Darcy thumped the side of her head with the pistol. “Wrong answer.”
Wincing, she struggled to stay calm. What in hell had Theo told him? “It’s in my safe-deposit box, I swear.” She eased the vehicle forward. “I was on my way to the house to try and find the money.”
“Well, sweet thing, if I don’t get the cash and tape today, I’ll kill Summer and make Rhonda watch. Or maybe I’ll kill Rhonda and make Summer watch.”
Casey gripped the steering wheel so hard her fingers ached. She turned right onto Commercial Drive. “The police think you killed Simone Archambault.”
“I didn’t kill the old broad, Theo did. He came to Lillian’s place after it happened and told her while I was listening in the bedroom.”
“Why would Theo murder Simone, then drop by to tell Mother?”
“He needed Lil to give him an alibi. Anyway, if I wanted the old girl dead, I would have shot her. Think about that.”
How long had he been carrying the pistol? “Mother came by a few minutes ago. Did you see her?”
“I was focusing on that cop in your yard.” Darcy paused. “What’d she want?”
“To apologize for things that happened in the past.” Casey turned left onto Venables.
“She did, did she?” He leaned a little closer. “Does Lil know about the tape?”
“We didn’t discuss it,” Casey lied, “only talked about her and me.” She prayed Darcy believed her. If he found out she’d told her . . .
“What about you, Casey? Did you have a nice long listen to the tape?”
“For a few seconds. Dad mumbled so much I couldn’t understand what he was saying.”
She tried to ignore Darcy’s stare and focus on her driving. Five minutes later she reached Georgia Street. By the time they were crossing the Lions Gate Bridge into West Vancouver, his silence was frightening her more than his words.
“Mother also came to say goodbye,” Casey said. “She’s leaving the country today.”
Once more, she felt the gun against her neck. “Lil wouldn’t leave without me. She knows how much I love her.”
Casey swallowed back her revulsion. “She wants to get away from Theo. I think she feels betrayed by him.”
“For good reason. Anyhow, we’re gettin’ married as soon as we get the money. Guess that’ll make me your stepdad.”
Oh, that was good news. “I’m glad you love her. She needs someone in her corner.” Casey glanced at the rearview mirror, hoping she sounded sincere. “See, the cops are about to arrest her for Gustaf Osterman’s murder.”
“What are you talking about? Lillian didn’t kill Gustaf.”
“Evidence was found under her sofa.”
“What evidence?”
“A bloodstained, sequined dress and the murder weapon.”
Darcy’s brows scrunched into a long, ugly line. “She didn’t do it. I was with her the night it happened, at a restaurant.”
Sure, right. Again, they drove in silence until Casey pulled up to the house. When she saw Theo’s car parked in the driveway, she began to relax.
“Theo’s been waiting for you,” Darcy remarked.
“I see.” Leeches on her legs couldn’t have been more repulsive than his amused expression.
“Park on the street,” he ordered.
She did so and stepped out of the car. Grabbing her wrist, Darcy pulled her past Theo’s vehicle. Casey scanned the windows and yard for signs of him. The alarm’s cover was missing and cut wires were exposed. Darcy opened the unlocked door and hauled her inside.
“I want to show you what will happen if you try to cross me,” he said.
Oh no, was Theo dead? Darcy pulled her into the living room, toward the hole in the floor.
He gaped at the hole. “What the hell?”
Darcy started to turn as Theo shoved him into the hole.
Darcy landed hard, dropping his pistol. Cuts crisscrossed Theo’s forehead and his left eye was nearly swollen shut. His split lip had dripped blood onto his chin and shirt.
“So, you two caught up with each other,” Casey said, shaking with relief and fear.
“I told Darcy I had the tape and he insisted on meeting me here.” He pointed a pistol at Darcy.
“And when he realized you didn’t have it, he came to me. Or did you send him?”
“He guessed.”
Darcy looked incensed. When she saw he was within arm’s reach of his gun, she stepped back. “I’m amazed you didn’t shoot each other.”
“Didn’t have a weapon—I took this one from him.” Theo kept the pistol leveled at Darcy’s chest. “Who knew he had two?”
“I’ll call the police.”
“No cops,” Theo replied.
“Why?”
“Because he knows that if I’m charged with murder or killed,” Darcy answered, “a certain piece of incriminating evidence will be sent to the cops on my behalf.”
“Evidence of what?” Casey asked.
“Something that proves Theo killed the guy who crashed into his wife.”
“I’ve told you a hundred times,” Theo said. “The guy was drunk, couldn’t swim, and was stupid enough to fish alone. He fell in the water. I had nothing to do with it.”
“So why do I have pictures of you at the lake the same weekend he drowned?”
“Circumstantial, that’s all.”
“Why have you kept me around when you hate me so much?”
“Because you did your job until you started losing control.”
Darcy lunged for his gun.
“Casey, run!” Theo fired a shot.
On her way outside, Casey heard a second shot. She raced to Gil’s place next door and rang the bell. Gil took a few seconds to answer.
“Can I use your phone? It’s urgent!”
He opened the door wider.
Seconds later, she contacted Lalonde who ordered her to stay put. “I’ll be there shortly.”
“Where have you been all morning? Did you get my message?”
“Yes, and I’ve been busy. This case isn’t just about answering your phone calls, Miss Holland. There are meetings, new witnesses to interview, and more evidence to analyze.”
“Like the dress and the meat clever?”
“Among other things. As I said, stay put and we’ll talk when I get there.”
Staying put wasn’t easy. She desperately wanted to know what was happening next door.
“Man, I didn’t hear or see anything,” Gil said as he shut the drapes. “Are we safe?”
“I think so.” She tried to sound reassuring. “I’m betting Darcy wants to get far from here.”
Casey paced the room, partially aware of the scent of lemon oil. Tabletops shone and magazines were attractively displayed. The plush carpet looked like it had just been vacuumed.
Judging from the way Gil fidgeted, she was making him nervous, but she couldn’t help it.
“Are you parents back from Arizona?”
“Yeah, they’re at work.”
Casey headed for the doors that led to the balcony overlooking the backyard. Through the drapes, she peeked outside. From what she could see of Dad’s yard, no one was around. Whether Theo and Darcy were still inside or down on the beach was anyone’s guess. Casey wished she heard sirens or even shouting. Anything was better than this silence.
Thirty
TO CASEY’S RELIEF, vehicles screeched to a halt outside. “It must be the police.” She ran to the door.
“Think you should go out there?” Gil asked.
“Probably not.” She turned to him. “The other day, you said you could see my dad’s driveway from your bedroom window, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Maybe we can see what’s going on from there.”
Gil looked worried. “I don’t know.”
“Just a quick peek, that’s all.” He still looked uncertain. “I promise to ignore any mess and posters of naked people. Is it up here?”