Page 76 of Sinner’s Game

Chapter Twenty-Six

Blue and red lights flash throughout the neighborhood, illuminating the homes that surround this little safe house. I stand next to Ronan, holding his hand as uniformed cops and detectives work the area. Inside, they’re dealing with the body.

The body.

“Apparently she managed to get a tracking device on your car,” Lamar tells Ronan.

Ronan curses softly, and I look at him. “She must have managed it when we were at the resort. Realized which car was mine. Approached it once we were all set up.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Lamar said. “She’s dead now. No longer a problem.”

“She’s very dead,” Chief Randall says as he walks up. He looks at me. “How are you doing, sugar?”

“I’m doing fine, sir.” I’ve known Chief Randall almost my whole life. Ellie’s father used to be the chief of police in Laguna Cortez, but Chief Randall took over after he was killed. He ended up being something of a surrogate father to Ellie. And to me he’s like an uncle.

“I wish you’d told me what was going on,” he says. “It’s the freakiest damn thing I’ve ever seen.”

“I’m sorry, sir,” I say.

“I take responsibility,” Ronan said.

The chief turns to Lamar. “And you knew nothing?”

“No, sir. Not a thing.”

I watch the chief’s face. I don’t think he believes Lamar.

“This was a classified matter,” Ronan says. He nods across the street to where Colonel Anderson Seagrave sits in his wheelchair talking to one of the lieutenants. “As you know, I have a Special Forces background,” Ronan continues. “Now I do some work for the military. Classified. We had reason to believe that this woman was connected to an active operation, so we stepped in.”

“Well, I wish I’d known,” Chief Randall says as Colonel Seagrave crosses the street toward us.

“I do apologize for not calling you personally,” the colonel says. “I hope that there are no hard feelings and that you’ll process this discreetly.”

Chief Randall studies the colonel, then nods. “There are times when our small police department doesn’t have the resources we need.”

Anderson nods slowly. “Well, we’re always happy to oblige if you need interagency assistance.”

“Appreciate that,” Chief Randall says.

I look to Ronan, who’s fighting a smile. Apparently, this is the way things are done and secrets are kept.

Chief Randall’s attention goes to me and Ronan. “I think you two are done here. Detective, do you have any follow-up questions for them?” he asks Lamar.

Lamar shakes his head. “No, sir. I think we’re wrapped.” He looks at me. “I’ll call you later. And I’ll be here on scene for another half hour or so if you need me. Right over there.” He points to where a group of officers are talking to the coroner. I nod. “Thank you.”

Chief Randall gives me a hug, then moves away. Once I'm alone with Ronan, I relax a little bit.

“You okay?”

I look up at him and nod. But I’m not. I’m really not. All of this drama, that terrifying fear. Seeing that crazy bitch wearing my face. All of that I could deal with. It shocked the hell out of me, but it was something that could be handled. Something that would either turn out good or bad. And thankfully, it ended okay. I’m alive, and my double is dead. So at the end of the day, it’s all good.

Or, at least, it’s good compared to what has to come next. Because this is the part that’s going to break me.

“Let’s go inside and get our things,” Ronan says. “I’ll take you home. Are you ready to go back there?”

I know that the house has been completely cleaned, the carpet in the living room replaced, the entire property swept for bugs, cameras, and listening devices. It will be weird to be back there again, but it’s my home.

I don’t know what’s going to happen now that my landlord is dead, but until they kick me out, I’m considering it my place.