by Alan Chaput
“Are you sure you can handle it?”
Hayley’s eyes seemed to glitter with internal flames. “Of course I can. I’m a Falcon.”
Oh my goodness. Hayley was finally claiming her birthright. “I can’t begin to tell you how proud that makes me. And your father, well, he’ll probably pop a few shirt buttons.” Patricia looked at her hands and flexed her fingers. “What do you say you and I put our heads together right now and try to figure out who this killer is?”
* * *
Trey’s short nap hadn’t done nearly enough to revive him, but there was a killer on the loose so he hauled himself up. After a quick shower, he headed back out to get an update from his Coalition buddies.
Beau, Alton, Potter, and Hempfield sat at the cluttered round table, eyes fixed on individual computer monitors, fingers tapping on keyboards.
Beau looked up. “There’s some iced sweet tea on the end of the credenza. An orderly just brought it up. It’s quite good.”
Trey went to the coffee urn instead, eased the cup under the spigot and depressed the lever. “Since my mind’s still a bit fuzzy, I think it best I stick with the coffee.” He took his cup and sat in the high-back leather chair next to Beau.
Beau stood and, holding a hand to his stomach, shuffled toward his bedroom. “I’m just going to lie down for a moment.”
“Are you okay?” Trey asked.
“Fatigued.” Beau took a deep breath. “And some ... some heartburn.”
“Oh my God.” Potter’s chair squeaked as he pushed back from the table. “You’ve got to see this video footage from a diner in Pooler.”
Beau slumped to the alcove floor.
Startled, Trey shot up and ran to Beau. Trey’s head swam with apprehension. He dropped to his knees and pressed fingertips on Beau’s carotid artery. Beau’s limp body stirred at the connection, then stilled once again. Weak pulse. Trey raised Beau’s eyelids. Eyes glazed and unfocused. Trey placed his ear next to Beau’s mouth. Shallow breathing. Not good. “Get a doctor in here, and don’t touch that tea.”
* * *
Patricia, eyes closed daydreaming, had been though a lot in the past week. Dreadful experiences that made her stronger and better prepared to face adversity than ever before. And when she returned home, Savannah was getting a world-class burn center.
The door hinge squeaked. Patricia opened her eyes, squinting against the bright light.
Judy sauntered in and crossed to Patricia’s bedside.
Patricia rolled to her side and smiled up at her visitor. Judy’s hair was pulled into a ponytail. Her pale, drawn face seemed oddly hungry, older. Her wide, bloodshot eyes darted from side to side like an owl’s.
“Thank you for coming,” Patricia said. “How have you been? And would you mind going out and putting on a mask, gown and booties, plus sanitizing your hands? I’m sorry, but it’s required.”
“I’ll only be minute, Patricia, just a minute. And how have I been? It’s been a nightmare,” Judy said in a harsh, hoarse voice.
“I know what you mean. But you need to—”
“I’m not putting on a damn gown or mask. None of that crap. And no, you couldn’t ever know what my life is like.” Judy narrowed her eyes and shook her head. Her cheeks glowed red. “You have everything, and a loving husband. I’ve got nothing … and Beau. It’s not right that you have it all. Not right at all.”
Patricia swallowed and tried to think of something calming to say to her dear friend, who didn’t seem to be making sense. “I know what you mean. God is gracious. He’ll see us through this.”
“Gracious?” Judy’s eyes bulged. “Look at you. You’re burnt to a crisp. How can God allow that?”
Judy’s bizarre behavior tore at Patricia. “Hayley and I survived.”
Judy rolled her shoulders back. “Unfortunately.”
Patricia’s mouth fell open. “Unfortunately? How can you say something so mean-spirited? Sometimes I just don’t get—”
“No.” Judy leaned forward until her face was inches from Patricia’s. “You have no idea what a nightmare I live.”
“Judy, what’s gotten into you?” Patricia pushed back into the pillow. “I don’t understand. Are you okay?”
“We all have personal agendas. Lord knows your family does. And over the years y’all have done very well exploiting others. Well, I have a personal agenda too.” Judy opened her handbag. “And it’s my job to tip the balance toward me.” Judy pulled a syringe from her purse and stepped to Patricia’s drip line.
An excruciating chill shot up Patricia’s back. “Judy, what are you doing?”
“I’m finishing up my business, honey.”
Patricia gasped. “What?”
“You won’t feel a thing. At this strength, it’ll be fast.” Judy reached for the line.
Judy? The killer? Patricia dove for the call button.
Judy reached it first and dangled it just out of reach. “Uh, uh, uh,” she sang, then tossed it into a corner.
The syringe in Judy’s hand gleamed in the harsh overhead light as she inserted it into the port on the drip line, sending a shiver though Patricia. Adrenaline surged, strengthening her and making her senses hyper alert. Her heart raced. Swallowing her protest, Patricia ripped the IV from her arm. Blood erupted. She clamped her hand over the wound. “Do you honestly believe you can get away with this?”
Syringe poised, Judy moved to the bedside and brought the syringe up.
Patricia’s arm muscles spasmed. “Come on, Judy. You don’t want to do that.”
“You haven’t left me much of a choice. You’re smart. I made too many mistakes.” Judy lunged for Patricia’s arm.
Patricia swatted away Judy’s hand.
Judy persisted and seized Patricia’s forearm, pining it to the mattress. Patricia struggled to break free, but Judy was too strong.
“You would have figured it out sooner or later,” Judy said, her eyes cold. “With you out of the way, I might have enough time to go somewhere. Hide. Start a new life.”
“If I’m alive you can do the same thing. Go. Leave right now. I’m not stopping you.”
“You’re not stopping anything.” Judy, a malevolent smile on her thin lips, brought the syringe down.
Patricia jammed her free hand under her pillow, jerked out the pistol, aimed to maim, and compressed the trigger. A single shot exploded from the barrel.
Judy crumpled to the floor. Her right hand was mangled.
Trembling violently, Patricia let out a long breath. “You killed my mother ... and Alisa. How could you?” She shook her head. “I should kill you.” Impulsively, Patricia sat up in bed, ignoring the pain, and aimed the Glock at Judy, writhing and screaming on the floor.
Father John, his gun drawn, surged into the room. Trey followed.
Patricia dropped the gun and starred at her friend. “Why, Judy?” she whispered in horror.
The pain of betrayal that sliced through Patricia was worse than any of the physical pain she was in. Her friend. Her mother’s trusted friend. Alicia’s trusted friend. Even as Judy screamed in pain, Patricia felt agony at the sound. Part of her wanted to leap from the bed and comfort her friend, because she couldn’t believe the last few minutes had ever happened. It was inexplicable. And then Patricia began to shake uncontrollably as her body succumbed to shock.
Chapter 31
Patricia was moved to a new room so the police could secure the crime scene. Once everyone had left, Trey said, “They’re going to detain Judy on attempted murder and charge you with firearm possession. We’ll need to stay in-country until your case is disposed of. I’ll see if I can get the matter expedited, but there will be a substantial fine.”
“I hope they throw the book at Judy.”
“The syringe with the poison is powerful evidence, and it’s probably the same poison she used on Beau.”
“Beau?”
“She tried to poison Beau an hour or so ago, but the doctors pumped his stomach before the poison coul
d do too much damage.”
“Thank God.”
“Two counts of attempted murder should keep Judy busy for a long while.”
“Three.” Patricia grimaced. “The car bombing.”
“Oh yeah.”
“I can’t believe she organized the car bombing on her own,” Patricia said. “Do you suppose there’s someone else involved?”
“There might be. What with explosives and all. Well, the French police are very thorough. I’m sure they’ll be able to get that one figured out and hang it on her.”
“And I want her to pay for Mama’s and Alisa’s murders.”
Trey nodded. “That’s going to take evidence we don’t have yet.”
“I want justice, Trey. We have to make her pay.”
“She hasn’t admitted to killing either of them.”
“She said I’d figure it out soon.”
“At this point, it’s a circumstantial case regarding your mother. I wish we could tie all the pieces together on how Herman relates to Judy and why your mother’s money is in Herman’s name.”
“Bring Hayley and me laptop computers tomorrow morning and we’ll get on it.”
“The Coalition and the Savannah Police are on this, and they’re much better equipped to gather and process the evidence that can convict Judy.”
“Trey honey, she took my Mama from me. I owe it to Mama to do everything I can to bring Judy to justice for Mama’s murder. I just have to be involved in this. Humor me. Please.”
He sighed. “Okay. But you can’t interfere with the police investigation in any way.”
She nodded. “And would you send me your case file on Mama’s murder?”
“Of course.”
Chapter 32
The following morning, Hayley and Patricia had breakfast together in Patricia’s room, then fired up their laptops.
“What do you need me to do?” Hayley asked.
“Have you read Daddy’s case file on Grammy’s murder?”
Hayley nodded.
“That was compiled before he knew Judy was the killer. I want you to extract whatever information he has on Judy’s activities and arrange it chronologically. Then we’ll look at the timeline and see what’s missing so we know what to search for to fill in the blanks.”
When Patricia’s phone chimed an incoming email, she noted it was from Meredith and marked urgent. The message itself requested an immediate Skype videoconference.
Concerned something might be amiss, Patricia opened the video app and linked to Meredith’s address. Meredith’s image came up on the screen.
“It’s the middle of the night there, isn’t it?” Patricia asked.
“Just past two, but I didn’t want to delay letting you know that I just found Sonny.”
“Is he alive?”
Meredith smiled. “Very much so.”
“Let’s link Sonny into the conference. I have a bunch of questions for him.”
“That’s not necessary. I have his information. I’ll brief you on what I have, then we can conference with him later if you have additional questions. So, Sonny has—”
“Hold it, Meredith. I have some big news too. Judy Simpson is the killer.”
Meredith’s jaw dropped. “Oh God. I was sure there was some mistake. I heard Sonny’s information, but I—”
“It’s true. I can hardly believe it myself.” Patricia proceeded to tell Meredith everything that happened in the hospital room.
When Patricia finished, Meredith wiped her eyes and shook her head. “Well, that fits everything Sonny told me, I was just hoping it was a misunderstanding. But in the closed-circuit surveillance footage of the Hilton Head bank, Herman and Judy are together.”
“The Coalition just found security footage of Judy and Herman in a diner on the day he died. Trey was coming to tell me when Judy came to my room. The diner video and the bank video should help the Savannah Police make their case against Judy.” Patricia blew out a long breath. “So, what did you find out from Sonny?”
“Seems he’s been in the Federal Witness Protection Program since before Henrietta died.”
Patricia’s breath caught as dread surged. “What on earth for?”
“Sonny was acquiring farmland in South Carolina on behalf of a Chinese businessman. Turns out the man’s money was smuggled into the United States in violation of the Patriot Act. Hundreds of millions of dollars of bulk currency.”
“How’d Sonny know the money was illegal?”
“Sonny said he didn’t know the money was bad. He’d investigated the situation before taking it on. The businessman was legitimate and provided solid references. The man’s local bank confirmed the funds were available. By law, such large sums entering the US from a foreign country made the bank notify the FBI. Turns out the businessman was connected with the 14K Triad. When contacted by the FBI, Sonny helped them build a successful case.”
“14K?”
“Second largest Chinese mob in the world. They’ve been trying to get a stronghold in the United States for years.”
“But Sonny’s out on the streets now, isn’t he concerned with retaliation?”
“Apparently the feds were able to keep his identity out of the case. Secret trial. Special judge. National security and all that.”
A chill went through Patricia. “Maybe it’s best not to know. Witness Protection must have been a terrible experience for Sonny.”
“He claims he enjoyed it.” Meredith opened a bottle of water and took a sip. “They put him up in a high-end villa on Hilton Head Island.”
“Did you ask Sonny about Mama’s money?”
“Yes indeed. Turns out the Chinese businessman was acquiring the land for a major family entertainment complex similar to Disney World, only closer to the lucrative Northeast and Midwest tourists. Newer. Bigger. Planned to outdo Disney. Sonny reasoned that once the word got out about the project, all the land around the proposed complex would soar in value. So, he advised some of his biggest clients, including Henrietta, to buy the adjacent land. As he saw it, it was a sure winner.”
“Mama never said anything.”
“Sonny swore her to secrecy.”
“Why did he have Mama transfer her money overseas, then back?”
“According to Sonny, Henrietta accidentally mentioned the investment opportunity to Judy. It was Judy’s idea to move the money overseas to make it appear to others that the money was coming from China, to fool the local competition.”
Patricia tapped her fingertips on the desk making a patter like gentle rain on patio umbrellas. “Why was Mama’s money in Herman’s name?”
“Once again to fool the competition. Henrietta was too well-known. Major land purchases by her would attract attention as soon as they were recorded. It’s all public information. Judy suggested to Mama that Judy’s cousin, Herman, make the purchases on Henrietta’s behalf. Obviously trusting Judy, Henrietta agreed and had the money transferred into an account created for Herman. That kept her name out of everything.” Meredith’s eyebrows arched. “Of course, Judy had different plans for the money. Sonny feels terrible about what happened afterward.”
“I imagine.” Patricia shook her head. “But why did Judy have to kill Mama? She could have just taken the money and disappeared.”
“When Sonny disappeared, she must have gotten spooked. Thinking she was going to be found out, she killed Henrietta.”
“Thank God the feds froze the money before Judy got it out of the Hilton Head Island money exchange.”
Meredith nodded. “Yeah. Once the feds started their investigation, all recent large financial transfers from China to the Southeast became suspect.”
“Sonny has sure filled in a lot of blanks. If his story checks out, I suspect that’s going to be more than enough to put Judy away for the rest of her life.”
“I feel so betrayed.” Meredith brushed tears from her cheek. “And I really miss Alisa.”
Patricia’s throat constricted. “I miss her too. Big
time.”
Chapter 33
Two Months Later
Savannah, Georgia
When Patricia heard the front door close and Trey’s familiar footfalls in the hallway, she set aside her novel, Pat Conroy’s last, and glanced at her watch. Five-thirty. Right on time. Since their return to Savannah, Trey had ceased working evenings so they could spend more time together. She took off her reading glasses and placed them gently on the table.
Trey entered the room.
She grinned.
His gray-lashed eyes twinkled.
He crossed the room and gave her a warm kiss.
A pleasant shiver went through her. Her cheeks heated. She reached up, wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. My, oh my, what a guy. She was so blessed to have him in her life. So very blessed. She eased her lips from his and caressed his stubbled face. “I love you,” she said.
“And I love you,” he said as he stepped back.
Looking up at him, she reached out and stroked the outside of his thigh. “You’re a fine man, Trey. The best.”
“Why thank you kindly, Patsy. By the way, how did your lunch with Meredith go?”
“I can’t believe how well she’s recovered.” Patricia took a tube of lotion from the end table and applied some to her forearms. “Except for her ever so slightly slurred speech, she seems the same as before. She says her weekly speech therapy sessions should have her speech back to normal in six months or so.”
“I’m impressed how she was able to track the money trail.”
Patricia nodded. “She’s a talented woman.”
“On the subject of talented women, Beau and I are going to support Alton’s request to allow women to serve as Cotton Coalition members.”
“Beau doesn’t have children,” Patricia said. “His seat will pass regardless. Why would he agree?”
“I suppose he now sees that the Coalition will be stronger with women in it.”
“Isabel and Hayley.”
“Isabel immediately. I’m going to wait a few more years to integrate Hayley. Let her finish college and law school. Let her get settled. And, if she decides to stay in Savannah, I’ll see if she wants it. Though I hope to goodness she does. I’d hate to see almost 300 years of family tradition stop in this generation.”