chapter Forty-six
“What if his insurance wasn’t good enough?” Casey said. Their motel had just come into view. Her fingers were interlaced with Eric’s, and they walked slowly, their arms against each other, shoulders touching.
“You mean a high deductible?”
“Or they’d reached the limit, maybe.”
“Could be. But why would that make him sell his business?”
“I don’t know. It just feels like there’s something there. What would you do? Your wife is dying. Your insurance won’t cover it, you can’t afford to keep—”
“Wait.” He pulled her to a stop. “Say that again.”
“You can’t afford to keep paying—”
“No. You said what if your insurance won’t cover it.”
“Yeah?”
“What if it’s not because of your deductible. Or even that it’s expensive. What if it’s because the treatment you want isn’t covered by any insurance. What if it’s—”
“—off the boards entirely.” Her heart raced. “Your wife has untreatable pancreatic cancer. You’re freaking out. You’ll do anything. Including sell your so-far profitable business.”
“But why?”
It was beginning to click. “Because the people buying your business are going to pay you more than you could ever get by doing legitimate work. They’re going to hire you on to make it look like you’re doing legitimate work, but they’re really going to pay you to make them something that not just anybody could make. Something illegal.”
“You think Zeke and Dan Pinkerton knew?”
“No. I think Randy found this master woodworker, and they were impressed their little brother was finally doing something right, so they hired Cyrus. Randy just used him for his own purposes.”
“But then Cyrus’ wife died. He didn’t want to make a smuggling boat anymore. He didn’t want to be a criminal. He had a daughter. He was a good guy. They kept hounding him, but he was stalling, so they began threatening. That’s why he wouldn’t live with his brother and his family, and why he tried to get Elizabeth to live with them, even if he wouldn’t. Not because of pride. Because he wanted them to be safe. Then finally, when they realized he wasn’t going to build it, they came looking for the blueprints, and he wouldn’t give them up. So they killed him.”
“No.” Casey wasn’t convinced. “They wouldn’t kill him if they didn’t have the blueprints. They would get those first.”
“Unless they assumed they were in the car. Where else would he keep them? He didn’t have a house. And if they weren’t there they would look in his brother’s house. They could manage that with no one knowing. Betsy didn’t have the blueprints until a few months later, after the school remembered Elizabeth’s gym locker, and what grown man is going to think to look there?”
“Okay. But why kill him then? Unless something else happened. Something they weren’t expecting.”
“Like?”
“His daughter showed up. She would have thrown off the whole thing. His priority would completely shift. Who cared about the blueprints or the stupid houseboat when his daughter was suddenly in danger?”
“But she lived.”
“She ran.”
“She would leave him?”
“If he told her to. Maybe. She was only fourteen. Might still listen to her dad.”
Eric began walking again, holding Casey’s hand more loosely now, swinging their arms as they talked. “But why would they let her go in the first place?”
Casey considered, and one more thing fell into place. “Because they hadn’t killed Cyrus yet. All they wanted was the blueprints. They probably didn’t even have the gun out yet. Another reason Elizabeth might have obeyed her dad. She didn’t think he was in any real danger. And she might have been mad that he was dealing with the creepy guys in the first place. But then it got out of hand. She heard the gunshot, and she went back.”
“But why? Why kill him? It doesn’t make any sense. They would want the blueprints, and we know they didn’t have them.”
“Who’s that?” Casey stopped Eric, then shook her hand free. Someone was waiting for them in the dim light of the parking lot, leaning against their rental car. “Stay here.”
Eric gave a little laugh. “I don’t think so.”
Casey shook her head. “Fine. He hasn’t seen us yet. I’ll go around the other way.”
“He’s not hiding. I don’t think it’s anyone to be afraid of. He’s waiting for us right out in the open.”
Okay. So he was probably right. But she was going to be ready, anyway.
They walked closer, Casey darting her eyes back and forth, waiting for more shadowy figures to emerge. But no one did, and they arrived at the man unmolested.
“Wayne?” she said.
He looked at her with eyes of darkness. “Yes, it’s me. And I think it’s time I told you what really happened that night.”