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“You can’t do that,” said Miriam, shaking her head.
“The hell we can’t. He owes you that,” Ginnie said pointedly before turning to Sophie. “Haven’t you always wanted to live in Morocco?”
“Morocco?” Miriam and Sophie said in unison.
“Yes. Sunny, warm, right on the coast, and no extradition treaty with the United States.”
“But how?” asked Miriam.
“Pack just what you need. Call Rick and tell him to meet us at the Catch. Mac will know someone with a boat. We’ll hide you until morning and you can sail out with the fishermen. Rick knows how to handle a boat. I’m not saying it’ll be easy, but all you have to do is get outside US territorial waters and they’ll never be able to touch you. Sophie, go upstairs and get things for you and your mom.”
Sophie ran to her and wrapped her arms around her neck. “Thank you, Ginnie. Thank you.”
“You can’t,” said Miriam as Sophie ran upstairs.
“I just did.” Ginnie handed Miriam a slip of paper with numbers on it. “Those are offshore accounts. Clean them out. The authorities might be able to seize them, but it’ll take time. There’s a satchel full of cash in my beamer. I literally stumbled over it earlier today. There’s at least two million in it. It and the money in the accounts should give you a good start. I’ll figure out how to get you more. Your daughter is entitled to this money. Take it and start a new life. One without my husband’s shadow darkening it.”
* * *
THORN
They ran up the stairs to the courthouse, but had to wait for Judge Culpepper to sign the warrant as well as get it properly registered and arrange for the local police to get involved. Finally, they had it in their hands and headed for the Gates’s house. No one was at home. Having the warrant gave them the right to enter so they did and began to search. Thorn dispatched the others with them to the restaurant.
“Found it,” called Jessica from the kitchen.
He entered and she pointed to a can of cyanide poisoning, ostensibly to deal with rats, under the sink. They put it in an evidence bag and left it on the kitchen table as they continued to search.
“I’ve found what I think is the missing phone,” called Thorn as he dialed the number and watched it vibrate. Jessica joined him. He pointed to it. “Mr. Gates’s underwear drawer.”
“Rick couldn’t have done it.”
“No, but he could have helped his wife or daughter cover it up.”
Jessica nodded. “They’re a close family. I can see that happening.” She stopped and looked up. “Do we have to do this? Can’t we just pretend we didn’t find anything?”
“I know that’s tempting because Thompson was such an asshole and the Gates are nice people, but it isn’t our job to judge, and it wasn’t somebody else’s to decide he needed to die and then to act on it.”
“I know you’re right, but still…”
“It’s the second hardest part of the job.”
“What’s the first?”
“Knocking on the door and telling someone that a person they love is never coming home again.”
Jessica laid her hand on his arm. “I’ll be all right. I know you’re right, it’s just…”
He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. “I know. I get it. I totally get it.”
Thorn drove Jessica home to drop her off. “Keep an eye on everything, and make sure Selma and Barbie feel like we’re here for them.”
“Will do. I’m going to go in my office. I keep feeling like there’s a piece missing, but my characters are finally talking to me, so it seems my writer’s block is broken.”
Later when he ventured into her office, he had to smile. Rafferty said they hadn’t heard a peep out of her in hours. Sudie told them all it was how she wrote and warned them not to bother her. As if she could sense his presence, she looked up and smiled. He could tell she was exhausted.
He walked to the wingback chair, and she joined him there.
“Well?” she asked.
