Page 63 of Trust No One

“I get it.” He ran fingers through disheveled hair. “But being under the microscope feels like hell.”

“It’s supposed to.” I added, “I want to see your finances. Will you give me permission to access your bank records?” I could get a warrant, but if Gabe didn’t resist, then the process would go faster.

He dropped his gaze. “Sure, if you need to.”

“Any other problems at home?”

“She wanted more help with Molly—to find another home. She hates being dependent on Raine. But we can’t afford it right now.”

“Raine’s birthday is Wednesday. She takes control of the estate then. Rumor mill says she’ll sell and walk away.”

“Yeah, I heard.”

“That would leave you, Maria, Molly, and Edith without a house.”

“I don’t think Raine would throw us out,” he said. “She’d help us.”

“Has Edith mentioned having to leave?”

“She’s worried,” he said. “She’s been on the land for almost twenty-five years.”

“You said Maria and Raine haven’t spoken in a year.”

He frowned. “Maria asked Raine for money several times. Maria’s not great with money, and my work has been sparse. When Maria asked for more money, Raine called her out on her spending. Maria blew up. Said she had every right to spend the money however she saw fit. Raine stopped sending checks.”

“What did Maria say?”

“Nothing. She worked shifts at the hospital.” He shook his head. “They’d still be talking if this damn economy wasn’t eating into my business.”

Maybe if he’d gotten a job. But Gabe never liked being told what to do. “And there’s nothing else you need to tell me?”

He met my gaze, defiant but tired. “No, man. Nothing.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Judson

Monday, October 19, 2026, 5:00 p.m.

Gabe had never been a good liar. When I’d been at his house for dinner last month, I saw the tension between Maria and him. Maria’s smiles were too quick, and Gabe had drunk a little too much. She hadn’t screamed or yelled, and he hadn’t downed enough beer to numb himself, but there was trouble. I’d chalked the vibe up to having a bad day.

Now I could see the Durants relied heavily on Raine.

But poisoning Maria made no sense if money was the reason behind it. If money was the motive, Raine would be the number one target.

Raine.

I’d thought a lot about Raine over the years. I’d wanted to reach out and tell her I was sorry we fell apart. But pride and lousy timing had always stood in the way. And then she’d married Ken. That was a play I’d never seen coming.

I strode into the impound lot and presented my search warrant to the deputy. “Black truck impounded yesterday.” I rattled off the plate number. The deputy gave me the keys.

The truck sat at the back of an outdoor lot surrounded by other vehicles impounded for violations that ranged from traffic to drugs.

I opened the front door of Gabe’s truck and began to search the floorboards and console.

Earlier, I’d opened his old arrest file and confirmed suspected facts. And learned a few new ones.

He’d skipped college and started his own landscaping business. Initially, he’d done well. When we were all counting pennies in college, Gabe had money in his pocket. By age nineteen, he had more work than he could handle. But Gabe had a way of screwing up a good thing.