Page 111 of Buried Too Deep

“You got it. He just left an hour ago. He’s unlikely to return any time soon.”

“That’s what we thought yesterday.”

The guard grimaced. “His schedule has been less predictable lately.”

Because Alan was distracted by whatever trouble Cora Winslow had brought to his door.

Sage set out on foot, walking to his grandfather’s mansion. He’d parked about a half mile away but hadn’t driven his own car. The Porsche was far too memorable. He’d divested himself of Sanjay’s Camry after driving it to the old librarian’s house and then to where Sanjay would have picked it up.

Taking care of the librarian hadn’t been that difficult. Taking care of Sanjay had been much harder.

Sanjay had met him at the coordinates that Sage had provided the night before. Sage had prepared himself to shoot the man, but Sanjay’s look of shock and betrayal still haunted him.

Sage had made it quick, shooting Sanjay in the head and leaving his body in the Camry. And then he’d taken Sanjay’s two-year-old Kia to a chop shop, trading it for a clunker that the owner of the shop swore still ran like a dream.

Sage cared more that the fifteen-year-old Toyota Corolla had clean license plates, like the guy promised.

Sage had worn the disguise he used when he went clubbing when he’d traded Sanjay’s car. He didn’t want anyone recognizing him.

Like Minnie Edwards had.

He’d worn a ski mask when he’d broken the joke of a lock on the old librarian’s kitchen door, gaining entry in seconds. He’d been armed with the small handgun he’d taken from Joy Thomas, not that he expected to use it. It would be too loud. He’d decided that a pillow would do.

But the old woman had woken as he’d stood over her, one of her pillows in his hands. Surprisingly strong, she’d fought him, yanking the mask from his head.

There had been a moment of terror in her eyes, and then there’d been recognition—of him from the library, he’d assumed. And then her expression had changed and he’d seen true recognition.

He’d heard it in her whispered “Sage.”

That had startled him. He’d hesitated for a heartbeat, but knew that he’d have to follow through. She had to have recognized him from his grandfather’s TV ministry. Or from one of the ads on billboards all over town. One pillow to the face later, and Minnie Edwards was no longer a threat.

He should be feeling worse about what he’d done. It kind of bothered him that he didn’t. Yes, he felt guilty over Sanjay because he’d known him. He hadn’t known the librarian, but she was still a person. He should be feeling worse about her death.

Regardless, it was done. His loose ends were snipped. And now he’d find out exactly what his grandfather had hidden in that safe. He took off at a jog, his workout attire helping him blend in on the sidewalks of the high-priced community.

He slipped into the house, avoiding the help. He knew their routines. Knew that the cook would be watching television and the maid would be taking her hour-long smoking break.

Alan was filming at the central offices today, so Lexy would be there, too. The smiling couple with the perfect life.

If their faithful parishioners ever found out…

Pulling on a pair of gloves, Sage locked the study door behind him, making a beeline for the hinged bookshelf. A single tug had it moving fluidly aside, the shelf balanced perfectly. The builder must have known what he was doing.

He twisted the dial. One-zero-fifteen.

Holding his breath, he pulled at the handle and stuck his hand inside.

The photograph was near the back of the safe, lying on top of a stack of thick folders. Hands sweaty inside the gloves, he held the photo up to the light, just as Alan had done the night before.

It was a girl. She was wearing a graduation cap and gown, her smile bright. Her hair was golden and curly, her eyes wide and trusting.

Sage had never seen her before, but her face was familiar, as were her blond curls. Same with the dimple in her left cheek, deepened by her smile.

Sage’s hair was the same color. He saw that same dimple in the mirror every time he shaved. Their eyes were the same.

She was family. He was certain. But who was she?

And what did she have to do with Cora Winslow?

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