Page 93 of The Killing Plains

Lowell’s eyes widened comically. “What the hell?”

“I have a witness who saw you do it.”

“Then they’re either blind, stupid, or lying. Get a lawyer, depose me if you want—I’ll swear to it.”

Colly studied his face. His outrage seemed genuine. She didn’t think he was the shadowy figure Jace had seen by the van that night.

“You don’t deny you’re upset that I’m investigating?”

“I don’t care what you do, as long as you’re not a pain in my ass.”

“Then why’d you punch Russ for bringing me here?”

Lowell laughed. “If I punched Russ every time I wanted to, he wouldn’t have much of a face left.”

“That’s no answer.”

Lowell shrugged. “Been a rough year for the company. I didn’t want him stirring things up.”

“Were you scared I’d find out you embezzled?”

This time, nothing changed in Lowell’s expression, but his face grew rigid. “What?”

“Don’t play dumb. Jace Hoyer has the proof. Or didn’t you know he kept hard copies of all the documentation? They were in an envelope in his freezer—I found it yesterday when we searched his place.”

Bluffing was always risky, but Colly knew immediately that the gamble had paid off. Lowell’s eyelids flickered, and he opened and closed his mouth.

“Hoyer’s making a big deal about nothing,” he said finally. “It was a cash-flow problem, that’s all. I borrowed—and I was paying it back.”

“Is that how Iris would see it?”

“Gimme a break—she would’ve loaned me the money if I asked.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Didn’t need the guilt trip.” Lowell took off his cap, waving it for emphasis. “Dad wanted me to run the business, but she waltzesin after he died like it’s one of her little home-renovation projects, throwing her weight around with no idea what the hell she’s doing.”

“Just when you’re up to your neck in debt. Bad time for an embezzlement scandal.”

“Like I said, I was paying it back. I just needed time.”

“If only Iris hadn’t screwed everything up, insisting on those upgrades, huh?” Colly stepped closer. “You raised what money you could and ordered Jace to work his magic for the rest?”

“Keeping overhead down was part of his job.”

“He was good at it, too, wasn’t he? Everything was humming along, till that turbine accident. I bet at first you thought,This is my golden ticket—I’ll sue the epoxy manufacturer for all they’re worth. You were going to let them take the blame for that woman’s death and pay you enough in damages to get you out of the hole. Must’ve been a shock when Jace told you what he’d done, how he mixed the old and new epoxy to save money. Howyousigned off on it because you were too damn drunk to know better. Now Iris is pushing for an internal audit that could bring the PUC breathing down your neck, maybe even land you in prison. Your life’s a house of cards, Lowell, and it’s coming down.”

Lowell’s face was white. Beads of sweat stood out on his forehead. “Hoyer tricked me into signing those orders. I was going through a divorce, for Chrissakes. I was still in shock from what happened to Randy and Victoria.”

At the mention of her family, Colly felt the blood rush to her face. “Man up, Lowell. Take some responsibility for once in your life.”

Lowell’s right hand balled into a fist. He took a half-step forward, but when Colly laid a hand on her sidearm, he stopped.

“Say what you want.” He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the back of his neck. “That woman’s blood’s on Hoyer’s hands, not mine.”

“The law would take a different view. So would Brenda.”

“Meaning—?”

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