“I owe it to Timothy’s memory. Can we go?” He gestured toward the door, and Cindy got up and headed out with him.
As she walked, she replayed Dale’s last words.I owe it to Timothy’s memory…Dale had put it together. Cindy didn’t think it would take much effort though. Call it a hunch, but she had a feeling he knew all along that Susan Crawford wasn’t the victimof an unfortunate accident. And she had a strong suspicion she knew why.
THIRTY-ONE
3:45 PM
Tears made it hard for Ryan to see. Soon all of this would be behind him, and his stand would have been worth it. Not that any of it brought his mother back. He’d blame the whiskey for messing with his mind and making him more emotional. The FBI agent’s proposal wasn’tthatbad. At least the media was still coming. But could he trust her not to double cross him? How could she stop snipers from taking a shot at him?
She can’t, that’s what…He swigged back more whiskey and eyed his hostages. A family, harmless enough on the surface except for whose seed they were part of. But then that would apply to him.You are a…He topped up his glass. The decanter was getting low. Maybe it was a sign he should take it easy and clear his head. He had that interview with the reporter coming up. He threw the second crystal rocks glass at the floor and watched the whiskey spill out. Then he turned to the woman. “You.” He pointed at her while she hugged her son. “Make some coffee.”
“Okay.” She jabbed a gaze at her husband as she stood to leave the room.
“To remind you of the risks if you try anything… Come here.” He motioned for the teenage girl to walk over to him. She did,and he wrapped an arm around her torso, set the gun at her temple. “You run, then she gets a bullet in the head.”
Just pull the trigger… Do it… You need to do this… Stop it with her… It doesn’t matter that she’s a kid. She’s guilty. She deserves to pay for her grandfather’s sins…
The voice in his head was getting louder, but it was all his imagination.All my imagination…He’d chant it like a mantra. After all, it was just his damaged brain. His doctor had told him that the marijuana he’d abused as a teenager had done irreversible damage and doled out a prescription to help manage the symptoms.
The woman held up her hands. “I’ll get you a coffee and be right back. What do you want in it?”
“Do I look like I fucking care?”
You’re a brain-damaged loser! Your own father wanted you dead!
“Please, stop doing this! Please.” The teenager started crying.
She’s one of them… She would pull the trigger if the roles were reversed… Do it!
Ryan shut his eyes, trying to block out the voice.Just do it!!!“Shut up!”
The girl became still, and Edward and the boy stared wide-eyed at him. He must have screamed that out loud.
The woman returned to the room holding a cup out to him. “It’s black.”
He pushed the girl away and took the offering. “Thanks.”
The woman looked at him before returning to the spot on the couch with her son. The girl went to her father’s side.
“Get away from him.”
Tears were streaking down her face. “You will pay for what you’ve done!” she roared while touching her father’s shoulder. “Daddy.”
The tender moment had a knot twisting in Ryan’s chest. He’d never bonded with his father, or any male role model, for that matter. So to hell if he was going to stand here and watch someone else enjoy it. “Get back to where you were. Now!”
“You’re an animal!”
“You’ll be dead if you don’t do as I say.”
“Sophie,” her mother petitioned, and it proved enough to prompt the girl back to her side.
“Now, you.” Ryan leveled his gaze at Edward. He was sweating profusely, and his breathing was labored. “Why are you lying to me, to your family? Was that something you learned from the old man?”
“I’m not… lying to you,” Edward hissed through clenched teeth. His discomfort was evident in his bloodshot eyes.
“For God’s sake, Edward, enough is enough,” Ashley said. “Tell him.”
“Come on, Edward, tell me.” Ryan put his face in Edward’s, placing their noses inches apart. “Have you kept quiet about your father all these years to protect yourself? You must know the sort of man he was. Did you think you’d lose your inheritance? It’s all about money toyou, isn’t it? That’s why you think it means everything to everyone else.”
