Stanek
Billy Ray was carving ribs for us outside by the grill. The mouthwatering smell brought my stomach to life as I held the plates. He’d baked potatoes on the grill, at low gas, and he put one small potato on each plate, then several ribs and a half-inch slice of red onion, grilled with seasoning.
I carried the plates to the table, then brought us silverware and ketchup, my brother’s must-have at every meal, from soup to salad to peanuts.
“I rang the bell,” he said, by way of an apology. “I hope it’s okay.”
“Sure,” I replied, a slight frown landing on my face. “Would you like some ribs?”
He gave the rack dripping juices in the tray a longing look, running his hand over his potbelly, but then said, “No, thank you, I just ate.”
I set my fork down. “What do you need, Detective?”
He handed me the bag. “Well, I have something for you. We released your laptop and your phone from evidence.”
I took the bag and looked inside briefly before setting it down on the table. “Thanks.”
“And I have some news. Colton Blake is out on bail.”
“What?” Billy Ray snapped, springing to his feet. “You let him out?” He dropped the fork onto his plate with a loud clatter. “Damn it to hell!”
The detective shrugged, staring at the pavement for a moment before looking at me.
I glimpsed anger in his eyes, and powerlessness.
“What can I say . . . he’s connected. The judge granted it; he probably likes to live.
And the prosecution doesn’t have much anyway.
They can’t place him at the scene, except for that very inconclusive video.
Now Blake is stating that he spoke of lavender in his closing argument because he knew it was relaxing, and by association, he wanted the jury to feel relaxed.
The only thing we have is traces of precisely the same methamphetamine that were found in his car.
They’re executing a search warrant today; they’ll probably find more on his clothes or in his house. Other than that, we have nothing.”
The image of Winston’s body, lying on the floor of his suite, haunted me for a brief heart-wrenching moment. “You have a witness who’s willing to testify.”
“No one’s willing to—” he started saying, but then asked, “Who?”
“Me. I’ll explain motive, means, everything.”
“Sis, no!” Billy Ray said. “No. Let’s just go away. Forget all this.”
“I can’t, Billy Ray. And he won’t harm me.” As I said the words, I realized why. I was the one who’d gotten away. The chase was still on, the thrill, driven by millennia of evolution hardcoded into his DNA. But at some point, his jilted love could turn into hatred.
“We can protect you,” Stanek said, making me laugh—a bitter laugh riddled with undertones of sorrow.
“He couldn’t find me for ten years,” I said to the detective. “We’ll be fine.” Billy Ray stared at me with worry in his eyes. “Thank you, Detective. I’ll send you an email from a secure account. You can only contact me through that.”
“Understood,” he said, plunging his hand into his pocket. “Oh, forgot to give you this.” He held out the key fob to my red Beemer, but I didn’t take it. “They’ll bring it over today.”
“Can you do me a favor?” I asked, walking him toward the gate. “Can you ask them to deliver it straight to Hertz? The contract is in the glove box, and Hertz can charge me for whatever fingerprint dust they need to clean off.”
“Sure thing,” he said, dropping the key fob into his pocket and offering his hand for a shake. “I might’ve said it before, but, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”
Then he left.
We ate quietly, the ribs warmed up on the grill but a little dry now. They were still delicious, but my mind wasn’t present. After nibbling a little, I pushed the plate away and tried my best to hide my tears from Billy Ray.
“What’s wrong, sis?”
I breathed deeply, blinking them away. “I destroyed lives, Billy Ray. Because of me, a man is dead. He was a good man, you know?” My voice shattered, turning into a whisper fraught with tears.
“Another one is going to jail, and I have to put him there to make things right. It’s just .
. . too much.” I started sobbing quietly.
Billy Ray pushed out his chair and stood, then came around the table and wrapped his arms around me, resting his head on my shoulder. “What do you want to do now?”
I gave it some thought, considering what would make the most sense. A new city. A new name. Starting over. Or stay in Vegas, relishing that blue sky. Buy a house, settle down by the desert I loved so much, and keep close to the places I’d shared with Winston.
“Let’s go home.”