Down River

“You think she’s capable?”

“Of murder?” I looked up as Candace mounted the stairs. Her long legs pumped beneath pink, terry cloth shorts. The extra weight on her jiggled. “I don’t see it,” I said. “But she has four brothers. They may not like the scar on her face.”

“That’s a viable motive, but again… it was Dolf’s gun. I’ll run the names and see if any of them have a sheet. Who knows. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”

She did not sound hopeful, and I understood. It all came back to the gun. It only made sense if Da

“That depends on how deep he’s hiding.”

“Da

“Says who?”

“Candace Kane. George Tallman.”

“George, huh?”

I heard the disdain in her voice. “What do you have against him?”

“He’s an idiot.”

“Seems like more than that.”

She hesitated and I knew she was thinking about the question. “I don’t trust him.”

“Any particular reason?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Try me.”

“I’ve been a police officer for more than a few years. I know a lot of cops and a lot of criminals, and, in some ways, the two aren’t that different. Criminals have their good sides, if you can find them. Cops can run dark. You understand? Cops can’t be saints. The job won’t allow it. Too many bad people in your life. Too many bad days, bad decisions. It accumulates. Likewise, criminals are rarely bad all the time. They have kids. They have parents. Whatever. They’re human. Spend enough time around anyone, and you should see hints of both sides. That’s human nature. You see what I’m saying?”

“I think so.”

“I’ve worked with George Tallman for four years. I’ve never seen his dark side.”

“What’s your point?”

“Nobody is that easy. Nobody is that level, least of all a cop.”

She was wrong. I’d known George since he was in high school. He could not hide a feeling if he had to. I let it go, chalked it up to cynicism born of long years wearing a shield. “What about the gambling? Do you think there could be some tie-in there? Something to link it to Da

“There are some big game-makers in Charlotte. Highly profitable, highly illegal. If he was in over his head, it could get ugly.”

“Is anybody going to check it out?”

Her voice was not without pity. “Dolf confessed. Nobody is looking for alternate explanations. Any jury in the country would convict him.”

“Grantham has doubts about motive,” I said.

“It’s not up to Grantham. It’s up to the sheriff and he isn’t going to waste time or money when he already has what he wants.”

“Grantham thinks that Dolf might have confessed to protect my father.” Robin was silent. “That’s stupid, right?”

More silence.

“Robin?”

“Grantham’s smart. I’m trying to see this from his perspective. I’m thinking.”

“Well, think out loud.”

“Whoever killed Da

“That could be anybody. We used to have parties up there. Shoot skeet. I could name a hundred people that have been up there.”

“I’m just playing devil’s advocate, Adam. Da

“I have no idea,” I said, but then thought of Jamie’s gambling. Da

“Then I don’t know what to tell you. Nothing makes sense without a motive.”

“For now, I’m going to assume that Da

“Don’t. Not in Charlotte. Those guys are heavy hitters. They don’t like people messing around in their business. Cross the wrong one down there and you may find yourself in a world of trouble. I’m not kidding. I won’t be able to help you.”

I pictured Da

“I have to do something,” I said.

“Don’t, Adam. I’m asking you.”

“I’ll think about it,” I said, and continued before she could question the lie. “You’ll check on the brothers?”

“Yes.”

“Anything else I should know?”

“I doubt it means anything, but I’m guessing that Candy Kane wasn’t the only woman Da

“What do you mean?”

“Da

“What did the note say?”

“ ‘Fuck you, too.’ ”

“How do you know it was from a woman?”

“Lip prints where a signature should be. Bright red lipstick.”

“Perfect,” I said.

“Sounds to me like Da

CHAPTER 26

I called Jamie and got his voice mail. I left another message. Call me. Now. We need to talk. I hung up the phone, took a couple of steps, then opened it again. The fire was in me, and Jamie was part of it. Candace said he was still gambling, he and Da

“Why didn’t you call me back?”

“Look, I’ve got shit to do.”

“I’m going to cut to the chase, Jamie. I found Da

“Which one?”

“The one that filed the warrant. Candace Kane.”

“Candy? I remember Candy.”

“She says that you’re still gambling. She says that you and Da

“First of all, I don’t answer to you. Second, that wasn’t gambling. That was a hundred bucks here and there. Just an excuse to get out and do something.”

“So, you’re not gambling?”

“Hell, no.”

“I still need the names of those bookies.”

“Why?”

“Da

“He didn’t talk about it, but it was hard to miss. He couldn’t walk for a week. I’m not sure his face ever got over it.”

“I want to talk to whoever did that. Maybe he still owed. Maybe they came looking for him.”

“Well…” The word drew out, like there was nothing coming after it.

“I need them now.”

“Why do you care, Adam? Dolf admitted that he killed Da

“How can you even think that?”

“I understand that you see sunshine coming out of his ass, but there’s never been any love between me and that old man. In fact, he’s always been a pain. Da