Lori looked around the man, made eye contact with Lane, and leaned her head to the left.
Lane gathered up his folders and walked out the door. The man in the grey coat turned.
Lane said, “Hello, Joseph.”
Joseph didn’t offer his hand. “We need to talk.”
Lane opened his right hand to direct his brother into his office.
Nigel asked, “Anyone want a coffee?”
Out of his left eye, Lane saw Lori take Nigel to one side. Joseph stepped into Lane’s office. The detective followed, closing the door behind him and standing across from his brother, whose silver hair glistened under the fluorescent lights. Lane waited. Have you got some new hair, Joseph, or is that a wig?
“This has to stop now,” Joseph said.
“I agree. Christine deserves to be free to raise her son without fear.” Lane stood in front of the door with his arms crossed, his feet apart.
“I’m not talking about Christine.” Joseph undid the top two buttons of his coat to reveal a white shirt, a red tie, and a navy-blue pinstriped suit.
Then what are you talking about? Lane decided to wait.
“Maybe you think you have a right to do what you’re doing, but that money is my retirement savings. And yes, I’m defending Alison because she’s my sister. She’s your sister, too. Yes, she believes she speaks to God, and she has an unusual lifestyle, but she is our sister.” Joseph undid two more buttons. “It’s hot in here.”
Lane felt a tremor in his hand. He looked down and saw his right hand shaking. “Start at the beginning.” He sat down at his desk. Joseph took off his coat, folded it over his right arm, and sat in Nigel’s chair.
“I have to defend her. She asked me to. I couldn’t say no.”
“How would you feel if she tried to abduct your child or grandchild, then transport the baby to the States where it could disappear into a polygamist compound?”
Joseph looked back at his brother. His eyes narrowed. “You know this for certain?”
Lane nodded. “Sarah told it to the arresting officers when they interviewed her.”
“They were taking Indiana to the States?”
Lane nodded.
“Efram said that Alison just wanted the baby -” Joseph looked sideways at Lane “- to have a good home.”
“That’s what Christine wants, and she’s Indiana’s mother. She’s also the person who escaped Paradise because she saw her name on the bishop’s fuck chart.” Lane studied his brother’s reaction.
Joseph leaned back in his chair then took a breath. “Christine told you that?”
“That’s right. The excommunication happened after she left. She escaped Paradise and came to you, remember?” It still hurts to know Christine went to you first. And it still galls me that you turned her away, Joseph.
“Margaret said she couldn’t stay. I wasn’t there.”
And your wife must have said it was okay to defend Alison against Christine or we wouldn’t be here. “Christine, her child, and the child’s father deserve the right to live free from fear.”
“And I want you to stop donating my money to charity.”
“I know nothing about that.”
Joseph stared back at his brother. “You must have an idea.”
Lane stared back at his brother. “Can you guarantee that Christine, Dan, and Indy will be left alone?”
“Okay. If that’s what it takes, you have my guarantee. I will make sure Alison will leave them alone. Milton has other things to worry about now, and the word is our sister’s being excommunicated.” Joseph stood and began to put on his coat. “The judge agreed to my request for a psychiatric evaluation for our sister. I think the doctor’s report will strengthen her case.” He walked to the door, putting his hand on the door handle. “Consider this information an act of good faith. I will hold you personally responsible if more of my assets go missing.” Joseph took his time buttoning his coat, opening the door, and stepping out.
Lane turned to his computer, tapping the mouse. His map of the murder suspects stared back at him, but he didn’t see it.
“Here’s your coffee.” Nigel set a mug down in front of his partner, then sat at his desk. “Who was that?”
“My brother.” Lane sensed the stillness in Nigel, the expectation. “Two things.”
Nigel sipped his coffee, watching Lane.
“Our first priority is to prevent the Pierces from hurting anyone else.”
Nigel nodded.
“The second is whoever is transferring money out of my brother’s accounts is going to stop.” Lane looked at Nigel. “Understood?”
Nigel took another sip before nodding.
Nigel found Anna in her library chair. She had on a pair of black pants and high faux-leather boots. Her blonde hair was red tipped, a shade darker than her red sweater. She flipped up the lenses of her glasses to watch his approach. He sat down across from her. “I’m glad you wore pink.” She pointed at his shirt.
“I took your suggestion about wearing more colour.”
“The library closes at nine.”
Nigel reached into his pocket, lifted out his phone, and glanced at the time. “We’ve got ten minutes.”
“Okay.” She reached for her iPad, set it on her lap, and crossed her legs.
“Can you back off on the lawyer?”
Anna shrugged. “No problem. Can I still go after Milton and the Pierces?”
Nigel nodded, then asked, “What did you find out about the Pierces?”
“He’s writing stuff on social media sites. She’s withdrawing money from several accounts.”
Nigel nodded. “You’re sure it’s him?”
“Of course. I hacked his personal computer. Then I went into his encrypted files where he keeps some original documents.” She handed him her iPad. “Take a look at what I found. He’s planning some blogs. He uses a phony e-mail account to send them back and forth so he can deny they’re his.”
Studying Your Prey
The Murderer’s Lifestyle
Hiding in Plain Sight
Knowing When to Stop
Creating a New Identity
Cash Is King for a Killer
Creating a Diversion
Physical Fitness Regime
Smuggling Weapons Across the Border
Living Off Investments
Nigel handed the iPad back, looking at her for a moment. I can’t use this information as evidence. “Those two are very dangerous.”
Anna said, “He and his wife are total narcissists.”
“They might come after you.” Nigel felt a wave of dread wash over him.
“They have no idea I’m accessing their personal information.”
“Can you wait until Sunday to go after their money?”
Anna nodded. Her entire upper body emphasized the affirmation. She smiled. “I have a plan.”
Christine and Indiana were waiting in the living room for Lane when he walked in the front door just after ten o’clock. He could hear Indiana sucking and sighing as he fed at Christine’s breast. She had a blanket overtop the baby’s head. Indiana had his ankles crossed. Lane asked, “Where is everyone?”
“Asleep.” She looked at her son. “He’s done nothing but eat and poop all day long.” Indiana farted and sighed, as if to point out he didn’t want to be left out of the conversation.
Lane smiled, took off his coat, hung it up, and kicked off his boots, feeling the fatigue loosen its grip when he saw the smile on Christine’s face.
“Sylvia phoned.” Christine adjusted her breast under the blanket.
You’re a natural with that baby. “Tommy Pham’s wife?”
“She calls herself his assistant. She’s very nice. She said my mom is going to undergo a psychiatric examination.”
“I heard that too.”