Page 108 of All the Little Truths

He glared at Finley and laughed a rusty, deathly sound. “So what. I’ve already told you I did it. There’s your evidence.”

This was precisely the route she had anticipated the old man would go to protect his sons. He was dying; what did he care about a murder charge? The problem was, his statement would go directly against Ian’s. Whatever else happened from all this, Finley intended to see that Ray Johnson did not get away with what he had done.

“You’re right,” Finley agreed. “But I felt it was important that I explained how Ray had planted the cigarette butts with the intention of ensuring that you were fingered as Lucy’s killer. He expected you to be dead by then, of course.”

“Well, there you go.” The old man’s angry, clipped tone warned he was not pleased with this news. “Stop wasting my time. Talk to that detective, and get my son over here.”

“I’ll do that,” Finley promised. “There’s just one other issue.” One last little push. “Ray also said you ordered him to kill Ian to protect the family. That’s why Ian has been gone all this time. He was in hiding from his brother.”

Using all his strength, the old man actually managed to push himself up onto his elbows so he could properly glare at Finley, his gaze pure evil. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Finley almost had him. “Look, Mr.Johnson, you’re dying. If you agree to all Ray has said, then this shit show dies with you. Ian will likely be charged as an accessory to murder, since he lured Lucy to her death, but Ray will be okay. He’ll still be able to run the business and keep the family legacy going. It’s an easy decision.”

“You,” he roared, as best a dying man could, “work for me, and I want you to listen: I did not tell anyone to kill my son.” His face had gone beet red, and his chest heaved with the breath raging in and out of his feeble body.

“I can tell Ian what you’ve said,” she assured him, “but I don’t know that he will believe it. Ray had him pretty convinced of what you wanted.”

Something changed in the old man’s eyes. “Call that detective. I want to make my own statement. Ray was the one who killed Lucy Cagle.”

“Mr.Johnson,” Finley countered, fingers mentally crossed, “are you certain that’s what you want to do? As I said, this is all going to shake down in a way that protects Ray. Anything you do—”

“Call him. Now.” He collapsed back onto his pillow. “I told Ray to take care of it, and he did. He forced Ian to take him to Lucy that night. He waited, hunkered down in the back seat, until she got in the car; then he killed her, even though Ian tried to stop him.” His mouth tightened with new anger. He shook his head. “He stole all this time from me with Ian. Now it’s his turn to have his life stolen. I should have killed that bastard myself when he was born. He was an evil little shit even then.”

Finley could barely hold herself back from grabbing her phone and calling Houser. She had him ... she had that bastard Ray Johnson. “ButRay said he had an alibi for that night. He and his wife had dinner and drinks.”

“He lied. Mark my word,” the old man said, “his ex will confirm he was lying.”

All tied up in a perfect little inescapable knot. Now Finley had all she needed.

Finley called Houser and waited with the old man until he and Jack arrived. Finley’s father and the Judge had taken Louise Cagle back to the hospital and were going home. Finley was more than ready to do the same.

29

8:10 p.m.

Matt put his arm around Finley’s shoulders as they walked to her Subaru. “You never cease to amaze me, Fin. You’re going to make one hell of a district attorney.”

She laughed. “We’ll see about that. Briggs isn’t going down without a fight.”

“Make your decision official, and we’ll squash him like the bug he is.”

At the car, Finley turned to face him. “Thank you for being my best friend all these years. For becoming my partner in life. I really don’t deserve you.”

His arms went around her, and he kissed her. “I am the one who doesn’t deserve you.”

“Probably.” She laughed. “But not in the same way I don’t deserve you.”

They laughed together as they climbed into the car. Matt slid behind the wheel and adjusted the seat. Finley was too damned exhausted to drive.

Finley closed her eyes and savored the idea that this case was done. It was Jack’s show from here. She supposed it was time she started tofocus on this race for the DA’s office. She needed a campaign team and about a million other things.

The next few months should be interesting.

For a couple of minutes, she allowed herself to relax. She felt good. Exhausted but good.

And she needed to sleep for days.

“Fin, brace yourself. We’ve got a tail, and he’s determined to nose up to our rear bumper.”

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