Page 115 of I’ll Be Watching You

“No, but he knows about Peter, and Peter asked that we take care of him. I swear, all these free . . . jobs . . . Peter has asked me to handle simply because I have a stake in the Neurovantix sale? I’m getting tired of it. Anyway, Carter already went through Miller’s apartment and tablet. There’s nothing that ties to us, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have evidence elsewhere.”

“He only knows about Peter’s role,” Mildred said, folding her hands on the table’s cool surface. “Which confirms my initial suspicion. Peter is the problem.”

Sal leaned back. “It’ll have to be tomorrow. I can send someone else, but I feel only the best will get the job done.”

“Tomorrow,” she agreed.

“We also run the risk that he really does have evidence against us.”

“We both have a good escape plan. Fire destroys,” she reminded him.

He nodded, then asked, “Are the Angelharts going to be a problem?”

“I don’t know,” Mildred admitted. “They may think they know things, but they can’t prove anything. It could be uncomfortable, but even if Tim Miller kept files of everything he did for us, it doesn’t fall back on me. Willa and Peter, yes, but I’ve always kept my hands clean.”

“Still, you might want to visit our dear niece in Australia while things die down.”

She smiled widely. “I was thinking the same thing. Would you like to join us? Willa always had a soft spot for you,” she teased.

He laughed softly. She appreciated the ease between them, their shared business, shared humor, shared history. Willa had never liked Sal, but Mildred loved them both.

Sal took her hand then, and for a moment his fingers squeezed just a little too tight for comfort. “Please, Mildred, be careful. I’ll take care of Peter, but I’ve never trusted him. He is far more devious than he seems at first glance.”

“It’s his vindictiveness we need to be concerned with.” She rose. “I’ll make arrangements to leave as soon as possible,” she said. Saying it put a bad taste in her mouth. She didn’t want to leave town, but it would probably be best.

Sal walked her to the door that led to the main club. He gave her a hug, another kiss on the cheek. The air by the doorway was colder, and she shivered.

“I repeat, dear sister, be careful. If you need anything, call.”

“I will. Thank you, Sal.”

Mildred joined her husband and had a glass of champagne while he enjoyed his second Scotch. They didn’t talk much, but they never felt the need to fill the silence with words. The ambience of the bar, which usually relaxed her, made her tense tonight. Roger, as if he could sense her discomfort and busy mind, drained his drink and suggested they leave.

They walked out, the air crisp. She pulled her thin shawl around herself, but that did nothing to warm her. Roger opened the passenger door, she sat, and he firmly closed the door then walked around to the driver’s side.

He got in, turned the ignition, and switched on the heater without her having to ask. He was such a good man.

“You are worried,” he said.

“A bit.”

He nodded, pulled away from the curb.

“We’ll survive,” he said momentarily. “We always do.”

She rested her hand on his leg as he drove them home, grateful for his constant support.

Peter Stockman would take the fall. Once he was dead, she would make sure every crime pointed back to his corpse.

Chapter Forty

Margo Angelhart

I’d only been a tiny bit surprised when Jack asked Cal if he would go to Flagstaff with me. I looked at him quizzically, and he said, “If you aren’t back tomorrow, someone needs to sit on Mom, especially if this situation gets any more volatile.”

Jack was probably one of the few people who could get Mom to do something she didn’t want to do. In this case, we would probably urge her to join our grandparents at Logan’s resort.

We took my mom’s Escalade up to Flagstaff. I even let Cal drive because, to be honest, I was beat.