Page 17 of Christmas Ransom

It would give him something to do besides worry. The problem was, he couldn’t leave Carla. He’d have to take her with him.

“The tattoo doesn’t sound all that memorable,” James was saying. “Have Carla sketch out what she remembers. I’ll let you know if I get the hospital employee list.”

Davy knew James was right. Neither lead might be all that helpful, another reason the feds would suspect her. “She’s getting released from the hospital tomorrow.”

“What are you going to do then?” his brother asked.

“I’m not sure,” he said, looking toward the hospital bed where she was sleeping peacefully for the moment. “I’m not sure what she’llallowme to do. She’s scared right now and still healing. Once she is strong again... Well, you know how she is, and given our history, well, it’s not like we’ve ever agreed on the future.”

“Don’t you have a ride coming up in the New Year?”

“I can’t leave knowing she’s in danger.”

James sighed. “Davy, have you considered what you’re going to do if this case isn’t solved for months or maybe ever?”

“I guess I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.”

He could hear his brother’s concern in the silence that followed.

“Well, we’ll all do what we can to help. Keep us in the loop.”

A silence fell between them but neither disconnected. “I suppose you heard,” Davy said. “The reason the robbers were able to get away from the cops was because of the train crossing where Dad was killed.”

“I heard. Sounds like at least one of the robbers was familiar with that unregulated crossing and maybe even knew its history,” James said.

“Which could mean he’s a local.”

“Yeah.” His brother was silent for a moment before he said, “The two cases aren’t tied together.”

Davy didn’t answer for a moment. “I know. It just brings it all back. You still working on Dad’s case?”

“You know I am. Tommy’s helping. We’re trying to get the file on the case now that we have a new sheriff. Our lawyer thinks we should be able to since Dad’s death was ruled an accident.”

“Except that we don’t believe that.”

“No, we don’t.”

JUDHADTRIEDto call Jesse numerous times during work, but the calls had always gone to voice mail. He’d left messages. “Call back. I need to know what’s going on.” Each message had sounded more frantic, but still she hadn’t returned his calls.

He was thinking the worst had happened when he finally finished his shift and drove home. As he came down the street, he looked for any vehicles he didn’t recognize. Maybe the feds had already made him. He knew that was a long shot. They couldn’t have this quickly. Not based on a tattoo—and that was if Carla Richmond had told them what she’d seen.

Even if Carla remembered him coming into the bank for a loan weeks ago, she didn’t know his name. He’d never given it to her. Nor did they travel in the same circles. He also hadn’t left any fingerprints or DNA at the bank. Or in the getaway car.

Knowing all this still didn’t give him any peace of mind. Too much was at stake. He hated loose ends. That’s why he was glad that he’d parted ways with Buddy, Rick and Eli. He’d learned a long time ago not to trust anyone. Like his old man used to say, two people can keep a secret—if one of them is dead.

No one even knew that he’d robbed the bank.

Except Jesse.

The thought made his pulse spike. She wouldn’t turn on him. He trusted her with his life, didn’t he? He thought about how well she’d taken the news earlier. But what if she’d just been pretending?

His breath came out in a rush of both relief and worry when he saw her sedan parked by the house. The curtains were closed in the front window, a light glowing behind them. There were no other vehicles around. He thought about driving around the block to make sure none were idling in the alley. But if he had, he’d feel guilty about not trusting her, so he pulled in next to her car.

He and Jesse were cut from the same cloth, his mother would have said. From what little she’d told him about herself, he knew that neither of them had ever colored inside the lines. They’d always taken the easiest way, no matter how many rules they had to break. Some people would have thought that dishonest, but he knew that he and Jesse just thought of it as surviving in a world that was against them since birth. His mother would have said he was making an excuse for his despicable behavior. But then his mother was no saint herself, was she?

Jud cut his pickup’s engine and sat for a moment, staring at the front door. He wouldn’t know if she’d betrayed him until he got out and went inside. If she had... Well, then he’d be going to prison. That’s if he got lucky and didn’t get the chair. Fortunately, Montana hadn’t executed anyone in a long time. He didn’t want to be the one they fired up Old Sparky for.

On what felt like a long walk to the house, he realized electric chairs were a thing of the past—at least in Montana. They’d gone to lethal injection a long time ago, he now remembered hearing. That didn’t relieve him much as he opened the front door of his house expecting to see Jesse sitting in the living room with the feds—after making a deal.

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