Overkill(64)

Cal didn’t remark on any of the images, but Theo leaned toward him and, speaking in a low voice, confirmed what he’d already surmised. “That’s Kathryn Lennon.”

“No need to whisper,” Eban said. “In fact, you can mute it. I think you get the gist.”

Theo did as told and killed the sound.

Eban linked his hands and turned them inside out as he raised his arms high above his head and stretched. When he relaxed again, he said, “I hope you enjoyed the feature. I gave it a working title. Phase One of the Dismantling of the Homicide Case against Eban Clarke. What do you think?”

“How did you manage it?” Cal asked.

“To get the pictures of them?” He winked. “A little birdie told me that the two of them were in New Orleans this morning. They went to the special care facility, saw Rebecca and the administrator, then capped off their excursion with a visit to Mr. Pratt, her daddy. This raised my eyebrows. Also my hackles.

“I placed anonymous calls to a few media outlets beginning with our hometown’s CNN, and in no time at all, newsrooms across the nation started humming. Getting a spy on their return flight was a challenge, but money talks, let me tell ya.”

Cal scoffed and gestured toward the television. “What have you got, Eban? They were walking through the airport.”

“True. They weren’t caught in flagrante delicto. But you can’t deny the goo-goo eyes. You’d expect it from him. When he was playing football, he exploited his super-stud status. Or maybe he was trying to earn it. Who cares? Doesn’t matter,” he said.

“But for someone in Kate Lennon’s position, representing jurisprudence and all, anything less than a nun’s scruples makes for a situation that’s… hmm… sticky.” He grinned. “It hints that something unethical is afoot. It leads one to suspect that when they’re not simply walking through the airport they’re being naughty-naughty-naughty.

“What I anticipate?” he continued. “By dawn tomorrow, she’s going to be busy explaining those moonstruck gazes, defending herself against allegations of professional misconduct, stamping out this flare-up of salacious conjecture before it becomes a wildfire.

“At the very least, her integrity has been brought into question, and that’s all it takes, really. Once doubt is cast, we three know how quick Joe Public is to cry foul. The attorney general is up for reelection. Last thing he’ll want is a scandal. Bye-bye, Kathryn. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out.”

He happily slapped the tops of his thighs. “It’s almost too rich. Their churning hormones made my job of discrediting her easy. We’ve dodged a bullet, boys. For the time being.”

During the silence that ensued, Cal watched Eban closely, then softly asked, “What’s phase two?”

Eban played dumb. “Hmm?”

“You said that was phase one. What’s phase two?”

Eban chuckled and fired a fake pistol at him. “I never could pull anything over on you. Actually phase two is where you and Theo come into play.”

“Us?” Theo squeaked.

At the same time, Cal said, “Like hell.”

Eban said, “Hey, y’all, I can’t be the only one working on this. Think of what’s at stake for you two. If my prediction is wrong, and Lennon still has a job tomorrow, odds are good she’ll come gunning for you. At the risk of repeating myself, you can’t change your story without admitting to perjury.

“In which case, you’re both fucked. Probation will end. Off to jail you’ll be marched.” Looking at Theo, he said, “No more library full of books, no more of this swell little made-over abode you have here all to yourself, just the way you like it. See, Theo, in the Big House, you take a shit, somebody’s watching. They really go after scared little rabbits like you.

“And you,” he said, turning to Cal. “You’ll have to leave your cozy cottage and your pretty wife, who may decide you don’t deserve redemption after all and move on to the next sinner who needs the saving grace found between her legs.” He barked a laugh. “Your Melinda has got a great thing going. She’s got you believing that she fucks you because she wants to save your soul.”

Cal lunged from his chair toward Eban, but Eban was ready for him. He kicked Cal hard in the stomach. Cal fell back, landing on his butt. He was so furious, he didn’t even feel the pain. Through gritted teeth, he said, “If you come near me or my family again, I will kill you.”

Eban said, “Cross my heart and hope to die I won’t, after you implement phase two.”

“Which is what?” Theo asked in a thready voice.

“Well, Theo, the three of us need to put our heads together and figure something out. I’m relying on your egghead noggin to devise a fail-safe plan.”

“For Ms. Lennon?”

Eban’s joviality vanished. His saccharine mien turned malicious. “For Bridger. He’s the one who has the authority to pull the plug. Without him, nothing happens. Therefore, phase two is to knock the former quarterback out of his jockstrap.”





Chapter 28





You know how it’s always been between your ex and me. The man and I never could have a conversation without crossing swords. Yesterday was no different.”