Cold Pursuit - Carla Neggers [119]
She went around to the driver’s side of the car and got in behind the wheel. Very calmly she reached inside her shearling jacket and withdrew the pistol that Kyle had given her last night. She slipped it into her right outer pocket and looked at Nora with a small, satisfied smile. “You’re in trouble, my darling daughter.”
“I’m not your daughter,” Nora said, “and I hate you.”
“Fine by me.” Melanie stuck the key in the ignition.
“Where are you taking me?”
“To a cold and lonely place where you’ll die a cold and lonely death, just like Drew Cameron did. The cold will make you sleepy after a while. You’ll stop shivering. You’ll go to sleep. It’ll be nice. I’ll tell police that you went to meet Devin. They’ll believe me.”
“You’re Kyle Rigby’s partner.”
“Kyle’s dead. I’m marrying your father on Valentine’s Day.”
“No, you’ll die a horrible death and suffer for all eternity in the fires of hell.”
Something about her tone—her moral certainty—made Melanie frightened for the first time in years. But her fear didn’t last. She would take Nora to an isolated spot in the mountains. With the weather, the location, the approach of nightfall, there was virtually no chance anyone would find her in time.
After she turned Thomas over to Scott Thorne, Jo walked back down to the stone fireplace and took a call from Mark Francona. She’d been expecting one. He didn’t ask her about the shooting. “The police received another tip. They’ve located their messenger.” He spoke without any hint of relief. “She said she didn’t come forward because she assumed there were other witnesses.”
“She saw the driver?”
“A woman. Blond hair—probably a wig.”
“Rigby had a partner.”
“We’re assuming he was involved in Bruni’s death.”
“He was.” Jo paused. “Mark, Thomas Asher’s fiancée recommended he hire Rigby.”
“Where is she now?”
“With Nora. I have to go.”
She dropped her phone and drew her weapon as she ran out the door, not surprised, somehow, when Elijah fell in beside her.
“It’s Melanie,” Jo said.
“I’ll find Nora.”
“Elijah—”
He shot ahead of her, charging out to the parking lot toward Melanie’s car. Jo ran behind him, leveling her Sig at the driver’s side. The window whirred down. Melanie looked shocked. “What on earth—”
“Hands up where I can see them,” Jo ordered.
“Why? What—”
“Hands up. Now.”
Melanie’s hands went up. “Good heavens. Relax.”
On the other side of the car, Elijah ripped open the passenger side and grabbed Nora, even as she screamed, “Melanie’s got a gun!”
He half carried, half dragged Nora behind his truck and told her to stay down.
Melanie sighed at Jo. “Nora’s talking nonsense. Where would I get a gun? I’m just taking her back to the Whittakers’ house. I know she’s upset, but to be this irresponsible and inconsiderate is beyond the pale.”
“Keep your hands where I can see them,” Jo said. “No sudden moves.”
“Why are you treating me like a criminal?”
Jo kept her weapon on her. “The police have a witness who can place you behind the wheel of the car that killed Alexander Bruni. You’re in a tough situation, Melanie. Your partner’s dead. He took us on because he knew he had no choice. It was kill or be killed by his own people. You need to cooperate.”
Her eyes shone with tears. “Please. Stop. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You and Rigby have failed, Melanie. I’m guessing the people you work for don’t like failure. The police are combing Drew’s cabin for evidence. If you left behind so much as an eyelash when you and your buddy Rigby killed Drew Cameron, they’ll find it.”
Melanie didn’t move, but a kind of calm came over her. She leveled her gaze on Jo with a bloodlust that was soul deep. “Drew died believing he’d exchanged his life for his son’s.”
“That’s not what happened,” Elijah said, cold, controlled.
“It is what happened,” Melanie said, addressing Jo, clearly