A Flicker of Doubt - Tim Myers [72]
“The barrels,” I said softly. “You were dumping something illegally and she caught you at it.” The pieces all began to fall into place. “You stashed them on Cyrus’s land, didn’t you? They’re somewhere near here. That’s why you had to go after him, so you could get control of his land.”
“Amazing, you got it on the first try. Too bad it’s not going to do you any good. As soon as I take care of you, I’m going to finish Jeanie off, too.” Runion glanced back at his SUV, and I didn’t doubt she was back there. He continued, “She deserves it if anybody does; she’s nearly as guilty as I am in all this. Maybe a lover’s suicide pact between you two will work for the police. They bought Becka’s death without much problem.” He smiled, but there wasn’t the slightest bit of warmth as he added, “I’m really going to enjoy killing Jeanie. I can’t believe how many times she’s lied to me in the last hour. You know, my life would have been so much easier if everyone had cooperated with me to begin with.”
His finger tightened on the trigger, so I said, “You’re right, I was lying. I’ve got the packet I just didn’t know what was in it. I’ll get you what you came for, but you have to let Jeanie go if I do.”
“So she can run to the police and lie to them, too? I don’t think so.”
“Runion, I’m offering you a head start. If you kill us both, the police will find what you’re looking for before you will.”
“I didn’t think you had the papers,” he said.
“Hey, a man’s entitled to bluff, isn’t he?” I was hoping he’d buy it, since it was something Runion would have done himself. If I fed him enough of a premise of trickery and double-crossing, it might just save my life, and Jeanie’s, too.
The gun lowered somewhat, and his finger eased. “So where are they?”
“Not just yet. She goes free first.”
“Why do you keep trying to save Jeanie? She’s far from innocent here.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Harrison, there’s no way I’m going to let her go.”
“Okay,” I said, thinking fast “Then bring her upstairs with us. Once you see what I’ve got, we’ll make the trade.”
He thought he had me, I could see it by the way his pupils dilated. I was going to have to do something; when we got to my apartment, but at least I’d bought some time.
“Yeah, I guess that will work. Let me get her.” He jabbed the gun in my direction. “If you run, she’s dead.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I said, and I meant it. There was no way I wanted Jeanie’s blood on my hands.
She was gagged and her hands were tied when he pulled her out of the SUV.
“Untie her, Runion.”
“No way, and I’m not taking the tape off her mouth, either. She can walk fine just the way she is.” He told Jeanie, “Don’t get any bright ideas. Harrison and I had a long talk while you were in the car. He knows you’re just as guilty as I am.”
As the three of us started for the front of the building, I said, “So you were the one who sent the goons to Becka’s apartment after she died.”
“Yeah, I knew she had a picture there, or some kind of evidence, but they didn’t find it.”
“That’s because I got there first.”
That caught his attention. “Good, I can get it when we’re upstairs, too.”
“Sorry, Markum’s keeping it in a safe place.”
“I knew you two were in on this together,” he snapped. “I’ll deal with him later.”
“There’s going to be a rash of suicides not even Morton’s going to buy,” I said as he pushed Jeanie forward.
“Don’t worry. Markum’s going to have an accident, and a bloody one at that.”
Oh, great. Now I’d gotten my best friend into the same jam I was in. I kept hoping for inspiration as we climbed the stairs, but none came. Maybe Markum had I seen what had happened and was waiting on us on the second-floor landing. The hallway was empty. It looked like our time had finally run out. Once we were all inside, Runion seemed to relax.
“So where’s the stuff?”
I had a sudden thought and decided there was nothing to lose by going for it. “The papers are in a storage bin on the roof.”
“Come on,