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“I was hoping that the authorities could let the plan to kill us unfold to catch the sons of bitches. Maybe with dummy cars. I don’t want anyone to get hurt, but if they don’t know that I know, they might get themselves caught.”
“I hope that’s exactly what will happen.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry to bother you with this now. I know you’ve got to be out of your mind with worry over your own son’s situation.”
“He’s okay and I’m keeping him that way. I’ve also hired private security. Can you tell me where you are now?”
“I’d prefer not to. Everyone with access to the internet gossip sites knows where I lived. No one knows where I am now except for my security. We didn’t even bring the household staff. They’re all back at my house, attending to business as usual.”
“Then let’s set a time for you to call me every day so I know you’re okay. I know you’re not going to run, but I worry. Especially until you find the traitor in your household.”
“Is nine a.m. okay?”
“Perfect. An in-person call, please. Texts can be manipulated. And if you’re in danger, say ‘pineapple.’ Just in case the wrong person heard your security chief tell Captain Holmes ‘palm tree.’ ”
“Pineapple,” she repeated. “Thank you again. I’ll see you on Monday.”
She ended the call, leaving Kaj sitting in stunned disbelief. He shook himself again, took his personal cell from his pocket, and dialed André.
“Are you in a secure place?” he asked the cop.
“I stopped by my mom’s house for some pie. I can go outside. Give me a minute.” A minute later, he spoke again. “I’m in her garage, sitting in her car with the windows up. Spill.”
Kaj relayed the call with Bella Butler.
“Well,” André said when Kaj had finished. “I certainly didn’t have that on my bingo card. Have you listened to the recorded conversation?”
“Not yet. I figured you’d want to hear it, too.” He hit play and held the flip phone to his cell’s speaker.
“Hello?” Bella said.
“That’s Miss Butler,” Kaj interjected.
Another woman began to speak. “You don’t know me, but I have important information for you. Please don’t hang up. It’s about your husband and daughter.”
“I’m listening.”
“Someone is planning to kill you on your way from your home to the city so that you can’t testify in the Doyle trial.”
Kaj knew the voice as well, but he also didn’t know from where.
Bella had sucked in a startled gasp. “What? Who are you?”
“Someone who doesn’t want your family hurt. My source says that you’ll have your husband and daughter in the car with you. The people who want to hurt you don’t care about your family. They’ll kill whoever is in the car with you.”
Bella shuddered out a horrified breath. “Who are ‘they’?”
“I can’t say. My source shared this with me at great peril to themself.”
“How do I know you’re telling me the truth? You could be prompting me to take action that would put my family in even more danger.”
The anonymous caller sighed. “They killed a man—a paramedic—last night who refused to participate in the murder of your child. They dumped him in the bayou. You are in serious danger.”
Kaj didn’t miss André’s sudden intake of breath. The cop knew exactly who the caller was talking about.
And then Kaj remembered the unknown pair of arms they’d recovered from the bayou. Holy fucking shit. Corey was behind this? This was Corey’s plan?
“Thank you,” Bella was saying.
