L is for Lawless (Kinsey Millhone 12)

"Not quite. The belly's phony."

"How'd you figure that?"

"She has tampons in the duffel. If she were pregnant, she wouldn't need 'em. It's a girl thing," I replied.

"I am pregnant. What's the matter with you? The baby's due in January. The sixteenth, to be exact."

"In that case, pull your dress up so we can watch it kick."

"I don't have to do that. I can't believe you suggested it."

"Ray, I'm telling you, she's got the money in some kind of harness. That's how she got it on the plane without it's showing up on security. Eight thousand in a duffel, they might have asked too many questions."

"That's ridiculous. There's no law that says you can't transport cash across state lines."

"There is when the money's stolen," I said in my best nanny-nanny-boo-boo tone. Really, the two of us were like sisters, squabbling over everything.

"Come on, ladies. Please."

I doubled up my fist. "You want me to punch her in the stomach? It'd be a good test."

"Oh, for God's sake! This is none of your business."

"Yes, it is. Chester hired me to find the money, and I've done just that."

"I-do-not-have-the-money," she said, enunciating every-single-word.

I pulled my fist back.

"All right! Goddamn it. It's in a canvas vest that hooks on in front. I hope you're satisfied."

I loved the indignation, like I was the one who'd been lying to her. "Well, that's great. So let's see it. I'm curious what it looks like."

"Ray, would you tell her to get away from me?"

Ray looked at me. "Just drop it. This is silly. I thought you said you wanted to hear the story."

"I do."

"Then cut the nonsense and let's get on with it." He looked back at his daughter. "You start. I'd like to hear Gilbert's version. He's saying, what, that I betrayed the others?"

"Let me wash my face first. I feel awful," she said. Her nose was red, her eyes puffy with emotion. She got up and went into the dressing area, where she ran water in the sink.

"Your daughter? You could have told me," I said.

Ray avoided my gaze like a dog that's done potty on the good rug.

When Laura returned, he let her sit on the bed while he fetched the desk chair and pulled it over closer. Her complexion, free of makeup, showed all the splotchy imperfections you'd expect. She glanced once at Ray, her expression faltering. She picked up a twist of tissue, which she wrapped around her index finger. Given center stage, she seemed oddly reluctant. "Gilbert says there was a bank robbery back in 1941."

"That's right."

I flashed a look at him. "It is?"

"There were five of you altogether. You, Gilbert, his brother Donnie, the guy you mentioned…"

"Johnny Lee," Ray supplied.

"Right. Him and a man named McDermid."

"Actually, there were six of us. Two McDermids, Frank and Darrell," Ray amended.

She shrugged, accepting the correction, which apparently didn't affect her understanding of the incident. "Gilbert says you tipped off the cops and they showed up in the middle of the robbery. There was a shoot-out and his brother Donnie was killed. So was McDermid and a policeman. The money vanished, but Gilbert was convinced you and Johnny knew where it was hidden. Johnny was in prison for two years, and when he got out, he disappeared. Gilbert had no way to trace him, so he waited 'til you got out and followed you, and sure enough, there it was. All Gilbert took was his share. Well, I guess his brother's share, too. He figures you and Johnny had the use of it for years, so whatever was left belongs to him by rights."

"Could I just clarify one thing?" I said to Laura.

"Sure."

"I take it your mother was the one who told you when Ray was getting out of prison?"

She nodded. "She mentioned it to me. Gilbert had already told me what happened, and I was furious. I mean, it was bad enough my father had been in prison all his life, but to find out he'd betrayed all his friends? That was the lowest of the low."

"Baby, I have to say this. I don't know what your relationship is with Gilbert, but hasn't it occurred to you he only got close to you so he could get to me?"

"No. Absolutely not. You don't know that," she said.

"Look at the facts. I mean, it only stands to reason," he said. "Didn't he ask about me early on? Maybe not by name, but just the family situation, blah, blah, blah, your dad and stepdad, things like that?"