Page 104 of Hidden Depths

“You think I killed your mom over bonds?”

“Yes.”

“Your dad didn’t want to pay me what he owed me, so to get rid of me, he deported someone I cared about very much, and her daughter, expecting me to follow. I didn’t, and they died.”

“He couldn’t have known.”

“Oh, he knew all right. Trust me. He wanted me out of America so he didn’t have to pay me back. And the only reason I didn’t kill you was because I wanted someone in his family to live with the pain and agony of the deaths I live with every time I close my eyes.” He breathed in sharply through his nose to settle himself. “Balthazar thought I was being too sentimental letting you go. I guess he was right in the end, because it’s what got me put in prison. But that’s all in the past now.”

“It was still a terrible thing to do.”

“Which part? What I did to your mom and dad or what your dad did to my friend and her daughter?”

“Both. Did it make you feel better?”

“Feeling better had nothing to do with it. I know I’ll suffer forever. It’s fair play that you do too. Now, can we get to the part where you tell me why you’re standing here? Have you decided to end it all, and you’d prefer I was the one to do the deed? Because I’ll comply, but not happily.”

“No. I thought I could make it right.”

Lansky coughed out a laugh. “By offering yourself as the sacrificial lamb? I suppose it will put a nice end point on all of this. Maybe it’s fate. You came here to hide, and my business brought me here to find you and finish it. The circle of life.”

“I didn’t come here to die. I have the bonds my father promised you. I knew where he had them, and after you killed him, I took them.”

“And you’ll give me those in exchange for what?”

“We call a truce. Stop hunting me down.”

“Sweetheart, I never really started. It was enough to send you out into the world to a life of suffering. This whole time you’ve been hiding, I barely thought about you.”

“Then let me give you the bonds, and we’ll go our separate ways.”

“I would be tempted to accept your offer. Unfortunately, you know I’m alive when the rest of the world thinks I’m dead.”

“I won’t say anything.”

He laughed. “Like last time?”

“I don’t want to hide anymore. If I tell anyone about you, I’ll have to hide again. I want to move on with my life.”

“I don’t know.”

“I have spent the last five years afraid of my own shadow. I learned from my last mistake. I don’t want to live like that anymore.”

“You know, for a spoiled brat, you sure make a good sales pitch. What do you think, Balthazar? You didn’t approve of my last choice where Sara is concerned. What do you think I should do now?”

“I’m tempted to kill her, but those bonds are worth a lot. The weather’s getting worse. It wouldn’t hurt to put off our departure for a good cause.”

“All right. I’m convinced. Where are they?”

“In the bank. A safe deposit box.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t the banks closed right now?”

“They’ll be open in the morning. Be glad I didn’t keep them at home; otherwise, they’d be burned into a pile of ash.”

“Why?”

“Because you burned it.”

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