“Tell me about Dowell and my mother. Tell me everything you know.”
“You were always a stubborn child,” he said. “It didn’t suit you. As a grown-up it suits you even less. It’s made you sour.”
Anger flared hot in Harper’s chest. “Tell me. Or I swear to God I will ruin you.”
“Promises, promises.” He sounded almost amused. “Look, it’s obvious, isn’t it? Martin figured out what had happened. I told the FBI he would. I said there would be consequences. They told me they’d keep me safe. What a joke. They just wanted him in jail.”
“Dowell threatened her,” Harper guessed.
“He didn’t have to.” He gave a ragged laugh. “I knew there would be blowback. I assumed it would be me he went for. I waited every day for the bomb to blow when I started the car. For the motorcycle to pull up alongside me and fire through the window. For the truck to come up behind me and push me off the road. I knew I’d die. But Martin knew me better than I thought.”
Harper frowned. “What do you mean? Why was killing Mom worse than killing you? You were cheating on her. You didn’t love her.”
“Come on, Harper,” he scoffed. “You’re supposed to be the reporter. Figure it out. He set me up. He wanted me to go to prison, just like him. That was his revenge. I’d lose my family, my reputation, my freedom, and I’d end up in a cell next to his. Then he could torture me forever.”
Harper froze, as the pieces all fell into place.
“He knew you’d be with your girlfriend that afternoon,” she breathed. “She was your only alibi. And he knew the police would suspect you. They always suspect the husband.”
“Exactly. That’s why he used a knife,” he said. “The knife is the weapon of a domestic homicide. A gangster uses a gun.” He paused. “Did you know he used one of our kitchen knives? Another clue that it was me.”
Harper had known that, but she didn’t say anything. She waited for the rest.
“When I was arrested, Martin had a basket of flowers sent to my … girlfriend.” He’d nearly said wife. “The note said, ‘Our condolences on Peter’s impending life sentence.’ It was unsigned, but I knew who it was from. That was Martin’s style.” His tone was bitter. “He liked a colorful flourish.”
Harper cut in. “So, you knew it was him, but you never told the police. You never told the FBI. You never told me. You let me spend my life trying to figure this out alone.”
“You’re alone because you want to be alone.” He said it almost casually.
Harper swallowed hard. How could this man be her father? He was so cruel.
She didn’t want to talk to him anymore. But she had one piece left to play in this game.
“Did you know Martin Dowell got out of prison three weeks ago?” she asked.
There was a long silence. And then her father began to laugh.
“Oh hell,” he said, and it sounded like a sob. “We really are screwed.”
“I need to know if you know what he’s likely to do now,” Harper said.
Instead of an answer, she heard the distinctive sound of liquid pouring into a glass. Her father swallowed before speaking.
“If Martin’s out,” he said finally, his voice thick, “then he’ll come to kill me. Or maybe you. He may want to wipe out the whole family.” He took another drink. “He never did like to leave a job unfinished.”
It was chilling to hear her father say that in such hopeless tones.
Harper ordered herself to stay focused. She needed to know everything he knew.
“Who will he go after first?” she demanded. “Will he come for me?”
“I don’t know,” he said wearily. “If Martin’s out, it doesn’t matter who he goes for first. He’ll come for both of us. Either way, my sons are about to lose their father. So, take everything you know to The New York Times if you want to. I don’t think it matters anymore.”
It was clear he was done sharing information. She’d gotten all she could out of him.
“Tell your sons they have all my sympathy,” she said. “I know what it feels like to lose a dad.”
19
The next day, Harper pulled into Savannah just after noon, driving fast.
She hadn’t slept at all last night. As she idled at a long red light, she finished her coffee and threw the empty cup in the back seat. Caffeine was the only thing keeping her going right now.