The Guilty (Will Robie 4)

“I hate his guts, as he does mine. If that fits your definition of not gettin’ along, then, no, we do not get along.”

“You’re not from Mississippi, are you?”

“No. But I am here now, which is fortunate for your daddy.”

“Where are you from?”

“The three H’s.”

“Excuse me?”

“My life can be defined as Howard, Harvard, and Hard Knocks, and not necessarily in that order.”

“You went to Harvard?”

“For law school. Howard University for undergrad, and Hard Knocks for everythin’ else.”

“How’d you end up here?”

“I like to think I go where I’m needed. My caseload tells me I was right.”

“So you’ll represent my father?”

“I’ve been waitin’ all mornin’ for you to get your butt here. Been callin’ Sheila Taggert every twenty minutes.”

“So you two are tight?”

“We’re both in law enforcement, so to speak. She carries out the laws and I make sure the laws are carried out fairly and impartially, and not based in any way, shape, or form on personal prejudices of a litany of persuasions, the dominant one havin’ to do with skin pigment the same as mine. And let me tell you I have seen most of these prejudices here in Cantrell as well as other places in this fine country, north, south, east, and west. And they can be uh-uh-ugly.”

“What do you need from me?”

“Five thousand dollars and a retainer agreement signed by you and your daddy, so if one doesn’t pay me the other one’s got to.”

“Can I put it on my credit card?”

“You can put it on your ass so long as it clears the Second National Bank of Cantrell.”

“And my father has to sign the retainer agreement too?”

“Way attorney-client privilege attaches. He knows that. Why? Is that a problem?”

“I hope not.”

She smiled big. “I can tell you and me are goin’ to get on real good, Will.”

Chapter

27

WHERE THE HELL have you been? You just shot outta here without a word.”

Victoria was standing on the porch at the Willows, her hands on her soft hips, staring at Robie as he climbed out of his car.

“Getting some things done.”

“What things?”

Robie walked up to her and leaned back against the railing.

“For starters, I saw my father.”

She gaped. “You did? How did it go?”

Robie pointed to his swollen cheek. “He can still pack a wallop.”

She stared at the spot. “Oh my God, do you want some ice for that?”

“No, it’ll be fine. I also got him a lawyer.”

“Who?”

“Toni Moses.”

“I hear she’s really good.”

“I think he needs really good.”

“Dan agreed to this?”

Robie shrugged. “He will, when I tell him what I’ve done.”

“You hired a lawyer for him without telling him?” She shook her head. “Well, if I were you I’d tell him from the other side of the cell door.”

“Why, does he get physical with you?”

The two stared at each other.

“Why do you ask that?” she said.

“You don’t really seem surprised that I did, Victoria.”

“That’s none of your business.”

“Sort of like why you spent the night drinking with Sherm Clancy. Again, none of my business, right?”

She sat down in a rocking chair. “I would say right, only it would be none of your damn business.”

“But it makes a perfect motive for my father to kill the man.”

She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. “I have regretted that night ever since it happened.”

“Well, if it costs your husband his life I guess you should regret it forever.”

“It’s not like I told Dan to kill the bastard,” she barked.

Robie said firmly, “If he killed the bastard. So you think he did it?”

“I don’t want to believe he had anything to do with it.”

“He has no alibi. You were in Biloxi with Ty and Priscilla. So he had the opportunity. The weapon was like one that he possessed at some point and could have used to kill Clancy.”

“I know all of that, Will. Do you think he did it?”

Robie shrugged. “I have no idea. I don’t know enough. I don’t think anyone does. That’s why they’re having a trial.”

Victoria opened a bag on a table next to the rocker and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. She lit one and offered the pack to Robie.

He shook his head. “How’s Ty?”

“He’s fine. He’s with Priscilla. Why?”

“Credible threats.”

“We’ve been over this. What threats? Dan doesn’t have any enemies.”

“You can’t know that for sure. And if you’re wrong?”

“So what do you suggest we do? Hire an armed guard?”

“I’ll stay here with you. I can look after you. But I can’t be with you all the time.”

“Are you really taking this seriously?”

“I saw a man in the bushes on the rear grounds early this morning. I tried to follow him but he was already gone by the time I got outside. And your car had been searched.”

For the first time Victoria looked scared. “Someone was outside the Willows early this morning?”

“A tall man. White guy probably. Any idea who it might’ve been?”

“How should I know?” she said defensively.

“I’m just asking questions, trying to assemble some useful information. And what might he have been looking for in your car?”

“What, are you playing at detective now?” She paused, studying him. “You’re not a cop, are you?”

“Right now, I wish I were. I feel a little out of my depth.”

“Even so, I don’t understand what you’re doing. Are you saying you’re going to investigate the case and try to get to the truth?”

“Pretty much.”

“Why? And don’t tell me it’s because of your father. You’ve been gone longer than you were here. And you’ve never contacted him. Dan would have told me.”

“I don’t like questions without answers.”

“Well, like them or not, I think that’s what you’re faced with here.”

Robie’s phone buzzed. He checked the screen.

It was Blue Man.

“I have to take this,” said Robie.

He headed for the back of the property as he answered the phone.

“How is Mississippi?” asked Blue Man.

“Not as friendly as the tour guides say, at least for me.”

“Have you seen your father?”

“I have.”

“And did it go well?”