Page 124 of Fortune's Control
“There may even be others. For now, he’ll go to Atlanta so the D.A. can investigate further.”
“Investigate further?” Lilah drew back, horrified. “You can’t let him go.”
“You think I’d let him walk now? After all this? He’ll spend the rest of his life behind bars, with different jurisdictions fighting for their turn at a trial.”
She frowned, not satisfied with his answer. “What about Wilson Skane?”
“The process of dropping charges has already started.”
“What tipped you off to your partner’s involvement?” I asked.
Moore kicked at the dirt with his heel and spat. “I worked with him for eight years, and never suspected a damn thing. He was a cop, one of the best in our department. It’s because of you two, and pointing out that the victims wore glasses. He once mentioned his younger sister’s unsolved murder led him to join the police force. I recalled a picture of her taken years ago, with her in glasses. I found it again, in a hidden office folder, and there was another kid in the picture, a boy.”
Lilah’s eyes bulged with comprehension. “Nelson?”
“He was too young to be Matt, so I wondered. Davis never mentioned a brother. It turns out they’re half-siblings on their father’s side. They grew up together outside Charleston for years until Matt moved to Atlanta after their sister’s murder. It could have been Nelson Davis who did it, or it’s what led him to start. If you want my guess, he killed his little sister, his older brother covered it up, and he continued, right until the moment you two appeared. Davis took time offfor a family emergency, which is why you heard from me rather than him.” Moore cleared his throat. “He didn’t return to work this morning as scheduled, and I guessed they were here.”
“That explains how Nelson knew so much. He knew I lived here and had the address because his brother told him.” Lilah grabbed my arm. “It wasn’t my mother.”
I recalled the night Pirate disappeared, and Lilah’s fear of being watched. He’d been here all along, playing with her and waiting for his moment.
“This won’t give Sandy Cooper’s family closure or any relief. Please tell them I hope…I hope they know she helped us find the man who did this. I’ll be there for any trial, to help put him away forever.” Lilah looked up at me, questioning, and I nodded, knowing what she meant to say. “Tell them we’ll both be there.”
A deputy, young enough that I wondered if he graduated from high school, came up to us. “We received a message from the hospital. Your friend will be out of surgery soon.”
Lilah cried out, while Jack and I offered more subdued sighs of relief.
“Do you still need us here?” I asked.
Moore wiped his face. “Go see to your friend. We can take it from here.”
“The sheriff will want formal statements in the morning,” the deputy added. “If you’d prefer that to be done in your home, let me know.”
I wouldn’t subject Lilah to an interrogation after this. “You know where we live. Tomorrow morning will be fine. Late morning is better.”
“Can we go now?” Lilah asked.
“Oh, hell, yes. Let’s go,” Jack said.
*****
“Can you give us a minute?” I asked. Jack accompanied us to the hospital, since we were all eager to check on Aiden. “We’ll meet you inside.”
“See you on the inside.” He left without further protest.
I unbuckled my seatbelt and opened my arms to her. “Come here.” Lilah launched herself into them, and we held each other, neither wanting to let go first. Her body relaxed, bit by bit, as I murmured words of comfort into her ear. “It’s over now, thanks to you.”
“I did nothing. My attempted escape didn’t even work.”
“Your attempted escape wrecked their plans enough for us to finish the job. Besides, that isn’t what I’m referring to.” She tilted her head, confused. I stroked her lips and kissed them. “If it weren’t for you, Nelson Davis would be looking for his next victim while an innocent man rotted in jail. You’re the one who trusted yourself enough to question what you were told. That’s on you.”
“When you put it that way.”
She bit her lower lip, and I fought the urge to kiss her again. It didn’t work.
“I’m putting it that way.”
“Shane?”
