Exposed (Rosato & DiNunzio #5)(88)

“Yes, but she’s bleedin’ out.”

Bennie willed herself to stay calm. She told herself that head wounds could be bloody. Not all of them were fatal. Mary could survive this, but not much longer. There was so much blood on the floor. “Ernie, please, you need to get her to a doctor. You need to get her help. Can she talk? Is she sensate?”

“Sensate?”

“Can talk and think.”

“Don’t know about that.”

“Why are you showing me this?” Bennie struggled for emotional footing. She couldn’t bear to look at the picture any longer. She stole a peek at the door, directly behind him. She was facing it now. It only looked like one layer of wood and it was weathered.

“Tell me the password and I’ll get your partner to a doctor. The only chance she has is if you tell me the password.”

“How do I know you’ll do it?” Bennie glanced up at him, recognizing him now that her eyes had adjusted to the light. “So is this what you look like, Ernie?’”

Ernie pulled her blindfold down. “Tell me the password and I’ll save her life.”

“I don’t believe you. You’re going to let her die.”

“Tell me the password.”

“I’ll tell you the password, but I’m going to tell you something else first. Don’t you see what’s going on? I know Ray is here, but are you waiting for Mo? I bet you are. Let me tell you what’s going to happen when Mo gets here. They’re going to kill you.”

“Bullshit!” Ernie blurted out.

“Ernie, they’re using you. Mo is Ray’s brother-in-law. You’re the odd man out. What did they tell you is going to happen? What did they say the plan was? That you’re going to kill me and Mary, and then you’re all going to drive away? That’s not happening in a million years. You’re a loose end, just like Todd was a loose end. They’re going to kill you, Ernie.”

“You don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.”

“But before they leave, they’re going to stage the scene. They’re going to frame you for our murders the way they framed Simon for Todd’s murder. Don’t you see the pattern here?” Bennie kept talking because he didn’t stop her. “It’s Ray who makes the plan, isn’t it? He tells you what to do. He’s framing you for my murder and Mary’s. He made you take the photo of Mary, didn’t he?”

“Wrong again. He took it.”

“Who’s camera is it? It’s your camera, isn’t it?”

Ernie didn’t answer.

“I’ll take that as a yes. The photo’s not on Snapchat, is it? Of course not. You can try to delete it but that doesn’t work. The cops will still find it. It’s in the ether now. It’s in the cloud. Nothing you delete from a cell phone is ever deleted. You know that. You’re in security.” Bennie sensed she was making headway. He hadn’t kicked her again. “Hell, it’s probably a company phone, isn’t it? Ray did that for a reason, Ernie. He’s framing you for my murder and for Mary’s. In fact, he’s tricking you into framing yourself. You’re going to be dead as soon as Mo gets here.”

“This is crazy,” Ernie said, chuckling again.

“You must have a gun. You probably have a carry permit. I bet the only gun Ray wants to use is yours. Mark my words. Even if he has a gun or Mo does, they’re not gonna use theirs to kill me or Mary. Even if there’s a hunting rifle around, they’re not gonna use that either.” Bennie ignored her rib pain. It even hurt to talk. “But your handgun, yes. So they’re going to make up some story that makes it look like we killed you trying to get away. It’s gonna be three dead bodies up here, and you’re one of them. End of story.”

“Tell me your password if you want to save your partner’s life.”

“Ernie, what I’m saying is true.” Bennie bore down, terrified at the thought of losing Mary. “They’re family. Brothers-in-law. They trust each other. They’re not gonna take a risk that you’ll break ranks. Framing you and killing you solves everything. You’re going to be dead as soon as Mo—”

“Tell me your password or I’ll go down there right now and kill your partner.”

“You said you would take her to a doctor.”

“All right, I’ll take her to a doctor.”

Bennie knew he was lying. He wasn’t going to take Mary to a doctor, but she couldn’t take the chance. She told him her password, which was BEARLY12, after her first golden re triever. “But Ernie, be smart. Take Mary to a doctor. If you get her out of here, you can save yourself. Use her as an excuse. Take her and go.”

“Just like that. What a joke.”

“It could work,” Bennie said, desperate. “Tell Ray she needs to get to a doctor, then drop her off at the nearest hospital and keep going. You’ll be free. She’ll see a doctor.”

“Why would Ray agree to that?”

“Because it fits the facts better for a staged scene.” Bennie was making it up as she went along. She hadn’t figured out that part. “If she dies wherever she is, they can’t arrange the body or move it without someone knowing. Blood spatter. Blood evidence. You know how forensics works.”