months of nothing but themselves.

Then a pale afternoon, Cori was home. Edward was at work, and of course, she was waiting for the buzz from her phone. She knew to expect when he was busy at work, and when he would text. Usually, the hours between noon and 3pm, as his lunch break was variant. She usually picked him after she got off work, but today she wasn't working, but that wouldn't stop her.

Then a phone call came in, she picked it up in hopes it was him. She saw her mother's caller ID and was slightly disappointed. However, it had been weeks since she spoke to her last. She contemplated it now was the time to tell her.

She answered the face call and her mother's smile was a welcome of home. She beamed a grin, of course, it was returned.

"Hey mom."

"Oh, honey, I'm sorry I haven't been keeping in touch, been busy with some… personal things. You know how it is. Oh, god. Look at you, peanut! You're so adorable, I missed you so much. Look at that smile! You've been well?"

"Yeah, I've been good. Been great, actually. Some personal stuff, what do you mean?"

"Well, you told me once upon a time you didn't want to know about it, so I'm not sure I should say."

"You're seeing someone?"

"Yes! Haha! Yes, I am! The hottie chocolate doctor, remember him? Oh goodness, talk about ruffling feathers, woo!"

"Okay, overshare. That's good, mom. I'm happy for you. How old is he?"

"Ugh. Coraline, you really gotta know?"

"If you don't wanna tell me, that's totally your…"

"Okay! Okay! He's thirty one. But that's not bad! A lot of May-December romances work out well!"

"Mom! That's five years older than me."

"Don't say that stuff, Cori. Jesus. It's fine, we're fine. He keeps me young, and he makes me happy. Isn't that what's important? That I'm happy?"

Cori sighed, agreeing with her to an extent, "You're right. I'm happy for you, mom. He's gentle with you, though. Right?"

"Oh, sweetie. Only when he wants to be. Hahaha!"

Cori gagged out of the camera view and changed the subject quite radically, "So Thanksgiving is coming up. We still doing that again this year?"

"Of course! Did you forget?"

"So, I take it you want me to be there?"

"Yes! You gotta ask?"

Cori bit the inside of her cheek, wondering on whether to ask. She didn't want to miss Thanksgiving with her family, as it was one of the only days in the year they celebrated Celeste. However, she didn't want to leave Edward behind. The tape was coming off, and she was already preparing herself for the shriek through her phone speakers.

"With that said, I gotta tell and ask you something."

Her mom was busy in the backyard herding her chickens, "Sure, baby, anything!"

She tried to speak, but her mom would shrill on the other end, "Gilda! Get away from the feed, you fat bitch. You already had some. Let Kibble in!"

"Mom."

"I'm listening! I'm listening! Spit it out, already."

"Okay, so mom…"

"You fucking aborted dinosaurs shit all over my lawn chair. Jesus Christ…"

Cori just said it, "I'm seeing someone."

Her mother started to rant, then the crunch of the Nebraska leaves stopped suddenly, and the phone camera swooped an inch from her wide eyes, "Forgive my fucked up hearing, but did you just say you're seeing someone?"

Cori sighed a smile, "Yes, mom. I've been seeing him for two months."

Then it roared, the ripping scream of her speakers nearly being thrown from her phone holdings as her mom hopped up and down shrilling like an ebullient banshee. Despite the annoyance, it made Cori giggle.

"Alright, alright, settle down, ya loon."

"You finally found a man! Haha! Oh honey, I'm so happy, I could fucking cry!"

"I'm not sure if I should be offended or flattered."

Her mother plopped down on a seat in the yard and took a sip a coffee after asking, "So, tell me about him! Is this the same guy you met online?"

"I didn't tell you I met a guy online."

"You didn't have to, I read the signs. I know when you're hiding something. So, is it?"

Cori sighed and begrudgingly smiled, "Yes."

"Woo! I knew it! Tell me about him!"

"Uh, well… his name is Edward," she divulged, seldom enjoying talking about him, "He is a forensic accountant…"

"Ha! Oh shit! Can he do my taxes?" Her mother erupted in her famous chortle.

Cori joined in, "That's what I asked him when he first told me!"

"That's no surprise, you get your sense a humour from me. Keep going!"

"Uh. I don't know. He's thirty-four. What else is there to say about him?"

"What he look like? Forensic accountant I'm seeing tailor made suits, neatly quaffed hair and a shit-eating grin that could make your panties dance off!"

Cori blew a raspberry, "No. That's not Edward. He's tall… very tall. Like six feet. He's white and has brown hair, he's got these… adorable big glasses. Pouty green eyes, like a puppy. He's a nerd, so he's perfect."

"You always liked giving the nice guys a chance."

Cori grumbled, "Mom. You don't know him, yet."

"I'm just saying! The geek types are the ones that'll take care of you! Oh, honey. I'm so proud of you! You found a man! Oh my God! You can bring him for Thanksgiving! I gotta meet this cat."

"That's actually why I'm telling you all of this. I don't really wanna leave him here alone."

"Of course, he can come, Cori. You guys can stay in your old room, I'll make sure it's all made up. Now I would suggest you kids come down before the 20th. Maybe Edward can give me a hand. Oh! Mother and son-in-law bonding!"

"We're not married, mom."

"Oh, who cares. It's just a term."

"Maybe don't use it for my two-month long relationship, okay? I'd like to keep this one, don't scare him off."

"I won't. We'll be best buds, I bet. We can go on a double date, Singh and Edward might get along, too!"

Her phone began to ring with Edward's incoming call.

"Oh, I gotta go, mom. He's calling me."

"Okay, baby. Tell him you're wearing no underwear! He'll dig that!"

"Mom! Jesus…"

Her mother's laughs faded as she ended the call and went to Edward's.

She smiled giddily, "Hi, sir."

"Hello, ma'am." He replied suggestively, making her swoon, "I have lunch soon, wanna meet me at the diner off 40th?"

"Yeah, sure, I'll leave now."

"See you soon."

She got off the phone and got settled to go as soon as possible. She reached the diner and it was usually empty, but they preferred that. She gave him a text stating she was here and sat at one of the end tables by the windows. The waitress came over then, "Hi, you need a menu?"

"Two, yeah. I'm waiting for someone."

The waitress placed two menus on the table and went back to her duties. Cori watched the windows to the street, looking for that green coat, and large lenses to come into view. Instead, another familiar face walked inside the diner. Lieutenant Jim Gordon. He stopped at the till first to snatch a menu, but when he turned down the isle, he made Cori right away.

"Ms. Atkins!" He exclaimed pleasantly, "Nice to see you again."

She nodded, "Lieutenant."

"You sitting alone?"

"Waiting for someone. But you can sit till he gets here."

Gordon shrugged and plopped down before her with his newspaper in his hands, "I don't see why not. Male friend?"

Cori smiled and agreed, "On the money."

"That's nice. Good for you. How's the paper business? Still stuck with Mitchell?"

"Yup… slow and disappointing. As usual. You don't got anything I could scrap off you, do you?"

Gordon shook his head dejectedly, "Surprisingly not. It's been slow for crime with that… Bat thing running around."

"I saw that. Wasn't sure how to feel about it. Would love to write a story on him but… I haven't gotten the clearance."

"You'd be writing old news, anyway. GCN, WGOT, and News Daily are all over it like wasps at a picnic."

There was awkward silence for some time. Cori kept looking out the window in case Edward walked up. Without him, she pondered on asking a question she'd been thinking about for weeks.

Gordon began to sit up, "Well, I'll leave you in peace. Your friend is probably almost here… Cop might scare him away."

"Actually, I had a question."

Gordon sat back down and folded his hands to the table, "Ask away."

"I was wondering if you have the power to see files out of your jurisdiction."

"Like how far we talking?"

"California."

Gordon thought for a moment, "Would be tricky. Another state is another matter, entirely. Why are you asking?"

"Would you be able to take over a case in California? A cold case and reopen it for your own investigation?"

"No. I don't think so. There's a lot of red tape with those kinds of things. Is there a cold case California officials aren't opening?"

Cori nodded and folded her lips in, "My sister's. She died… 1998. She was kidnapped, raped and murdered. She was only eight years old. It's been twenty years with no answers on who did it. Coast City department doesn't want to reopen it. I feel like with that much time gone, technology today could surely make a break through, don't you think?"

"What case is this?"

"Celeste Atkins."

Gordon leaned back in his chair slowly nodding, "I remember that. Little girl in Webbler Springs went missing. Tragedy her body was found. A lot of people were devastated. Including myself. I didn't have children then, but I do now. It's definitely a case that deserves closure. I had no idea you were her sister, makes complete sense now."

"I don't really talk about it."

"Small world. But I don't think there's anyway I could reopen the case without California's approval. Not to mention, I have a packed caseload. A cold homicide investigation will take a lot of man power and resources to reopen. We may have the technology now but it ain't cheap. It's better it's reopened in Coast City where the murder took place with familiar cops, detectives and forensic scientists who were on the scene. Did they tell you why they won't reopen it?"

"Just that there wasn't enough funding and wasn't enough evidence to reopen."

Gordon scoffed through his moustache, "Bullshit. I remember that case well. It was a sexual assault, tons of DNA from the murderer. There's always the chance he was convicted of a similar crime and had to do prints. Twenty years is a long time, and these kinds of sick individuals aren't one time offenders. I'm sure all it would take is a forensic team and some time in the database."

"That's what I said. They still refused. Pretty sure they're getting sick of hearing from me."

"Completely normal for a family member to want answers. I can't take on the case but maybe…"

Cori's eyes lit up, "What?"

"I think I've still got some connections in Coast City PD. Maybe I can work something out and get the case reopened. I can't promise anything."

Cori smiled, tears swelling in her eyes, "Seriously?"

"It's not much, but it may be your last resort. I'll see what I can do."

Cori gasped and folded her hands to her chest, "Oh my God. Thank you. Thank you so much!"

She sprang from her seat and hugged Gordon suddenly, making him gruff and startle, but pat her back in response.

"You're welcome. Just remember, it's not a guarantee."

Cori wiped a single tear as she stood from him and clasped her hands together, "That's okay. It's the most hope I've had in years. Man, I'm so happy I dumped that coffee and pretended to be a dental hygienist."

Gordon broke into a husky laugh, shaking his head, "I'm glad I could help, Ms. Atkins."

As he said that, the doors rang with Edward scrapping off his shoes at the rug. Gordon peaked behind him and stretched his lips, "Is he your…"

Cori replied, "Yes."

"Better give him his spot back. We'll talk soon."

Gordon moved from the table and to the bar, passing Edward on his way giving him a brief nod. Cori sat down, smiling with tears still glossing. He returned one and came over to her first, stealing a peck from her lips before taking a seat.

"Why are you always so beautiful?" He leaned over the table.

Cori giggled, "Got me a guy with bad eyesight. That's my trick."

Edward tsk'd and asked her, "You okay? You look like you've been crying? Who's that guy you were talking to?"

"That's Lieutenant Jim Gordon. I know him from my work. I've got a lot of stuff to dump on you, you ready?"

"I've got something, too. But you go first."

Cori smiled and sniffled, "Well, the reason I've been crying is… the lieutenant just said he's gonna help me in reopening Celeste's case."

Edward gasped, "Really?"

"Yeah! He's got connections in Coast City, he's gonna see what he can do. He didn't promise anything but… so far, it's just been my dad and I asking for the investigation. It's… really hopeful. God… to think we could finally get some justice is like, the answer I've been searching for years. I've been waiting so long for this that it almost doesn't feel like it's really happening. I mean, it's not happening yet. It's just further than I've ever gotten."

"That's great, Cori. Your sister deserves justice, you all do. I mean that guy didn't just take her away, he disturbed your whole family. I really hope things work out and they do reopen it. They'd be idiots not to."

"Yeah… here's hoping. Of course, if it does get reopened I gotta tell my mom and my grandparents. My dad, I know he'll be happy. My mom is kinda on the fence, though. She doesn't want to relive it."

Edward said sullenly, "Sometimes reliving it is the only way to get past it."

"Speaking of mom," she curved a mischievous smile, "I told her about you today."

"Oh God. How'd that go?"

"She wants to meet you."

Edward's contentment eased to slight worry, "She wants to meet me? How? Why?"

"Thanksgiving is coming up. I usually fly out there for a week. She invited you to come with me. You think you can… take the time off?"

Edward fiddled his fingers nervously, "Uh. I don't know. Thanksgiving is only two weeks away."

"I know, I'm sorry. I should have asked sooner, but I wasn't even sure if I'd be going this year. If you get approved, awesome. If not, that's okay, we don't have to go."

Edward stated in concern, "You can go, Cori. You don't have to stay behind because of me. It's only a week."

"I don't want to leave you alone during the holidays. Could you at least ask? Who do you have to ask, HR or…"

"Zach," scoffed Edward, "He's got me on three different cases. Everyday he adds two more. I'm basically his computer at this point."

Cori rolled her eyes, "Douchebag…"

Edward sighed, "Yup… that and so much worse."

There was silence, Cori was clearly disappointed, Edward could see and feel it. He assured, "I'll ask him. Tell him I'm going to meet my girlfriend's family. Me having a girlfriend is probably the only lifeboat our conversations can survive on nowadays. You know, when he isn't asking me to do his work for him."

Cori breathed a grin, "You will?"

"Yeah," cooed Edward, taking her hand, "Maybe he'll let me take the files with me. I usually get them done under two hours, anyway."

Cori pulled in his sleeves for him to lean in for a kiss. Their kisses always lasted more than five seconds, slow and in sync, leaving them wanting more. Cori sat back to her bench as Edward did the same.

Cori whispered seductively, "Oh yeah, I was told to tell you I'm not wearing panties."

Edward chuckled, "Huh?"

"You dig it?"

"Of course, you're not. I took them to work with me."

Cori sputtered in giggles, hanging her black hair down as she laughed to her lap. Edward chuckled in his throat, prideful in making her laugh.

She resolved and asked, "Hey, you said you had something to share. What is it?"

Edward shook as he remembered and brought out his phone, "Right, right. I caught something at work today. I… don't know what to make of it. I wanted to show you."

He showed her his gallery, there were several recent shots of ledgers from his work. Cori took his phone and scrolled through them, furrowing her brow more and more as she tried to figure it out.

"You see what I see?" Edward asked intently.

Cori blew air through her lips and shook her head, "Babe, all I see are numbers and more numbers. I'm a writer nerd, not a math nerd."

Edward pulled his phone back in her hands so he could point it out, "You see those payments? Pull out your phone."

Cori pulled out her phone and he said, "Open your calculator. Add them up."

She did the math on her app and each equation was 10,000 dollars on the dot. Cori flexed a brow and looked up to Edward, "Weird."

He explained further, "Those payments are being made from New Beginnings Rescue to a parent company known as Waterfront Industries. Weekly payments in small amounts, but every week, they add up to ten thousand. Every week. It's consistent. The thing is, a computer flags a five digit number. They're breaking it up in smaller portions as if to avoid detection. Looks off, right?"

Cori pondered the pictures further and slowly nodded, "Yeah. A little suspish. I won't lie."

He whispered it, "I think it's dirty money."

Cori's face lit up, "You think?"

He added with a light smile, "Something worth writing about Miss Journalist?"

Cori grinned back, making him brim one in return. They looked over the pictures of the ledgers further, picking apart the payments confirming Edward's suspicions.