Page 93 of Stay Baby Stay

“I was so sure Harris was going to fire you for crashing King’s party,” she says. “He really should have.”

“I take it Clyde’s been paying you to keep tabs for him,” I say. She squints. I open the folder of financial documents and slide it toward her. “The payments to your account going back four years.”

“I don’t work for Clyde,” she says. “I work for his brother, Jim. He hired me when he first ran for governor. But Clyde’s appetite for coke and pussy makes him a liability, so Jim started paying me more to keep the heat off both their backs.”

A foul taste coats my tongue, like rotten meat.

“I take it you knew who Hoyt was all this time,” I say. “What he was doing.”

“Keeping the governor’s psychotic bastard son off the cops’ radar was part of the deal I made.”

I freeze my features in place, refusing to react to this new information. I need Abby to think she’s reaffirming what Hoyt already told us, just long enough to get her full confession.

“Governor must have some sentimental attachment to the guy,” I say. “Otherwise, why risk keeping him around?”

“Jim thought it was better to keep Hoyt close rather than risk the truth getting out. Public tends to frown on politicians having babies out of wedlock.”

“I suspect they might have a few thoughts about the governor’s son being a serial killer.”

She snickers. “Honestly, considering who his vics are, they might not. You’ve said it yourself, Cal, nobody cares about teenage prostitutes. Till now, it’s been a perfect arrangement. Clyde gets all the cheap pussy he wants, and his crazy nephew gets to realize his vision, or whatever the fuck he calls it. I’m sure he hasn’t shut up about it since you arrested him.”

“Yeah, I’m sure he’d be talkin’ my ear off. If he wasn’t already dead.”

Abby blinks. “What?”

“He died on Austin’s kitchen floor early this morning.”

I watch the journey from understanding to dismay play out across her face. “How’d you know it was me?”

“I didn’t. Not for sure. But you were the only one on the force who knew where the girls were gonna be last night. Hoyt could’ve followed me back from the station. But you and I know that’s not what happened.”

She rests her elbows on the table and her head in her hands. I let her stay like that for a good long while.

I trusted Abby with my life. With McKenzie’s life, and Holly’s. This whole time, she’s been covering up for those responsible for hurting dozens of girls just like them. Part of me wants to ask if it was ever about more than the money. But I suspect the answer really is that simple. If it isn’t, we’ll find out soon enough.

“I’m arresting you, Detective Coates,” I say. “You have the right to remain silent...”

I leave Abby in the interrogation room to stew in the wake of her own destruction, then join Lieutenant Harris on the other side of the two-way mirror.

“Units checked out Hoyt’s apartment,” he says. “They found your laptop, all smashed up. And an old bible bookmarked with hair samples. Forensics is running the DNA now.” He glances at me sidelong. “You did good work, Larkin.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“I know that must’ve been difficult for you.”

“Had to be done.” Underestimating Abby was my mistake. I sure as hell wasn’t gonna let anyone do my dirty work for me.

“It’s a damn shame about that flash drive,” Harris says. “I would’ve liked to have gotten something on King. Maybe our tech guys can recover some of the footage from your laptop.”

“Or maybe there’s an even filthier drive floating around somewhere.”

He cocks his head. “Another drive?”

I shrug. Harris’s usual stony expression cracks for a brief moment. He outright chuckles.

“You know, Larkin,” he says. “Once the dust settles, there’s a good chance you’re looking at a promotion.”

“About that, lieutenant. There’s something you and I need to discuss.”

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