Colton Christmas Protector (The Coltons of Texas #12)(50)

T.C. nodded. “Exactly.”

“In my investigation of his internet history,” he continued, “I also found proof that his computer was used to research faking a person’s death. He’d searched for old news stories about bodies being stolen from funeral homes and how burned bodies would be identified.”

“Hugh set up the burned body we thought was Dridgey-pooh?” Whitney asked, pressing a hand to her throat and looking ill.

“We already knew the medical examiner was paid off to lie and say the body was Father,” Alanna said.

Reid nodded his agreement. “Right, but we didn’t know who paid him off. Until now. I found proof in his bank records he sent the ME money before the guy disappeared.”

“He wanted us to think Eldridge had died?” Piper asked. “Why? I thought he was father’s friend?”

“To get the will read,” Zane supplied darkly. “I’m beginning to think he wasn’t as surprised by his inheritance as he wanted us to think.”

“I knew it,” Fowler grumbled, slamming a hand on the back of the settee where Whitney sat. “I’ll bury him!” He pulled his phone out and began jabbing the screen, his jaw tight.

“Hold on!” Reid put his hand over Fowler’s cell phone. “Don’t be rash and tip him off that we’re onto him. There’s more at stake here than just Eldridge’s will and control of Colton Inc.”

“You think he killed Dridgey-pooh?” Whitney squeaked, her eyes damp with tears.

Reid hesitated, startled anew by Whitney’s reaction. For years she’d endured the stigma of being a gold digger, but her distress seemed real.

“That’s what it’s beginning to sound like to me.” Zane finished his sandwich in one big bite and dusted crumbs from his hands.

“But if Father is dead, why not just produce his real body?” Piper asked. “Why fake his death and go to the lengths of stealing a burned body to pass off as Eldridge?”

T.C. grunted. “Good point.”

“There’s more,” Reid said, taking the reins of the meeting again. “Hugh also researched fatal doses of potassium chloride.”

“Potassium chloride? What the hell does that have to do with anything?” Fowler asked.

“For one thing, the internet search was made about a month before I gave Andrew what I thought was an injection of insulin.” When his siblings exchanged dubious looks, Reid added. “Potassium chloride is what they found in the vial I used.”

“Whoa.” T.C. plowed fingers through his hair and flopped back on the formal couch. “So you think Hugh could’ve been involved with his son-in-law’s death, too?”

“I do.”

“Involved? Hell, if he planted a fatal chemical in Andrew’s insulin vial, that’s intent. That’s premeditated murder,” Zane said, his voice taut with anger.

“He had opportunity. Pen says he had access to Andrew’s insulin vials to tamper with them. He could have withdrawn the insulin and filled the vial with potassium chloride concentrate when he visited their house. Or planted a bottle he’d tampered with before visiting. All he had to do then was sit back and wait for Andrew to inject himself with the fatal dose. Unfortunately for me, I administered the shot that killed him.”

“Wait,” Cord interrupted, raising a hand, “Pardon my asking, but if they found potassium chloride in the vial you used and you admitted to administering the shot...” He divided an awkward look between Piper and Reid, his unspoken question obvious.

“Why wasn’t I arrested?” Reid finished for him. “Because I passed a polygraph saying I didn’t know the real contents of the vial, that I had been trying to save Andrew, not hurt him. Because, ironically, Hugh Barrington went to bat for me, shooting down most of the department’s supposed evidence against me.”

“Because he’s a Colton,” Fowler said with his characteristic arrogance, “and the DA office knew better than try to ramrod a flimsy case against a Colton. He’d have been humiliated in court by our lawyers, and Eldridge would have seen the man’s career was ruined.”

Cord glanced to Piper and arched a dark eyebrow.

Reid pinched his nose, ashamed to admit there was probably a great deal of truth to Fowler’s claim.

Piper lifted her chin and patted Cord on the chest. “Because he didn’t do it.”

Reid twitched a half smile to Piper in appreciation of her support, then turned back to the rest of the family. “My point is, I’m working several different angles at this point. Hugh seems to have hidden a lot of dirty dealings and unsavory connections. He had a fake passport and a large sum of money in his home safe—”

“A getaway stash,” Cord, a bounty hunter familiar with such activity, confirmed.

“Right.” Reid rubbed his chin, trying to gather his thoughts for their next move.

“So Father’s scum-sucking attorney has not only cheated us for years,” Fowler began, his face growing florid as he ticked the items off on his fingers, “tried to convince us someone killed Eldridge—”

Whitney mewled a soft squeak of distress.

“—forged a fake will to give himself control of our company, and set up the murder of his son-in-law, which you got caught up in—but you want us to do nothing about it?” Fowler scoffed loudly and bitterly. “I guess I can see now why you were booted from the force.”