Karen Rose - Kill for Me

Bobby considered it. Once she’d killed Susannah, she’d have to kill Papadopoulos sooner or later. He was the kind of man who wouldn’t rest until she, Bobby, was punished, especially if Susannah was dead. Which she soon would be.

However, Bobby preferred to deal with Papadopoulos at a time and place of her own choosing. Dealing with two small women was one thing. Papadopoulos was a big man and would likely come with a posse of his own. “Does your cell phone have a speaker?”

“Yes.”

“Then answer it.” Bobby knelt next to Agent Scott and put the gun to her head. “Be very careful what you say, little sister, or her blood will be on your hands.”

Bobby had the satisfaction of watching Susannah grow pale.

“It’s stopped ringing,” she said.

“Then call him back. Tell him you found the records you were looking for. Tell him that you and Agent Scott are starting back to Atlanta. And be convincing.”

Susannah reached for her purse.

“Uh-uh-uh,” Bobby scolded. “I remember your purse from yesterday.”

“I’m not armed,” she said quietly. “Not anymore.”

“Well, I’m not taking any chances. Bring the purse here and dump it on the floor in front of me. Do it now.” Susannah obeyed and Bobby looked through her things. No gun. “Fine. Put out your hands.”

Susannah glanced at Agent Scott, then held out her hands. Bobby found the sound of snapping cuffs satisfying. “Now call your man. Use the speaker.”

Susannah obeyed once more. “Luke, it’s me. Sorry, I wasn’t close to my phone.”

There was a sigh of relief. “I was getting nervous. Where are you?”

“At Mama and Daddy’s, but not for much longer. Talia and I found what we were looking for, so we’re just about to head back to Atlanta.”

“You found the records, then? A connection back to Darcy Williams?”

“We sure did. I’ll see you back at the office.”

“Susannah, wait. Am… am I on the speaker phone?”

“Yeah, I’m sorry. My arms are pretty full, so I hit the hands-free button.”

“Where is Talia?”

“Out at the car,” she improvised, and Bobby nodded approval. “She took a load of books we found in Daddy’s office. Ledgers and diaries.”

“Then why are your hands full if Talia’s got all the books?”

Susannah faltered. “I… I’ve got a box,” she said, injecting a note of brightness into her voice, “filled with some of Mama’s things that I want to keep.” She hesitated. “I love you, Lukamou,” she said quietly. “I’ll see you later.” She hung up, her hands trembling.

“How sweet,” Bobby said with a sneer. With her strong arm she dragged Agent Scott to a crawlspace beneath the stairs and locked her in, then on second thought, opened the door and shot her in the leg. Scott’s cry was muted by the tape on her mouth. Bobby cast an amused glance at Susannah, who looked as horrified as she’d hoped. “Leigh Smithson gave the rundown on the GBI team. She said Talia Scott was extremely formidable and not to be underestimated. A veritable Houdini at escaping.”

“You shot her,” Susannah said furiously. “She was no threat to you.”

“Like I said, I’m not taking any chances. A shot in the leg will slow her down if she decides to run. Now get up those stairs and start remembering the birthdays of all the Vartanian relatives I never got to meet. We have four more safes to open.”

“Six,” Susannah said dully. “There are six.”

Luke hung up, barely breathing, trying vainly to remain calm. “No. Pete. Pete.”

Pete came running, a bound notebook in his big hands. “Look what I found behind Grant’s bedroom closet. The wall had a sliding panel, just like in the movies. There have to be a hundred bound volumes just like this one. What’s wrong?”

“Susannah.” He swallowed hard. “I think Bobby is there with her.”

Pete grasped Luke’s shoulder. “Breathe. What exactly did she say?”

“That she and Talia were at her ‘Mama and Daddy’s’ and they had found all ‘Daddy’s’ records and were on their way back, but she was on her speaker phone because her hands were full of things she was taking away to remember her mama.”

Pete swallowed. “Shit.”

And then she said she loved me , like she’d never get the chance to say it again. “I was going to tell her about Paul Houston, but I didn’t know who was listening.”

“Smart.”

Luke nodded. “I’m going out to the Vartanians’.”

“Not smart,” Pete said, then sighed. “So I’ll go with you.”

Luke was already running. “Call Germanio, tell him to arrest Charles Grant.”

Pete closed his car door as Luke peeled way, tires screeching. “What’s the charge?”

“Start with murder of Judge Borenson.”

“We can add extortion,” Pete said, tapping the notebook he’d brought from Grant’s house. “Charles has the dope on every rich man and woman in this town and they were all paying him through the nose to keep their nasty secrets.”

“I’m not surprised, but I don’t think we can use that yet. That notebook isn’t covered by the warrant. Borenson’s murder is enough for now,” Luke added as Pete dialed.

“Hank, it’s Pete. Pick up Charles Grant and bring him-” Pete frowned. “What the fuck do you mean you lost him?”

Luke grabbed Pete’s phone, his foot punching the accelerator. “ Where. Is. He? ”

“He left the cemetery,” Germanio said, “but headed out of town.”

“And you didn’t goddamn call me? Fuck.”

“I had him in my sights, but he pulled off to a side road and I had to pass him so I didn’t give myself away. When I doubled back… he was gone. I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry? You’re goddamn sorry ?” Breathe. “Where are you now?”

“About five miles from the cemetery, heading back toward town.”

“No, turn around and head for the Vartanians’ house. It’s another few miles, an old antebellum mansion. Talia’s car should be parked out front. Approach silently and wait for me. Bobby’s inside with Susannah and Talia.”

“All right.”

“Germanio, listen to me. You wait for me, okay?” Luke handed Pete his phone. “Damn cowboy. Now Grant knows we know.”

“He’s not the only cowboy,” Pete muttered.

Luke shot him a glare. “What if Ellie were being held captive by a murderer?”

Ellie was Pete’s wife, a tiny, little woman. Pete treated her like spun glass. “Why do you think I’m here?” he asked quietly. “Now focus on driving. I’ll call Chase.”

Dutton, Monday, February 5, 1:35 p.m.

Charles was pissed. He’d had a tail, some clumsy GBI guy who’d been child’s play to lose. But that meant he’d been discovered. They knew. Dammit.

He’d known deep down that it was only a matter of time. He’d tried to stick his finger in the dike when he’d helped Daniel Vartanian catch Mack O’Brien. Mack had been calling lots of unwanted attention to Toby Granville and the other boys.

But all good things must come to an end. He could leave behind no loose ends. Bobby was a loose end. So was his house. He wasn’t arrogant enough to believe that once the GBI started looking they wouldn’t find his records. Everything truly valuable he carried with him in his ivory box, but the house had to go. He’d tell Paul to burn the sucker down. He dialed Paul’s cell. “I need you in Dutton,” he said.

“Well that’s good,” Paul said, “because that’s just where I’m headed. I’ve been trying to call you for an hour.”

“I told you I couldn’t take calls at the cemetery,” Charles said sternly. “I told you to text me. Even Bobby got that part right.”