First Family (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell 4)

“Question him some more, but don’t tip our hand.”

“His buddy Hilal might do that for us. Meaning tip off Tuck.”

“Don’t think so. His primary concern is not to let this contract blow up. And he doesn’t want to fall in this mess with Tuck if he is guilty. I think he’ll keep his distance.”

“So if Pam wasn’t Willa’s birth mother who could it be?”

“It might not matter.”

“But you said earlier that you thought Willa was the adopted one. So I thought you meant it was tied into this somehow.”

“Willa is twelve. If it is tied to her it’s taken somebody a long time to come around to it.”

“Do you remember them ever talking about Willa being adopted?”

“Never. I just assumed all three kids were theirs.”

“Okay, how about Jane Cox?”

“What about her?”

“She knows about our suspicions. What if she tips off her brother?”

Before Sean could answer, Michelle’s phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Oh, hey, Bill. I… what?” Michelle paled. “Oh my God. When? How?”

Michelle didn’t say anything for about a minute, but her breath kept coming in accelerating bursts as she listened. “Okay, okay. I’ll catch the next flight out.” She clicked off.

“Michelle, what is it?”

“My mom’s dead.”

CHAPTER 21

THE STURDY WHEELS of the Cessna bumped against the compacted dirt with the grass topper, slowed, and came to a stop. Sam Quarry taxied down the makeshift runway, worked the foot pedals, and expertly spun the plane around. He climbed out and slung a knapsack over his shoulder. After blocking the plane’s wheels, he unlocked the outer door of the old mine. He walked down the tunnel, his path illuminated by his flashlight and the dull glow of the overhead lights.

A few minutes later he met up with Carlos and Daryl.

“Did you take care of Kurt’s body?” he asked solemnly.

Daryl looked down but Carlos said, “We buried it on down the south shaft. Said a prayer over him and everything. Real respectable.”

“Good.” Quarry glanced over at his son. “You learn anything from this, boy?”

Daryl nodded stiffly. “Don’t never lose control.” His tone didn’t imply that he had actually learned anything. This was apparently not lost on Quarry.

He clapped his son on the back and then his strong fingers dug into the younger man’s skin. “Every time you think about losing your temper, you think about the price Kurt paid. You think about that real good.’Cause let me tell you, I could’ve easily let Kurt be the one walking away. And him and Carlos could’ve been saying the Lord’s Prayer over your hole in the dirt. You hear me?”

“I hear you, Daddy. I hear you.”

“Little piece of me died with him. Maybe more than a little. I’ve damned myself to hell for all eternity by doing that. You think about that too.”

“Thought you didn’t believe in God,” Daryl said quietly while Carlos looked on, his features inscrutable except for the fact he was slowly rubbing the St. Christopher’s medal he wore around his neck.

“I might not believe in God, but I sure as hell believe in the devil.”