Dead Even - Mariah Stewart [115]
“You’re kidding.” Will leaned forward as well, but the face wasn’t familiar to him, either. He reached down and patted the man’s pockets until he found a wallet, then carefully removed it, opened it, and took out the driver’s license.
“Burton J. Connolly,” Miranda read over Will’s shoulder. “Who is he? I don’t know that name.”
“I do,” Will told her. “Burton Connolly is the name of the owner of the black pickup that followed us from the prison.”
“What black pickup? What are you talking about?” Miranda stared at him.
“When we were leaving the prison—after we spoke with Vince the other day—there was a black pickup parked in the lot. Whoever was behind the wheel picked up a map and held it in front of his face just as we were walking past. Well, naturally, it drew my attention.”
“Naturally,” Miranda said dryly. “I don’t remember seeing him or the truck.”
“Well, it was there. I didn’t catch the plate at the time, but I did notice some dings on the rear fender. The day we arrived here, when I went to move the car, the same truck passed by.”
“How did you know it was the same truck?” she asked.
“The dings in the back fender. Too much of a coincidence. So I called Evan Crosby and asked him to run the tags for me. The truck is registered to Burton Connolly. How likely do you think it is that there’s another Burton Connolly in the neighborhood this week?”
“So what do you think happened here?” Annie asked. “You think he knifed Rob, left him for dead, then Rob got a shot or two off before he died?”
“No way.” Aidan shook his head. “Rob was dead before he hit the ground.”
He bent over Burt’s body, inspected it, then stood up and said, “I can tell you this much, our friend here didn’t kill Rob.” Aidan stood with his hands on his hips. “Rob’s throat was cut, one fast clean cut, side to side. Whoever killed him would have been sprayed with blood. Even if he’d come at Rob from behind, there’s going to be blood on his hands and arms, at the very least. This guy’s hands, shirt, they’re clean.”
“Then he was working with someone else,” Annie said, and at that moment, the three agents turned to look at the house.
“Dear God, Mara . . .” Miranda took off toward the front of the house. “Will . . . the back . . .”
When Aidan started behind them, Annie grabbed his shirt and held on.
“No, no,” she told him fiercely. “If Jules is in there, you cannot be a part of this. If you’re planning on marrying my sister, you cannot be the man who brings down her daughter’s father, understand? If Miranda or Will needs help, that will be a different situation. But right now, leave it to them. Get on the phone and get the Lyndon police on their way, but stay out of the house unless they need you in there. If you plan on being that girl’s stepfather, you cannot be involved in Jules’s arrest. . . .”
“Turn around, Mara, and go on back up the stairs.” Jules stood inside the open front door, his gun pointed at the heart of his ex-wife. “Quietly, but quickly, we’re going to get Julianne, and then the three of us are leaving. Together. That should make you happy.”
“No,” Mara said softly. “I’ve waited seven years for her to come back. I’m not giving her up. And neither of us is going with you.”
“She isn’t yours to give or to keep. She’s mine,” Jules sneered. “I’m out of time and well out of patience, Mara. Get her. Now. I don’t have time to discuss this, and I don’t have time to argue.”
“I can’t let you take her back there, Jules. Please. You’ve had her all these years. . . .”
“Don’t waste your time begging, Mara. And don’t bother to turn on the tears. It’s not going to make a damned bit of difference.”
“Jules, listen—”
“I’m out of time, you stupid cow. Move. Get her and bring her down here now, or I’ll shoot you where you stand. I should have done it years ago.”
“Daddy?” The small voice from the top of the steps floated uncertainly to the room below. “Daddy?”
“Get your things, and hurry, baby. Daddy’s come to take you back. You and Mommy are coming with me.”
Julianne, still in her nightgown, started down the steps, her eyes on her father.
“You