Page 76 of Every Deadly Suspicion

“I took care of him and I just took care of the other traitors. Now it’s your turn.”

He fired at me and missed. I tried to shoot him, but man, that gun I had was old and frozen. It wouldn’t fire. I threw it and hit Chase in the head, making him madder than a rattlesnake. He shot at me again and missed again.

All I wanted to do was get out of there or I knew I’d end up like Blake and Sophia. I reached for something to hold him off, grabbed the closest bottle, and threw it. My aim was off. The bottle hit the corner of the table and shattered, liquid and glass spraying all over Chase.

Hanna squinted down at the last paragraph. The writing was barely legible.

He screamed, the worst sound I have ever heard in my life. He dropped the gun, fell to one knee, and brought his hands to his face. I turned and ran out of the cabin, through the forest and back to my car, the echo of Chase’s bloodcurdling scream ringing in my ears.

CHAPTER 40

BY THE TIME SHE WAS ABLE TOmake out the last bit of the letter, Hanna’s heart was pounding. She stood still, the room quiet but for the sound of Joe’s oxygen feed and his labored breathing. She rubbed her temple and looked up at Joe.

“Chase said that he took care of Gilly?”

Joe nodded.

“Did that mean he killed him?”

Joe’s thin shoulders shrugged.

“Why did you confess? Why did you let Chase get away with murder?” She asked the questions knowing Joe couldn’t answer. He indicated that he wanted to write something. She flipped the page over and handed the pad back to him. She leaned close to the bed while the shaky hand began to scrawl again.

No choice. I wanted you and your mom to live.

Hanna felt as if her heart constricted.

Joe shifted in his bed, tried to lean forward. Tears fell from his eyes. His face flamed red with the effort. He spoke in a whisper.

“In—the—short—time—I—had—to—think—the deal—only way.”

He caught his breath.

Hanna could barely hear him. “You trusted them to keep their word.” Hanna tried to process everything.

“Trusted—Everett. He’s—no—killer.”

“What about Gilly?”

He shook his head. “Never. Saw.”

Hanna considered this. If Joe had told the truth, the federal authorities would have paid more attention. There would not have been a simple three-person tribunal. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.

Thirty-five years in prison.

Joe was writing, rather scrawling, more words.

My only leverage. Big Al—would have hurt you both. Keep you and Mom safe. Couldn’t talk to Feds. Only way—keep you safe. Good trade.

Joe had sacrificed his life for hers.

She couldn’t take her eyes off the dying man. Thoughts of all the years lost paralyzed her, then anger swelled. She sniffled, her throat tight. But there was no time for emotion, no time for recrimination. They had to find Nathan. She’d been here too long.

“Now that we’ve found the bodies, it casts doubt on your story, your confession. And if Chase thought Nathan was coming to talk about Blake and Sophia...” Her voice trailed off.

Her father’s head turned slowly from side to side.

“If this happened like you say, there is no way Chase could have dumped the bodies. He was injured, in the hospital. Who put the bodies in the lake?”

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