The Last Mile (Amos Decker, #2)(58)

“It’s one theory, yes.”

“And the people who did it were the reason the Marses were put in Witness Protection in the first place?” asked Jamison.

Decker nodded.

Mars said, “But you’re talking a long time ago.”

“Some people never stop looking,” said Decker. “I speak from experience. So the passage of time means nothing.”

Jamison shot him a quick glance but said nothing.

“So can we find out for sure if my parents were, you know, in Witness Protection?”

“I have Agent Bogart running that down for us.”

“Bogart?” exclaimed Davenport.

“But it may take time,” added Decker.

“Then what do we do in the meantime?” asked Jamison.

“Like I told you before, we head back to Texas.”

“What about the guy who might have killed Regina Montgomery?” asked Davenport.

“I think he might already be in Texas.”

“Why?” asked Davenport.

“Because there’s a big piece of this that makes no sense to me.”

“Such as?” asked Jamison.

“Such as a man who kills. And saves someone at the same time.”





CHAPTER

31



DECKER AND MARS didn’t have the money for airfare, though Jamison and Davenport did. They were willing to put the men’s airline tickets on their credit cards, but both refused the offer. Mars said he did not feel right about accepting anything from anyone.

“We’ll drive back to Texas in the rental the FBI is paying for,” said Decker. “You two fly and we’ll meet you at the same motel.”

“Are you sure?” asked Davenport. “We can drive back with you.”

“Melvin and I can talk. And you two do not want to spend all that time in a car with us. When you land, you can get rooms there. Bogart emailed me and told me he had authorized government vouchers for five more days each for all of us. I’ll forward you the info and you can use them. When you get back, check in with the local police to see if anything has happened since we’ve been gone.”

“Happened?” said Jamison. “Like what?”

“Anything inexplicable.”

“And you don’t like inexplicable, that I know.”

“No, I don’t. I hate it, in fact.”

*



The women made their flight arrangements while Decker gassed up the car and packed his few belongings. Mars had done the same. The state of Texas had given him some money after he left prison, to purchase some clothes, shoes, and other essentials, along with a duffel bag to carry it in.

Decker had spoken with Mary Oliver before they’d left to return to Texas. She was busy preparing the paperwork to get Mars his official compensation from the state. She had also hinted to Decker that she had another strategy in mind and would fill him in later.

“What strategy?” he’d asked.

“To get Melvin what he really deserves after two decades in prison. Because twenty-five grand just doesn’t cut it.”

“How long will it take to drive?” asked Mars as he and Decker set off in the rental.

“Seventeen hours or more. It’s over a thousand miles.”

“We driving straight through?” asked Mars.

“I don’t know. We’ll switch off. See how it goes.”

“Decker, I ain’t driven a car for twenty-some years. I don’t even have a license.”

Decker looked askance at him. “What, you worried about getting pulled over?”

“Well, yeah. They’ll probably throw my ass back in prison.”

“I wouldn’t worry too much about that. If it comes to it, I’ll say I forced you to drive at gunpoint because I’m a prick.”

“Still a long drive, even for two.”

“I like to drive. It helps me think.”

“Well, if we’re going to switch off I should sleep while you drive. Then vice versa.”

“Before you do, let’s talk.”

“Still thinking about what I said in the gym?”

“Of course I am.”

“You got to see it from my perspective. It’s been my ass sitting in prison all this time. Sure I want to know the truth. But I’ve also got to figure out what I’m going to do with the rest of my life. And I’m scared shitless something is gonna mess this up and I’ll be going back to jail.”

Decker fingered the steering wheel and gazed out the windshield. They had reached Interstate 20 heading due west and he pressed his foot down on the gas. He set the cruise control and settled back in his seat.

“You can do both.”

“Can I?”

“When my family was murdered I spent every waking hour of my life trying to find out who killed them. Even when I slept I wasn’t away from it. I was obsessed.”

“And do you think that was good for you?”

“No, it wasn’t. I lost everything because of it. My job, my house, pretty much everything. But it didn’t matter to me.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’d already lost the only things that really meant something to me.”