Page 96 of Necessary Evil
Her heart thudded loudly in her chest. “What about airport security cameras?” she asked. She cast about wildly for an alternative explanation. Maybe Richard had a brother and the brother was the one who had murdered those two people in California.
“They’re looking into it.”
Lucy broke away from Evan and started to rub her arms. It was really cold in here. If what they were saying was true, there were two Bobbys. One was her little brother, and the other one was a monster. She shook her head. “You don’t understand. I can’t doubt my brother. I’m the only one who believes in him.”
“There’s a reason for that,” Sentinel said. “Where is he now?”
“Atlantic City. I just talked to him. He was gutted about Jenny. I didn’t tell him it was initially being classified as a suicide, and he assumed it was a murder and that he was going to get charged with it.”
“There’s a reason for that,” Sentinel repeated.
“Ever since my father went to jail for a crime he didn’t commit, everyone’s been assuming that Bobby was guilty, whether he was or not. Something went missing from school? Bobby Bradford did it. Someone’s car got stolen? Bring in the Bradford boy for questioning. Like father, like son. Except my father was innocent.” Lucy was breathing hard and fighting back tears. “I am the only one who believes in Bobby. I can’t doubt him or he’ll be lost forever.”
“Lucy, what if he already is?” Evan said, and tried to pull her back into his arms.
She shook her head. “No. It’s all circumstantial evidence.”
“Think like a lawyer, for pity’s sake,” Sentinel said. “What do you think he’s doing in Atlantic City?”
“Playing blackjack.”
“Wrong.” Sentinel made a buzzing noise that caught the attention of a few people sitting at the bar. “He’s selling the OxyContin so it can’t be traced back to him. I’ll bet you…” Sentinel reached into his pocket, pulled out a handful of bills, and thrust the money at Warden’s chest. “Count that. I bet that much that when he comes back, he’ll say he was a big winner.”
“Circumstantial evidence,” she whispered. But Bobby had told her he was already up a thousand dollars. And from what she remembered, he wasn’t that good a card player.
“He’s pissed because he thought he’d have time to lay the background for a better alibi. Hell, I imagine he thought he’d gotten away with killing Sarah.”
“Jenny,” Evan corrected him quietly.
“That’s what I fucking said.”
Lucy looked at Evan, and he shook his head at her.
Okay, I won’t ask who Sarah is.
“I understand that you’re grieving, Sentinel. So am I. I want to find the killer as much as you do. But I can’t believe it’s my brother, and there isn’t evidence there to support that yet.”
Sentinel snorted. “It won’t matter anyway. Problem’s about to be solved. Just waiting on the phone call.”
“For fuck’s sake, shut up,” Evil growled.
“Piss up a rope.” Sentinel staggered back to the table and yelled over for another beer.
“Me or you?” Lucy asked Evan.
“Probably both of us.”
“Should he still be drinking?” She watched Sentinel down the next beer in several long swallows.
“I’ve got his keys, and when he passes out, Warden will carry him upstairs.”
“Do you think Bobby did it?” Lucy asked. She didn’t want to know the answer, but she felt she had to ask. If he believed Bobby was innocent, then maybe she could shake this terrible doubt.
“Excuse me,” Warden said, and walked back to the table where the purple-haired woman was waiting.
Evan shot a rueful look at his retreating back. He glanced everywhere except at Lucy, but when it became apparent she was still waiting for an answer, he said, “Yeah. I do.”
She took a seat before her legs could give out.