Cut and Run (Lucy Kincaid #16) - Allison Brennan Page 0,38
you playing?” Her question ended in a squeak and she stepped back again.
“Where is that house?” Sean asked.
“My mother-in-law. In Lake Charles. How did you get this?”
“Someone left this here so you would know that they know where your children are. Why is your brother concerned about your safety? Do you know something about Victoria Mills’s murder?”
“Stan didn’t kill anyone. He doesn’t have it in him.” She sounded stronger now but put her hand to her mouth as she stared at the photo.
“When Stan first confessed, you left town for a couple of days. Why?”
“He told me what he was doing. Wouldn’t explain. I was confused, but he was worried about the media talking to me, the boys. He even called my ex-husband, and they don’t really get along. Johnny took emergency leave to come home and help us through that awful week. He wanted me to move in with his mom, but the boys have school here and I have a good job and Stan needed me. He needs my support.”
“And when you talked to him on Sunday? What did he say to you?”
She looked him in the eye as if trying to assess whether to trust him.
“Marie,” Sean said, “I know you’re worried and maybe you should be, but not about me. I’m trying to help you. Max is at the courthouse waiting to talk to your brother before he goes into court.”
“Why? I mean, why would she help him? No one wants to help us.”
“She wants the truth. She’s been following this case since the beginning, and when he recanted his plea she was on the next flight out. I’ve been on the ground doing research because I’m local. You left your boys at your mother-in-law’s house, but you returned. Why?”
“I’m going to be here for my brother. He didn’t want me to be in the courtroom, but I need to be. I know he’s innocent. I don’t know why he pled guilty, he refused to tell me what was going on, I just know he didn’t do it. I know. I took yesterday off, drove my boys to Lake Charles, was there a couple hours for a late lunch, and came back. Got in at three this morning. I’d have noticed if someone was following me.” Her voice was stronger, but she still looked spooked.
“They may have put a tracker on your car, or already knew where your mother-in-law lived and made an educated guess that’s where you would go. I found out pretty quickly that Stan is your only living relative, outside of your ex-husband and his family. Someone knows where your boys are. What I want to know is who are they?”
“I don’t know!”
Sean said, “You should call the police. I don’t know if they’ll take this photo as a threat, but I believe it’s a threat. This is my job, Marie. They want you to know they can get to your kids.”
Marie rubbed her forehead. “The police treated Stan like crap. I have tried to talk to them and they treat me like garbage, too. They’re not going to listen to anything I have to say.”
“What did Stan tell you on Sunday that had you take your boys out of town?”
“He told me he was recanting and wanted me to disappear for a few days. I told him it was ridiculous, that he was innocent and now people would listen to him, but I’m not so na?ve to think that everyone would just believe him. He was worried about me, the press, my job, everything—I told him he had no reason to be worried, I can take care of myself. He wouldn’t tell me why, and I know— Well, he was holding something back. He was scared, and Stan doesn’t get scared, not really. He’s always been so easygoing, so friendly, but now … he’s changed. I don’t know if it’s because of being in jail or Victoria being killed or what. I’ll admit, I’m concerned. I planned to move the boys to Lake Charles during the trial so they wouldn’t hear awful things about their uncle, who they love so much. But Stan didn’t tell me why he was worried.”
“Did you tell him you would leave town?”
“I said I would if the pressure became too much. He didn’t like that answer.”
She was thinking about something else, her brows furrowed, but didn’t say anything.
Sean said, “Marie, I know where you’re coming from. The police are hit-or-miss. I’m not always a fan, but I