Say Goodbye (Romantic Suspense #25) - Karen Rose Page 0,202

blood money. That I should give it to someone else, and suggested Hickman. When she’d started college, she’d looked up the whole sordid story of Ben’s embezzlement. She told me to offer Hickman the money. I couldn’t find him, so Tracy contacted that reporter. Erica Mann. She got me in touch with Mr. Hickman. He said he didn’t want my money, that I should donate it. So I did.”

“Where did Waylon get a million dollars?” Tom asked. “Did he steal it from Ben?”

“No, he said it was his share of the money. But Ben wouldn’t have given it to him. He said he’d gotten it through Ben’s financial manager. Ben called him his ‘banker.’ ”

“Do you remember this man’s name?” Tom asked, and Liza held her breath. This was what they’d come for.

“Of course. They were prison friends at Terminal Island. I knew him, too. His name was Daniel Park. He was in for securities fraud. Insider trading or something like that.”

“Waylon had access to Mr. Park?” Tom asked.

“Yes. When we first started Eden, Waylon was the only one to leave—to get supplies. Ben would give him a code to use with Daniel, along with instructions on stock trades. That was how Ben and Daniel communicated. The code changed every time. Ben loved puzzles and he had a . . . what do you call it? The rule that tells how the code will change each time.”

“A cipher?” Tom prompted.

“Yes, a cipher. Waylon figured out the pattern. Ben never did give him enough credit. Treated Waylon like he was dumb. I think Waylon would skim money from Ben’s accounts and tell Daniel to invest it for him, pretending he was acting on Ben’s instruction. Ben was very good with money. Waylon took his stock tips and was able to grow the money he skimmed. He told me that was where the million had come from.”

Skimmed. Margo still was making excuses for the criminals in her life.

Margo looked away, then resolutely back at Tom. “Am I under arrest?”

“Not at this time,” Tom replied.

She huffed out a breath. “I still have to tell Hugh. I hate this.”

Not once, Liza realized, had this woman expressed sorrow for those who hadn’t gotten out. She was only worried about herself.

Tom gave Margo one of his cards, then stood, holding a hand out for Liza. “We’ll leave you to the rest of your day, ma’am,” he said, and they walked out together to Tom’s SUV.

“Well,” Liza said once they were locked in and buckled up. “That was interesting.”

“It was. I need to let Croft and Raeburn know about Daniel Park and then we can grab some lunch. Oh. Good timing,” he said when his phone buzzed with an incoming call. “Hey, Croft. What’s—” He stiffened. “Injuries?”

He pulled back to the curb, listening. He finally nodded. “I’m on my way. I’ll use the flashers and get there faster.” He paused again, looking over his shoulder at the Kitson home. “Yeah, we found her. I got a name to run. Daniel Park. He was in Terminal Island with Pastor and Waylon. He was a financial manager. Handled all of Pastor’s accounts, so aiding and abetting at the very least. I’m hoping Pastor is still using him, but if not, we might be able to use him to find out who Pastor’s financial advisor is now, and that person’s communications might lead us to Eden.” He listened a moment more. “See you soon.” With that, he ended the call and pulled the car back onto the road, on the way to the freeway.

“What happened?” Liza asked.

“Explosion at KZAU. No serious injuries, except for the receptionist, who may have a concussion. Belmont stole some dynamite last night. The KZAU bomb was a small load, like a cherry bomb.”

“So not to maim, but to get everyone out of the station,” Liza said.

His brows went up. “You saw that in Afghanistan?”

“A few times, yes. Was Daisy there?”

“No. She and her cohost were broadcasting from their houses because of Gideon getting shot. They didn’t mention that they weren’t physically in the station until after the explosion.”

Liza’s stomach turned over. “He’s still trying to get to Gideon so that he can get to Mercy.”

“Yeah. We’re gonna need to take a rain check on lunch.”

“I couldn’t eat a bite now anyway. Get us home.”

TWENTY-SEVEN

GRANITE BAY, CALIFORNIA

MONDAY, MAY 29, 10:55 A.M.

Tom delivered Liza to the Sokolovs’ house because that was where all of the security was. He was directed into the garage, where one of the bays