Chapter 105
105
I’d already called Gunnar three days ago and told him I was getting out of prison.
The news had surprised and overjoyed him –
But this new piece of information absolutely floored him.
“Dude – are you SURE p>
“That’s what Dario said p>
“Look, I know your Italian buddy is ‘connected…’” I could hear the air quotes in his voice. “But can you really – ”
“Just look for Camilla Abbandando. Please p>
“Okay… hold on p>
I kept the pay phone receiver next to my ear and my back to the wall. Getting shivved while talking on the phone was a disturbingly common occurrence, so I kept an eye out while I waited.
I could hear Gunnar typing in the background. Then I heard him swear in surprise.
“…holy shit p>
My heart skipped a beat. “What p>
“…Camilla Abbandando… marriage license to a Laurence Grantham 30 years ago… changed her name to Camilla Grantham… and had a little girl at St. Bartholomew’s hospital… named Rachel Francesca Grantham p>
My blood froze in my veins.
“Can you do a search on Rachel Gra– ”
“Already on it p>
There was more clacking on the keyboard.
Then Gunnar said in a hushed tone, “There aren’t any records for a Rachel Grantham or Rachel Abbandando, but there’s a company called RFG Holding 7 Ltd. I figure RFG is for Rachel Francesca Grantham. It’s basically a shell corporation, but it lists Camilla Grantham as a contact. The company is also the holder of a house at 19 Coates Avenue in London p>
“Could it be the mother’s house p>
“I don’t think so – she’s listed at another address.” More clacking. “Dude… according to Google Maps, Coates Avenue is only four miles from MI – uh, from Rachel’s, uh, work headquarters p>
That was it.
It had to be.
After three and a half years of looking, I finally knew where she was.
“There’s a phone number for Camilla Grantham – do you want it p>
“…yeah… I don’t know if I’ll use it, but just in case p>
He gave me the number and I wrote it down on a piece of paper.
“And Coates is spelled C-O-A-T-E-S. 19 Coates Avenue p>
“Thanks, Gunnar,” I murmured.
“Dude, I’m SO sorry I couldn’t find this before p>
“It’s okay. You had no idea – Rachel’s name isn’t on it, and we had no idea what her mother’s name was p>
“Still, I feel like I should have been able to – ”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s all in the past. It’s going to be okay now p>
“Lars… do you want me to contact her first, bro?” he asked hesitantly. “You know… just in case? Get her, uh, prepared for it p>
“No… no, I want to see her. I want to explain it myself p>
“…okay p>
“Thanks, Gunnar. I mean it. For everything. For paying for the lawyer… for searching for Rachel all this time… for always being there for me p>
“I’m just sorry I couldn’t have done more p>
“You did a huge amount. More than I can ever repay p>
“Will you come see me once you get out?!” he asked excitedly. “Or I could come see you in London p>
“Absolutely – just – let me talk to her first p>
“Sure, sure – I can’t wait to see you, bro p>
“Same here, man. Same here p>