Heads You Lose - Lisa Lutz [104]
“Did you kill Terry?” she asked.
“Technically a pulmonary embolism did.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew he’d give the land back to you.”
“What about Harry?”
“He was going to ruin everything,” Hart replied. “He knew Shady Acres was worth nothing. He found details in Terry’s files. He would have made you pay him off. I know his kind.”
“Right. What about Doc Egan?”
“Sorry that was so brutal,” Hart said. “I had to make it fast.”
“But why’d you kill him?”
“I thought I’d get rid of him before you got too attached.”
“I wasn’t getting attached.”
“Then let’s just say it was his time.”
“Anyone else?” Lacey asked.
Hart casually searched his memory bank, as if it were possible he killed someone and did not recall.
“I think that’s it.”
“So you didn’t have anything to do with Doc Holland’s plane crashing?”
“Sometimes planes just crash, Lacey.”
“Right.”
“Can’t say I’m broken up about it,” Hart said, letting a smile creep over his face.
“Did Holland kill my parents?” Lacey asked.
“Yes. Why do you think he was paying me off all those years?”
“Because he wasn’t a real doctor.”
“Nope. That’s what Sook thought. But if that was all Holland had done, he would have moved to another town that needed a quack. I had him by the balls for years. But then I had to lay low when I was working out this plan. As soon as he thought I was out of the picture, he made a run for it. Then the new doc moved to town.”
“That was his son. Did you know that?”
“I did not,” Hart said, clearly taken aback. “You know, that makes me feel better about killing him and all. Karma.”
As Hart stared at his ex-fiancée, Lacey did her best to avoid any display of the tangled emotions that were fighting to surface.
“What do you say we get out of here?” Hart casually suggested.
“Sure,” Lacey replied. “Just let me finish packing.”
“One suitcase,” Hart said. “Anything else we need, we can buy. Between the two of us, we got all the money we need.”
Hart picked up a grungy backpack that was on the floor next to the window. He unzipped it, revealing several bundles of hundred-dollar bills.
“How much is in there?” Lacey asked.
“One hundred and eighty-five thousand.”
“All that money you got from Doc Holland?”
“And a few other business ventures. But don’t worry, darling. Wherever we end up, I plan on going legit. We’ll be just like your all-American family. I’m thinking picket fence, 1.5 children, barbecues, soccer games, maybe I’ll even buy a lawn mower. The kind you can sit on and drive around. And I’ll have a real job.”
“Doing what?” Lacey asked.
“I’m thinking about starting a hedge fund.”
Lacey and Hart could hear a truck stirring up gravel on the driveway. Then the engine died.
“You expecting someone?” Hart asked.
Lacey raced to the window and peered out.
“It’s Paul,” she said. “You should hide.”
“Hide? I haven’t seen Paul in ages. We have a lot of catching up to do.”
“Please don’t kill him.”
“Got any beer?” Hart said, disappearing into the kitchen.
Lacey opened the front door as she heard Paul fumbling with his keys.
“Stay calm,” she said.
“I am calm,” Paul replied.
Paul pushed his way past his sister, just as Hart exited the kitchen uncapping a Budweiser.
“Fuck,” Paul said, quickly losing his calm.
“Long time no see,” said Hart with a smile.
“I thought you were dead.”
“Nope. That was somebody else.”
“Lacey, have you called the cops?” Paul asked.
“Nobody’s calling anybody,” Hart replied.
“I think you’re mistaken,” said Paul. He started patting his pockets, looking for his cell phone. “Damn, must have left it in the car. Where’s the phone, Lace?”
Paul headed for the kitchen. Lacey blocked his path.
“Let’s stay calm, Paul.”
After the events of the past few weeks, Lacey’s nerves had flatlined. She hardly had to fake it anymore. She was almost calm.
“I got that the first time, Lace. What’s going on here?”
“I wouldn’t know where to begin or end,” Lacey said.
“How about you start with the headless guy. Who was that?”
“Brice,