All He Has Left(54)

“Call the police. Tell them the truth. It might just save your life.”





FORTY


Jake drove fast back across Austin. His emotions were swinging on a wild pendulum. On one hand, he felt a hesitant relief at the possibility that Piper might actually be in safe hands—even if those were the blood-covered hands of his crazy father-in-law. Piper being OK was all that mattered to him. On the other hand, he was mad as hell. Lars Kingston had created a toxic family culture where money, power, and pleasure—and the protection of all three—were at the center of their entire world. A dark world that had damaged his own children in so many crippling ways. As Lord Acton said, Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Steve had fallen victim to it. The dominoes that tipped over in the aftermath were devastating. Three members of the Kingston family were now dead—along with many others. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Lars had decided to take everything to the next level by bringing in his own hired gun. If it were up to his father-in-law, Jake also would be dead right now. And then Lars would finally get what he’d wanted from the moment Sarah had died—Piper.

But Jake wasn’t going to let that happen. He’d been thinking about where his father-in-law might have taken Piper, assuming she was now with him. Jake doubted Lars would simply drive her back to his estate up on the hill. The whole family was probably there, and now in even more despair because of Steve’s death. Lars would want more control over the situation. He would want time to manipulate the entire narrative around how he’d somehow gotten Piper back himself. To make sure his hands were clean with all that had happened. His father-in-law owned a secluded house on heavily wooded acres that backed up to Lake Austin.

Jake had been there only one time. Two months after Sarah had died, Lars had asked to meet with Jake privately. It was there that Lars had made his first request—or demand—that Piper come live with them instead of remaining with Jake. That conversation didn’t go well, of course. And things had gone from bad to worse from there. Jake didn’t think even Janice knew about the house. It wasn’t decorated as if she had been involved. There were no frills. The modern glass house was bare bones furniture-wise and felt more like a man cave for someone super wealthy. Jake figured that was exactly what it was. A place off the map where Lars Kingston had his private sexual trysts and affairs.

Once back in West Austin, Jake followed the winding path of Westlake Drive as it cut through the hills near the river until he finally arrived at a gated driveway surrounded by trees. Jake had no idea what the code for the gate was, so he parked the truck just outside. Then he climbed over the gate and began to quickly make his way down a driveway covered with gray-and-black pavers. The house was not visible through the trees from the road. Jake wondered if the hit man who had killed Eddie Cowens and his mother could also be at the house. Would Lars keep a guy like that around as added protection? While Jake desperately wanted to have his daughter back, he also needed to be careful.

Jake finally reached a point in the driveway where he could see the two-story white stucco house with black trim in front of him. Directly behind it were the waters of Lake Austin. Jake paused, searching. There were no cars parked out front. But he would expect Lars to use the three-car garage.

The completely private house had expansive windows throughout, front and back. Jake began looking window to window. So far, he didn’t see any movement inside. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe Lars hadn’t brought her back here. But then he spotted the man suddenly move past the expansive glass-front entry. Jake’s heart started beating even faster. Piper had to be here, too. He could think of no other reason why Lars would be at this place all by himself on a day like today.

Jake stayed near the tree line but carefully began approaching the house. His eyes continued to search window to window. There was no sign of his daughter yet, and no sign of anyone else being at the house other than his father-in-law. Which gave Jake the confidence to approach boldly. It was time to end this right now. It was time to get his daughter back. He hustled up the rest of the driveway and then peeled off on the walkway up to the huge glass front doors. One more quick peek around inside the house. No Piper in sight. If she was here, where was she? He was about to find out.

Jake banged on the door. Seconds later, Lars appeared in the foyer and froze when he spotted Jake standing there. Jake could tell by the look on the man’s face that his father-in-law was shocked to see him. Was the front door locked? Would Lars even answer it? Or would Jake have to find a way to break in? He got his answer a moment later when Lars finally stepped up to the door, unlocked it, and then opened it before blocking the entrance with his big body.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Lars said.

“Where is she?”

“I’m calling the police right now.”

“Do it!” Jake yelled at him. He could feel every emotion he’d been carrying around inside him for the past several hours rise to the surface. The fear, the panic, the desperation. It began pouring out. “Because I can’t wait to tell them how you hired a hit man to find me and kill me. A killer who has left a trail of dead bodies throughout the city. You’re going to prison, Lars. I’m going to make sure of it!”

“You’re a lunatic. They’ll never believe you over me.”

“Where is Piper?” Jake repeated.