“Well, I guess I can understand that. The lesser of two evils. She didn’t want your father to know about her past. So she caved in t
o Clancy’s demand. Damn, what a piece of work that guy was.”
“Yeah, well it cost him in the end.”
Reel tapped the top of the Bentley. “Do you really think Pete killed Sara?”
“Anyone could have taken the Range Rover. The garage door is off its roller. Keys were probably hanging on a hook in the kitchen or maybe kept in the garage somewhere. But no, Pete doesn’t strike me as smart or methodical enough to have done this. Slit his father’s throat? Gunned down two young women? Framed my father? Sold us a bill of goods? Hell, he couldn’t even blackmail Wendell without nearly getting killed. Then he runs like a scared kid only to come back with his tail between his legs begging for protection. If he is behind it, the guy is one lucky SOB.”
“And he might be.”
“Or he might be innocent and clueless,” commented Robie.
“Well, he’s sitting in a jail cell right now. Why don’t we go ask him?”
“And you think he’ll tell us the truth?” Robie said skeptically.
“Depends on how we ask him.”
They left the garage and walked toward the main house, which was now merely a jumble of caved-in walls and a partially collapsed roof.
“The bigger they are the harder they fall,” noted Reel. “It’s why I never wanted to be rich. Too much shit to take care of. Eventually, what does it matter anyway, right?”
“Meaning you can’t take it with you?”
“No, meaning you get old and someone, usually your family, is trying to take it away from you while you’re still breathing. Not how I want to spend my golden years.”
“There you go again, talking about retirement.”
Reel shot him a glance. “Why not? You think we’re going to be doing this forever?”
“I can say definitively no, at least I’m not.”
“And you never know, we might be replaced by drones.”
“Not even assassins can stand in the way of technology,” said Robie sardonically.
“So retirement then?”
“Or an early grave.”
“You need to think more positively, Robie.”
“Ask me that again when I’m out of Mississippi.”
His phone buzzed.
He pulled it out and looked at the screen.
“Don’t recognize the number.”
“Better answer it.”
Robie did so.
Bobby Wendell sounded frantic. “Mr. Robie, we have a problem.”
“What sort of problem?” said Robie warily.
“Well, it’s more your problem right now than mine.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The men that I may or may not have hired to resolve that issue?”
“What about them?”
“They are pissed about what you and your colleague did. And they have called in reinforcements, more badass than they are, apparently. And they are on their way to do something about it.”
“Who are they?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then how do you know they’re coming for us?”
“I got a call from someone, a friend. He’s in the loop. He told me. This group thought the job would be easy. Put the screws to Pete. But then you showed up and wreaked havoc. They want their pound of flesh, Mr. Robie. And you and your friend are it. And then they might come after me. Which is why I’m flying my family out of the country right now.”
Robie continued to work away.
Meanwhile, Reel thought about a possible opportunity.
She slipped over to Robie, told him what she was thinking.
He nodded, handed her his gun, and said, “Do it.”
She left him and went to the spot, a narrow sliver behind some junk that provided a clear view of the outside through the open door.