“I know you didn’t.” Merrimack’s black eyes were steady, no longer suspicious. “You deleted that security footage to protect her.”

“I wasn’t going to allow her to go to jail. I didn’t care about myself, I still don’t. But you’ve got to understand. My brothers and sister, they went through a lot in that house. And Miss Aurora, she was the one who kept us all going. Lane was especially close to her, and he never would have gotten over it if she had been sent to prison.”

“I gather her motive was your father’s affair with your brother’s wife?”

“Estranged wife. And yes, that’s what she told me.”

“So you two spoke about the killing.”

“Yes, we did. After that finger was found in the dirt, I just had an inkling. I can’t tell you exactly why. I called her from the farm and asked her to meet me. No one saw us. She told me what had happened, and I decided what we were going to do about it. She was adamant that we let things lie, but I knew that you all weren’t going to be satisfied without a defendant. I put it to her like this—she could either let me go in for her, or she could watch Lane self-destruct knowing that she was dying of cancer behind bars. I told her . . . well, let’s just say we both knew that Lane was not going to do well with that. She saw the logic. And so I framed myself.”

“You forgot about the security cameras out at the Red and Black.”

“I know, right.” Edward tapped his temple. “Missed that one.”

“It’s really hard to get away with murder.”

“She was supposed to have thrown away the knife.” Edward crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m really pissed at her that she didn’t. But it is what it is. So what happens now? I get downgraded to an accessory after the fact and stay in the system for a while? I mean, there’s obviously a lot of proof now, right? From what you all got from Miss Aurora’s car and quarters?”

“That’s right, yes. We found blood and fibers in her trunk, both your father’s and her own. It was a struggle for her to muscle the body in and out of there, and she cut herself in the process. We also found a set of shoes with mud that matches samples from the river’s edge in her closet. There were as well all kinds of debris stuck to the undercarriage of that vehicle. What we didn’t find were any third-party stains anywhere. So we’re thinking she acted alone, even though I’m surprised she had the strength to handle that body.”

“Oh, I’m not. I’ve watched her muscle around huge vats of boiling water and sauce all my life. Cancer certainly weakened her, but she was so strong—she also told me he had stiffened up from the stroke after he collapsed? So it wasn’t like he was all loose.”

“Back to your question about what happens next with you.” Merrimack shrugged. “It’s up to the district attorney to decide what she wants to do. It could be probation, or they may want to make an example out of you.”

“Ah, yes, rich people getting away with stuff.”

“It’s a fact.”

“That why you weren’t particularly fond of us, Detective?”

Merrimack smiled for the first time in a natural way. “I don’t like murderers. That’s who I don’t like. But I will say, you cooperated with the investigation all the way—although that was because you wanted to get arrested.”

“I had my reasons, it’s true.”

“I’m prepared to suggest you get heavy probation, no time. It’ll be in my report. You definitely broke the law, so that will have to be addressed, but if there was ever a right reason? You had it. Oh, and if you tell anyone I said that, I’ll deny it.”

The detective got to his feet and extended his hand. “I’ll try and spring you as soon as I can.”

“Don’t worry. Here or out there. It really doesn’t matter.”

As Edward reached forward, the cuff on his prison uniform got pulled back and Merrimack’s eyes went to the wound there.

“I think it does matter,” the detective said. “Actually, it matters a lot. You’re going to wait here, okay?”

“I’m not going back to the cell?”

“No. When I told you I was going to try and get you sprung fast, I meant it.”

Three hours later, Edward was changing back into the street clothes he had been wearing when he’d been arrested after his “confession.” And yet as he signed for his wallet and his keys, he told himself they weren’t actually going to let him leave.

This whole bail thing, pending a hearing on charges of accessory after the fact, tampering with evidence, and obstruction of justice, was not what he had planned. Then again, he hadn’t really budgeted on getting kidnapped in South America, becoming a cripple, falling into alcoholic status, or turning himself into a murderer, either.

Life had a way of surprising people, though.

“Thank you,” he said as he accepted his things out of the slot.

Like a lot of the jail complex, the hall he was in was bald of decoration, nothing but an oatmeal-colored chute that took a person from the exit procedure to what he guessed was his brother Lane waiting for him outside that steel door at the far end.

How the guy had managed to pull together a quarter of a million dollars on short notice, he hadn’t a clue. Then again, their mother’s jewelry collection was worth that in spades. Maybe a bondsman had accepted a necklace or a ring as collateral?

“You’re all set, then.”

As Ramsey spoke up behind him, Edward wheeled around at the man in surprise. “Good God, Ramsey, for a big man, you move so quietly.”

“Years of careful training.” The deputy acknowledged the woman behind the Plexiglas with a wave. “And maybe I had a pretty good knack for it to begin with.”

The two of them stared at each other.

Edward intended to say something jocular. Instead, his voice grew rough. “I owe you my life. I don’t think I’ve ever said that to you before.”

“You did, actually. You were barely conscious at the time, but you did say it.”

“Oh. Well, I’ll tell you again, then. I owe you my life.”

“I’m glad you’re out of here.”

“I may be going back in. This could be just a reprieve.”

“It won’t be. I know your judge. She’ll do you right, just like the D.A. did. We take care of our own.”

“We shall see. No more dead bodies, though. I can promise you that. The cancer is out of the family, and the rest of us can start healing now. Whatever the hell that looks like.”

“Good. And you can always call me. Miss Aurora’s family is my family.”

As the two embraced, Edward had to smile a little. It was like wrapping his arms around an oak tree.

“I’m back to work, then,” Ramsey said, his broad, handsome face smiling. “Be good out there.”

“I will.”

Edward watched the man disappear through the other steel door. And then as the thing shut and clicked into place, it was hard to think of what to do next. Then again, all he had to do was get into a car. That was a purpose, right? And something he could probably handle.

Turning around, he limped down the corridor, his bad leg even worse than usual, all those nights without sleep catching up to him, his stomach growling for food.

Edward had to put his shoulder into the door and push as hard as he could to get it open—

There was a long black Mercedes waiting at the curb in the darkness. With a beautiful brunette woman leaning against the driver’s-side door like a boss.

She was wearing blue jeans and a Kentucky University blue sweatshirt.

Edward stepped out and let the jail’s door close on its own. “That sweatshirt is an abomination.”

“I know. I wore it just for you.”

He started to shuffle forward. “I bleed red, you know. University of Charlemont all the way. I can’t stand your team.”

“Like I said, I know. And I’m still angry at you, so this is my passive-aggressive way of letting you know it.”

God, he hated his limp, especially in front of her. But, oh, he could smell her perfume, and he loved the way the security lights on the back corner of the building made her hair gleam.