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The recording began with Kerra’s voice “…coming from the corner. A third, from the other direction.” After a lengthy silence, “There’s a fourth, Trapper.”
Then Wilcox. “They’ve been instructed to wait for a second call, a second hang-up. If it doesn’t come within ten minutes…”
Trapper tapped pause and stared down at her. “How much is on here?”
“I had to stop recording when I made the second call. You took back the phone immediately after.”
“Pretty smart trick.”
“Thanks.”
He dashed her perky comeback with anger. “A trick that could’ve gotten you killed. Us killed. Why didn’t you tell me about this before now?”
“Well, you’ve kept me rather occupied. First there was the unannounced visit to Marianne’s house. Then our drive back here in the middle of the night. The tense conversation between you and The Major in the hospital. This morning—”
“That’s all bullshit, Kerra. You didn’t tell me because you knew I’d be mad as hell. Think what would have happened if you’d gotten caught.”
“But I didn’t! And now you have the recording.”
“A recording of me spinning what Wilcox called a captivating story.”
“He talked about wanting to avenge his daughter’s murder. He talked about the four men outside standing by to rush the building and kill you. It’s something. At least it’s enough to get the authorities to listen to you without laughing.” His lack of excitement dismayed and confused her. “I thought you’d be pleased.”
“I’m glad to have the recording. And it is something on that son of a bitch. But it makes my point, Kerra. If not for me, you wouldn’t have been there in that life-threatening situation, taking risks.”
He paced a few feet away from her, and when he turned back, he said, “Your involvement in this should’ve ended the night I took you those damn flowers.” He held her gaze for a moment, then looked down at his boots and, in a mumble, added, “I just couldn’t stay away from you.”
The admission made her heart flutter. But it turned to a thud of dread with his next statement. “Your involvement ends now.”
“I’ve changed my mind from what I said earlier.”
He gave a negative shake of his head. “You’re going back to your life. Or not. But in any case you’re going away from me.”
“But I don’t want to drop this.”
“I don’t want another Berkley Johnson on my conscience. Only with you, it would be worse. I never kissed him.” The words shimmered between them, then he said, “Besides, this is something I’ve got to do alone.”
That statement had a different ring to it. “You’ve got to do it alone? That’s an odd thing to say.”
“What’s odd about it?”
“It doesn’t sound like someone who’s only seeking justice. It sounds like you have a hidden agenda.”
“And that sounds like psychobabble.”
If she hadn’t hit on something, he wouldn’t be responding so defensively. Determined to get to the bottom of it, she searched his face and asked again, “Why must you do this alone?”
“I just do, okay?”
“Not okay. That’s not an explanation.”
“That’s all you’re getting.”
“Why alone, Trapper?”
“Kerra.”
“To restore your pride?”
