“It’s go time, ladies.” Lanie says it like we’re about to take to the track to cheer on the local football team. “Nina and I will go in, and Alyssa, you keep watch.”
I pull a face. “Keep watch for what exactly? This isn’t a heist, Lanie.”
She shrugs. “If he doesn’t cooperate, it might become that. I’m not opposed to grabbing the computer and running.”
“Hey Zeus, Chris. Please don’t let her turn this into a crime,” I beseech our more levelheaded friend. “On second thought, I’m coming to help.”
Nina smiles. “It’s best if you stay out here, Ally. If too many of us bombard the man, he might not be as accommodating.” Her smile turns to a grin. “For the record, it’s Jesús Cristo.”
Huh? I shake my head, not in the mood to deal with Nina’s insistence on correcting me at every turn. It’s not important.
I’m not sure I agree that one extra woman will result in a guy not being accommodating, but I’m not going to argue. I’m perfectly content sitting my hind end in this car and allowing them to shoulder the load this time.
“Don’t worry, Ally. I did not call off work today to be arrested. I assure you, there will be no theft involved.” She turns toward Lanie. “Got it?”
Lanie rolls her eyes. “Let’s go.”
Twenty minutes later, both girls are rushing back to the car, looking triumphant.
Lanie is carrying a piece of plastic, and Nina’s waving her phone in the air.
Nina motions for me to pop the trunk, so I do, watching asLanie rushes to the back, placing the piece of aluminum she was carrying inside.
They hop into the car, chatting animatedly.
“What happened?” I ask, but neither one stops to answer me, continuing to talk in gibberish I can’t follow. “What happened?” I yell, garnering looks of shock from both my friends, because I rarely get loud.
“Apparently, Richard convinced Leon to total the truck. In exchange, Santos got to keep the truck for scrap. It’s still sitting behind the shop two years later.” Nina smiles wide, pointing toward the trunk. “Leon had one of his guys cut off a piece of the fender, where there is still black paint from another vehicle.”
I gasp. Corinne had mentioned that they could match paint from transfers. “You guys... that’s huge.”
Lanie bobs her head. “Best part—Nina was correct on the dates. The truck was brought in on August eighteenth.”
The day after Billy’s accident.
“I thought you said he had the truck fixed?” I say to Nina.
“That’s what I was told. But the more I think about it, the truck he drives now is slightly different. It would appear he bought him a new one, practically the same.”
“Billy,” I call out, needing him to confirm what I already suspect. “What color was your Jeep?”
Billy’s seated next to Nina in the back, smiling like a clown. “Black, baby.”
I start the car and put it in drive, ready to present our case.
“Where we off to?” Nina asks, but her green complexion tells me she already knows.
“Nina, I’m sorry, but we have to give this to Nick.”
Her eyes close as she breathes in and out a few times. “I know. It’s just going to make life a bit difficult.”
My stomach plummets thinking about how Nina will farewhen the news breaks that her stepson is being tried for vehicular homicide and fleeing the scene along with who knows what else. It’ll ruin Richard’s perfect reputation, right at a crucial time for reelection.
Will she be safe?
“You need to leave him, Nina,” I say, glancing at her through the rearview. “You can stay with me. I’ll help you.”
She shakes her head, lowering her eyes to her lap. “I can’t even think about that right now. We just need to hurry. Lanie paid off Leon, but I don’t trust him.”
