Page 128 of I’ll Be Watching You

“I will be back for the rest of the money. Do not try anything. And if anything happens to me? My safe-deposit box has all the evidence to put you and Sal away. It goes straight to the feds.”

She believed him. While she detested this man, he was cunning. He would have something that pointed to her.

“Fine,” she said through clenched teeth. “Now go.”

She pointed to the door. He laughed and walked backward toward the door.

That’s when she saw Roger.

He stood there with his gun. She had never seen her husband so angry. He must have come in shortly after her, because she’d only been home for fifteen minutes.

As soon as Peter turned toward Roger, Roger fired twice. Peter’s gun went off, and Mildred screamed.

Chapter Forty-Five

Margo Angelhart

Cal and I left Flagstaff after we gave the FBI our statements. They would be taking over now, and honestly, I was grateful. I was done with Tim Miller. Cal and I had saved all the important information from his computer and were happy to turn it and the recording over to the FBI so they could pursue charges against Peter Stockman and Tim.

Now we had to find a way to get Willa Blankenship back from Australia to answer questions. She might have information that could exonerate my dad. Between the video and Tim Miller’s statement, there should be at least reasonable doubt.

I had to have faith we could clear Dad’s name. Otherwise, everything that had happened was for naught.

“Jack just texted me,” I said as we entered Phoenix city limits at noon. “Carter is in critical condition at the hospital.”

Cal didn’t say anything.

“Hey, you okay? You didn’t have a choice.”

“I know. I’m okay. I don’t want him to die, but I’m okay.” He reached out, squeezed my hand. I was driving. Cal looked exhausted.

My phone rang. It was Jack.

“Margo, I just confirmed with Tess. Mildred Maddox has a half brother named Marconi. She doesn’t have his first name, just that there was a child from the second marriage. In his house, Carter had a coaster with the label ‘Marconi’s Whiskey & Wine.’ Not a coincidence. I’m on my way there now to talk to him.”

“Can you wait for me? Take backup?”

“I’ll take Luisa. Hold on.”

There were muffled voices, then Jack came back on the line. “Luisa just told me that Peter Stockman shot Maddox’s husband. He’s at large.”

“When?”

“An hour ago. It’s not public information yet. He’s probably on the run. The police will find him.”

“And Mildred? What happened to her?”

“She told police that Peter Stockman broke into her house and talked nonsense about how she owed him money, so she transferred sixty thousand to his account because he had a gun on her. She claims she doesn’t know why, only that he was wild-eyed and scared her. Her husband came in and Peter shot him. Roger Maddox is in critical condition, and Mildred is with him at the hospital.”

“Be careful with Marconi,” I told Jack. “Cal and I are almost back in Phoenix. Do you want me to meet you there?”

“The club is on First Street, south of Chase Field. Head to the office. I’ll let you know if I need you. But you should know one more thing—Roger Maddox had a gun, and Mildred said that Peter was also shot.”

Wounded animals bit back. Who would Peter Stockman blame for everything that went down? Tim Miller? Mildred Maddox? Marconi?

Or us?

Chapter Forty-Six