Page 77 of One in a Million
“It’s fine.”
She took her time selecting a Marlboro from the pack on the table, lighting it, and exhaling a column of smoke. “Now, what’s your business, FBI man? If it’s something you’re selling, I’m not buying.”
“I’m afraid it’s bad news. Are you aware that Lila’s car rolled off the road and crashed because the brakes failed?”
“Of course. Would it be too much to say that I’m sorry she survived that accident? After what she did to Frank, she deserved to die. And it would have simplified everything.”
“The wreck wasn’t an accident. Somebody tampered with the brakes. A seal on the master cylinder had been loosened.”
“Well, that certainly wasn’t my doing. I wouldn’t know the master cylinder from a hole in the ground.”
Sam didn’t smile. “We already know who was responsible. The young man who did the damage worked here as a stable hand. He’s been arrested and jailed—and he identified your son, Darrin, as the man who hired and paid him.”
“You’re sure? Kids will say anything these days.” Her expression hadn’t changed, but the hand holding the cigarette shook, spilling ash onto the coffee table.
“He had the cash on him—the bills can be dusted for fingerprints. But he described Darrin perfectly.”
Madeleine took a deep drag on her cigarette. “There has to be some mistake.”
“No mistake,” Sam said. “I’m here to give you a heads-up. Darrin is to be arrested and charged with attempted murder—a felony. For that, he could get as much as ten years in prison, maybe more. Of course, he’d lose his law license. He’d never be able to practice again. And his wife would have to raise their baby without a father. I’m guessing she’d probably remarry. She’s—”
“Stop!” Madeleine seized his arm. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I know you love your son and want to help him. There’s a way—it’s called the truth, and we know what it is.”
Madeleine stubbed out her cigarette in a porcelain ashtray. “All right, since you’ve already guessed. Darrin was following orders—my orders. He was only being a good son. He shouldn’t be punished for that.”
“But he did take part in the crime,” Sam said. “If you confess, he can still be charged, but only as an accessory. He’ll still lose his license and might have to serve some time. That would depend on your lawyer.”
“And his life will still be ruined. All right, Agent Rafferty, I know when a man’s come to negotiate. How can I make this go away?”
Sam laid his briefcase on the coffee table. She seemed almost too willing to cooperate. He sensed a possible ambush coming, but he needed to follow this lead.
“I saw you talking with Louis Divino at the memorial,” he said. “He’s an old acquaintance of mine from Chicago. How well do you know him?”
Madeleine lit a fresh cigarette. “I hardly know him at all. We’d met at a party, and he stopped by to say hello, that’s all.”
“Then how do you explain this? My colleague in Abilene sent it to me.” Sam opened his laptop and brought up Madeleine’s phone records. “That’s Divino’s private number. You made these calls to him in the days before Frank was killed.”
“He wanted me to invest in a business he owns. I turned him down.”
“But according to these records, you called him several times. Why, if you turned him down? I know the kind of business Divino is in. So far he’s never been caught. But his luck won’t hold out forever. And when it runs out, he won’t be going down alone. What can you tell me about this?” He brought up Madeleine’s bank statement, showing the $50,000 withdrawal. “This money was taken out three days before Frank’s death.”
“That money was personal. It had nothing to do with Divino or Frank.”
“I’m not sure I believe you, Madeleine. But there’s one thing I know for sure. You’re a good mother. You’d do anything to restore this ranch to your children. As long as Frank was in charge, there was no way he would give up control—and he was healthy enough to live for another twenty years. But with him out of the way, Lila would be vulnerable.” Sam closed the laptop. “Was there anything to the rumor that Frank wanted to marry a younger woman—maybe this one?” He showed her the photo on his phone.
“I heard that rumor. If there was any truth to it, wouldn’t that have been a reason for Lila to kill him?”
“I don’t think so. Frank was her protection. Even with a prenup, a divorce would have been a hard step to consider. But his death would leave her wide open to attack—as it did.” He slipped the phone into his pocket. “I think you paid a hit man to kill Frank, Madeleine. But you didn’t do it for yourself. You did it for a totally unselfish reason. You did it for your children.”
A single tear trickled down her cheek. That tear told him more than words.
“So, what now?” she asked. “How do I save my son and his family?”
“And Jasmine?”
She laughed, a raw, humorless sound. “Jasmine will be fine. She hasn’t done anything illegal. The only thing my daughter is guilty of is falling in love.”