Six months later, Wade Wu stood in the office of his fourth auto shop, watching the morning crew prepare for another day.
The business had expanded faster than he’d projected, fueled by insurance money from Patrick’s theft and the liquidated assets from his divorce settlement. The insurance company had paid out quickly once Wade provided evidence of Patrick’s systematic embezzlement. They’d been satisfied with the police report of Patrick’s disappearance and showed no interest in investigating further.
People like Patrick disappeared all the time, and insurance companies preferred simple explanations. Wade’s legal troubles had been minimal. Oliver Doyle had structured everything perfectly.
The divorce, the business transfers, even the insurance claims. Jessica’s signature on various documents had made her the legal owner of several debts she’d never known about. While Wade emerged clean and profitable.
The new shop was in the part of town where Wade had grown up, a neighborhood that had gotten worse since he’d left it behind. But Wade remembered what it felt like to be young and hungry and looking for someone to give him a chance. He hired locally, paid well, and asked no questions about his employees’ backgrounds as long as they showed up and worked hard.
Clarence Combs stopped by every few weeks, ostensibly to discuss security for the shops, but actually to provide updates on situations that required monitoring. Jessica relocated to Phoenix, Clarence reported during one of these visits. Working as a bookkeeper for a small accounting firm.
Low profile. No contact with anyone from her past. Good.
You want me to keep tabs on her? Wade considered this. Jessica was broken, exiled, living in fear of consequences that might never come. It was a fitting punishment for someone who had tried to destroy his life.
But it was also complete. She posed no further threat. No.
Let her go. Clarence nodded. What about the other matter? What other matter? Officer Seth Mayer, the one who warned you about Jessica and Patrick.
Wade had been wondering when this conversation would come. Officer Mayer had risked his career to warn Wade about the conspiracy against him, and Wade didn’t forget debts like that. What about him? His daughter needs surgery.
Leukemia. Insurance won’t cover the experimental treatment that might save her life. Wade was quiet for a moment, remembering another young police officer who had faced similar circumstances years ago.
How much? Two hundred thousand. Handle it. Anonymous donation through one of the medical charities.
Consider it done. After Clarence left, Wade walked through his shops, speaking with employees, checking on projects, maintaining the personal connections that made his business more than just another repair service. He learned long ago that loyalty was built on countless small interactions, not grand gestures.
His phone rang as he was reviewing inventory reports. The caller ID showed a number he didn’t recognize. Wade Wu.
Mr. Wu? This is Detective Angela Maddox with the County Sheriff’s Department. I’m investigating the disappearance of Patrick Mullins. I was hoping you might have a few minutes to answer some questions.
Wade felt a familiar calm settle over him. Of course, Detective. What would be convenient? Actually, I’m in the area now.
Could I stop by your shop? I’ll be here. Detective Maddox arrived 20 minutes later, a middle-aged woman with sharp eyes and the kind of patient demeanor that suggested she was very good at her job. Wade met her in his office, offering coffee and projecting the helpful attitude of a successful businessman with nothing to hide.
I understand Patrick Mullins used to work for you. She began. Yes, about five years ago.
I had to let him go for theft. Did you press charges? No. It was a relatively small amount and I believe in second chances.
Detective Maddox made notes in a small notebook. When was the last time you saw Mr. Mullins? About two months ago. He contacted me about some business opportunity involving international real estate.
We met for dinner with my wife, ex-wife, to discuss it. How did that meeting go? Wade’s expression darkened slightly. Detective, I discovered during that meeting that Patrick had been having an affair with my wife and stealing money from my business accounts.
I told him to stay away from me and my family. Did you threaten him? I told him that if I saw him again, I’d call the police and press charges for theft and fraud. I should have done that five years ago.
Detective Maddox studied Wade’s face carefully. Your ex-wife confirmed this version of events. I’m sure she did.
You went through a divorce recently. Yes. Discovering your wife is cheating tends to end a marriage.
Where were you on the night of March 15th? Wade pretended to think. Home alone. My ex-wife had moved out by then.
I ordered Chinese food and watched television. I probably have receipts if you need them. That won’t be necessary right now.
Detective Maddox closed her notebook. Mr. Wu, do you have any idea what might have happened to Patrick Mullins? Wade was quiet for a moment, as if considering the question seriously. Detective, Patrick Mullins was a professional con artist who made a career out of stealing from people and disappearing before facing consequences.
Based on what I learned about him during our investigation of the theft, he had enemies in several states and owed money to some very unforgiving people. What kind of people? The kind of don’t call the police when someone fails to pay their debts. Detective Maddox nodded slowly.
Thank you for your time, Mr. Wu. If you think of anything else that might be helpful, please call me. She handed Wade her card and left.
Wade waited until her car disappeared from the parking lot, then called Clarence. We just had a visitor. I know.
She’s been asking questions around town for the past week. Very thorough. But she’s not finding anything useful.
Because there’s nothing to find. Because we’re very good at our jobs. Wade smiled.
Good. That evening, Wade sat in his study. The same room where he discovered Jessica’s betrayal six months ago.
The safe now contained different documents. Insurance policies that protected only him. Bank statements showing healthy balances he controlled completely.
And business contracts that would ensure his security for years to come. He thought about Jessica, probably lying awake in some cheap apartment in Phoenix. Wondering if every knock on the door might be someone coming to collect on debts she didn’t understand.
He thought about Patrick, whose final lesson and consequences had been more permanent than Wade had originally planned. Most of all, he thought about the future. Wade Wu was 43 years old, financially secure, and completely free of people who might betray him.
He’d learned to trust carefully and punish thoroughly. And those lessons would serve him well in whatever came next. His phone buzzed with a text from Officer Seth Mayer.
Mr. Wu, I don’t know how to thank you for what you’ve done for my daughter. The doctors say the treatment is working. I’ll never forget this kindness.
Wade smiled and deleted the message. Some debts were worth paying. And some favors were worth returning.
But from now on, Wade Wu would choose very carefully who earned his trust and loyalty. Because Wade Wu had learned the most important lesson of all. In a world full of predators, the only way to survive was to be the apex predator.
And Wade was very good at surviving. And there you have it. Another story comes to an end.
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