If I Should Die_ A Novel of Suspense - Allison Brennan [89]
“You have no idea. When she was eight, she pushed her best friend down an exploration shaft in the Kelley Mine just to see what would happen. Those shafts are at least fifty feet. My father called it the Hell Hole and used to dump his problems down there. Our father was an evil bastard.”
Sean barely refrained from commenting about pots and kettles.
“When Bobbie was ten, she shot my dog because I ratted her out when she broke Butch’s fingers. Before I banished her, she nearly poisoned Abby and Ricky, to get back at me for chastising her in front of a guy she was horny about. Do you know what she did to her husband?”
“I do.”
He seemed surprised, then shook his head with a half-smile. “You are a masochist. Why do you care? Most people would be running away screaming by now.”
“Bobbie is a fucking psychopathic bully, and I hate bullies.”
Swain stared at him, assessing Sean. Sean let him.
“Can you protect my son?”
“Yes.”
“I’m dead serious, Rogan. Protect him or his fate is your fate. I still have friends on the outside. Friends no one even knows about.”
For the first time, Sean felt a twinge of concern. How could he protect Ricky if he didn’t know where he was hiding? Could he protect Ricky? How deep was the kid involved with Bobbie’s people? Would he even trust Sean?
“You tell me what you know, and I will protect your son or die trying.”
That satisfied Swain. He sat back down. Sean also sat.
“Talk to Jon Callahan.”
Sean shook his head. “He’s playing with her.”
Swain laughed. “Hardly. He wants to kill her.”
“Why? Because she’s a whack job?”
“Whack job. I like that. No. She killed Joe Hendrickson.”
Sean couldn’t prevent the surprise from registering on his face. “Why?”
“Because Joe was talking to the wrong people.”
“Be more specific.”
“I can’t. I still got to live in this prison, Rogan.”
“And was Joe close to Jon and Henry?”
“Yes. And Joe looked out for Ricky, too, especially after Abby died. Joe and I didn’t like each other, but I respected him. There are no honest men in the world, but if there were, it’d be Hendrickson. He left me alone, I left him alone. Bobbie had to make it look like an accident—a heart attack—because a lot of people would have been angry with her for taking him out. Jon was in over his head and Jimmy was panicking. Then Joe’s sons show up in town with this foolish idea for a resort.”
“Why does anyone care about the resort? It’s not a big place.”
“But it’s people. Outsiders. Hikers.” Swain realized that Sean didn’t get that. “Let’s say this. The product has changed. They need more space, warehouses, warmth. If you looked at the town’s gas and heating bill, you’d be surprised.”
They were growing pot. “There has to be more to this than a little weed,” Sean said.
“Little? Hardly. And there is. And that’s where the problem is. Talk to Jon, if you can. He’s changed. It got personal.”
“And it’s not personal for you?”
“It’s business for me. I’ve protected my son as best I can from in here.” He tapped his finger again. Maybe it was more personal than even Swain admitted to himself. “Bobbie wants to teach Ricky the family business, knowing I promised Abby he’d have a real life. She thinks it would be funny. And if he doesn’t join her, she’ll kill him. Not so much to get back at me, though that’s part of it. But because she does not let anyone tell her no.”
“Sweet little sister.”
“Do not underestimate her.”
“She must have a weakness.”
“It depends what you consider a weakness. She’s incapable of caring about anything except her goal. She likes to hurt people, and she won’t hesitate. You can’t reason with her. She’s manipulative and a liar. She has a wicked, hair-trigger temper—though I’ve heard she’s worked to control it. Our dad always said her temper would get her killed.”
“Thank you.” Sean rose, then turned back and said, “How is it personal with Jon?”
“Bobbie killed the woman Jon loved.”
“And she killed the woman you loved.”
Swain leaned forward. “That’s why I’m helping Jon, even though he turned his back on me years ago.” He called, “Guard! I’m ready.” He said to Sean,