“You actually shot him,” Kiernan breathed.
“I told you I was going to.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t think you would.”
“Well, I did.Now help me get him into the SUV.”Grant moved toward the slumped figure, shoving him into the trunk.He grabbed one leg, and Kiernan grabbed the other.They shoved until the man rolled into the back of the SUV.Grant slammed the trunk closed, then picked up the briefcase and turned toward his SUV.
“We’re just going to leave him there?”
Grant turned slowly to face his brother.“Did you really think this was going to be a happy ending for anyone but us?I’m doing this for us, little brother.For you and me.So we never have to worry about anything ever again.”
“Except getting caught.”
“Yeah, well, that’s not going to happen.”
“It’s not?How can you be so sure?”
“Because I’ve been pretending to be Grant Pickens for years.I’m a local hero.People love me.And because they love me, I’ve made a lot of friends.People who are willing to do anything for me.Do you know how little it takes to pay someone off?”
“More than you gave Ms.Gibbs,” Kiernan muttered.
“That bitch was… She’s gone.She doesn’t matter anymore.Other people?They require much less than she did.I have more people in my pocket than you’ve ever met.”
“And you’re walking away from all of that.”
“For you, Kiernan.For us.When we got those diamonds, we knew it was going to come to this.I don’t know what the hell happened to you in the last few months, but we’re in this together.But right now, we need to get the hell out of here.”
Kiernan hesitated for a second, looking down the road as if waiting for someone.
“Who are you looking for?”Grant asked, his spine tingling.“Did you set me up?”
“What?No.Why the hell would I do that?I just feel bad that you shot that guy, and he’s going to die in the back of his SUV.No one will know what happened to him.”
“If you want to stick around and call the cops, go right ahead.I’m sure they’ll want you to tell them all about everything you’ve ever done in your life.About the woman in college who disappeared.Or the single mom who hit the tree.What about the old man who?—”
“Okay.I get it.I get it.Let’s go.”
“Good answer, little brother.”
Kiernan looked back at the SUV, but he followed Grant.
Grant retrieved the diamonds and their unused passports and stuffed everything into the briefcase.Their new life was all right there in one place.Ready for them.
He pulled away from the curb and turned toward the Rainbow Bridge.A few more minutes, and they’d be in Canada and free.With the diamonds and the money and the new identifications that would let them escape without anyone knowing who they were.New names, new lives, and no one to stop them.
Grant waited at the stoplight to turn toward the bridge.A blue sedan pulled up behind him.Grant realized the roads were quiet.The sidewalks were quiet.It was a sunny May day and had turned into a warm night.A beautiful night for enjoying the city.For going to the casino or a bar or out to fucking dinner.
But the city was quiet.
“What the fuck is going on?”Grant wondered aloud.
“What do you mean?”Kiernan asked.Nervous.Anxious.His leg bounced and rocked the entire SUV gently.
“Why is the city so quiet?”
Kiernan shrugged.“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Really, little brother?You didn’t notice that no one walked by us on the sidewalk when we were talking to the buyer?No one saw us shove him in the back of his SUV?No one is out right now?The city is usually buzzing this time of day.And there’s no one here.”
