“Was he acquitted?” Lindsey asked.
The lawyer looked out the window toward the mountains. “Eventually.”
“Jesus.” Not that Todd was surprised it took awhile. “Did they find the real murderer?”
“Yes.” Her knuckles paled as she squeezed the steering wheel. “It was the girl’s uncle. He committed suicide by cop when they showed up to arrest him.”
“Coward.”
In the mirror, her sculpted eyebrows rose and her head tilted. “At least it was over and my brother got his life back.”
“True.” Todd had certainly fantasized about Pete’s death, but he’d planned to let the justice system handle him. Hell, Todd could’ve easily come home from Afghanistan just like him. The things he’d seen, the choices he’d had to make…
But he couldn’t excuse Pete’s actions, the men he’d ultimately become involved with, or the things he’d been willing to do. PTSD—or whatever his issue—didn’t make someone a criminal.
Todd could admit that part of him was glad Pete would never be a threat to anyone else, even as he mourned for the man Pete could have been, and for his own part in the man’s end.
He released Lindsey’s hand and dug his knuckles into his chest. “I need to let Kurt know what’s up. Do you want me to have him contact your parents?”
“Yes, please. I’m sure they’re going out of their minds.”
He nodded and slid the burner phone from his pocket.
She closed her eyes and put her head back, turning her face away from the low sun shining directly through her tinted window.
Todd forced himself to look away and type out a message to Kurt.
TODD: We’re with the lawyer. Heading somewhere safe.
KURT: (thumbs up emoji)
TODD: Let my mom and Lindsey’s parents know?
KURT: Will do.
TODD: And Jason, please.
KURT: Yep. Keep me posted.
TODD: Copy.
Whatever happened once they surrendered, Todd had a lot to atone for.
While Lindsey dozed, he removed the battery from the phone, and then occupied his time scanning for tails, keeping an eye on Marti, watching Lindsey’s sweet face, and savoring his relative freedom.
When they arrived at the small house, the sun had just set, leaving them in shadow, but with enough light to see their surroundings. The neighborhood was quiet, with little street traffic, a couple of barking dogs, and empty sidewalks.
Lindsey roused as they turned into the driveway, rubbing her eyes and peering through the window at the house draped in twilight.
Marti used a clicker stashed in her car’s center console to open the single garage door before driving inside and closing the door behind them. Once in the house, Todd did a quick sweep of the rooms to ensure they were alone, and closed all the blinds. Back in the kitchen, Lindsey had started a pot of coffee.
Standing at the counter, Marti set out two new, unopened, pay-as-you-go cell phones. Once the phones were activated, they each programmed her number into them. “For emergencies only. I don’t recommend you make contact with Kurt or anyone else you know while you’re here. You never know who’s watching and tracking. Web searches should be okay as long as you don’t log in to anything like your personal email, voicemail, bank accounts, etc.…”
Todd nodded as if this wasn’t usually his role.
“You’re sure it’s okay that you’re helping us?” Lindsey asked with a frown, looking a bit dazed.
Marti removed an iPhone from her oversized purse. “I’m not required to turn you in for crimes already committed. As long as you don’t tell me about any new ones you’re planning…”
