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“What?”
“That she wasn’t sixteen yet when she was raped. Now in Maine, if the victim is under sixteen when the act occurs, there isnostatute of limitation for rape. So Bing can still go to prison, for a long time, maybe the rest of his life.”
“My God,” said Dak, putting a hand to his face. “This is a nightmare.” He looked at Devine. “So what are you going to do?”
“Nail the guy.”
Dak looked terrified. “But, Devine, Alex could remember the truth any minute. And Bing knows that. And so if he did kill all those people, what’s one more?”
CHAPTER
72
AS DEVINE AND ALEX WEREdriving back to Putnam through the rain Devine said, “I think I should come and stay with you, at least for a while.”
“Why?”
“It’s a big house, and with Dak not being there and all...” He didn’t want to come out and tell her that he believed her life was in danger, but Dak was right: Benjamin Bing had every incentive to kill her.
“Are you going to tell me what my brother and his friend were doing at that outbuilding when they were shot? And what wereyoudoing there?”
“The source of the money your brother has been using to invest in the town? It’s not partners from Boston.”
“What, then?”
“He’s been dealing illegally.”
“Oh please God, not drugs.”
“No. In elvers.”
“In what?” she said, her brow furrowing.
“Glass eels, which are apparently worth a ton of money.”
“He’s been sellingeels? You’re joking, right?”
“I take it you know nothing about the illicit eel trade?”
“I didn’t even know there was such a thing.”
“Well, itisa thing. And I’ve left it up to the local police to sort it out. But if I were a betting man, I don’t think Harper will give him too tough a time. Dak broke the law and I can’t condone that. But his intentions were good, mostly.”
“Do you think that’s why he was shot? Are there, I don’t know, rival gangs in the eel business?”
“No, I don’t think that was it.”
“What, then?”
“I don’t know for sure, and until I do, I really don’t want to say.”
She sighed. “Well, thanks for telling me about Dak.”
“And what about me staying at Jocelyn Point?”
“If you want to, that’s fine.” She hesitated. “But I’m not sure we can...you know?”
He touched her arm. “That isnotwhy I want to stay at Jocelyn Point. Your brother was just shot, and for all I know someone has a beef against your family. So I’d like to be close by in case they come back.”
