Overkill(74)

“Forgive me,” Kate said, “but I sense some uncertainty in your voice.”

Melinda nodded. “Eban is like one of those petty gods in Greek mythology. He plays with people. He wrecks lives for no other reason than his own amusement. Cal sees that, he knows that, but he seems incapable of escaping Eban, even though he wants to.”

Her despair was so evident that neither Zach nor Kate spoke. Eventually, he said, “What happened last night when Cal got home after being with Eban and Theo?”

“Nothing. I was hurt and angry. When he came to bed, I pretended to be asleep. This morning, he left the house with a roll-aboard suitcase.” Tears once again filled her eyes. “He didn’t have breakfast. He didn’t say goodbye, or tell me where he was going, or when I could expect him back. He simply walked out. I’ll admit I panicked. I forgot how angry I was and tried to call him, but his phone went straight to voice mail and continues to.

“He works for my father’s electrical company. I don’t know if he reported to work this morning, but I didn’t want to call and ask, because I don’t want to alarm my parents. They have faith in the Cal they know. They love him. But when Eban was released, they privately expressed their concern that Cal would fall back in with him.”

“What about Theo Simpson?” Kate asked. “Could you reach out to him?”

“I tried. I don’t know him well. We’ve only met twice, and the last time was at my wedding. I know that he works in the main library downtown. When I called, I got a menu of options. Theo had a dedicated extension. I punched it, but got his voice mail. I identified myself and left my number. So far he hasn’t called me back, and I don’t think he will.

“Cal says he’s as loyal as a puppy, eager to please. I doubt he would betray either Cal or Eban.” She clamped her lower lip between her teeth. “I’m so worried. I’m afraid Eban is luring Cal into something.”

“What kind of something?” Kate said.

“I wish I knew. When he was here yesterday, he taunted Cal about perjuring himself. He dangled that like a threat.”

“Like, don’t you dare think of turning on me and changing your testimony?” Zach asked.

“Exactly like that,” Melinda said. “Then he insisted that Cal join him and Theo last night. As mad as I was at Cal for going, I was beside myself with worry, and so relieved when he returned home.”

Zach inched forward on his seat cushion and leaned toward her. “Were you afraid that Eban might do something to him?”

“Yes,” she said in a rasp. “To shut him up, to ensure that Cal never changes his story about that night.”

Zach looked over his shoulder at Kate, knowing that, like him, she was remembering Upton Franklin’s note. One was either Eban’s subservient friend, or bitter foe.

“But that’s not all,” Melinda said, drawing Zach’s attention back to her. “Eban is shrewd. He may act devil-may-care, but he realizes how rocky his situation will be when Rebecca dies. I believe he wants to solve that problem before it has time to develop. I fear for my husband’s life. And yours,” she said, including both of them. “I’m afraid Eban will make a preemptive strike against all of you.”





Chapter 32





Cal easily found Theo’s car in the library’s employee parking lot. The slot next to it was empty; Cal pulled in. At five o’clock sharp, Theo exited the building through an employee door. He flipped up the hood of his jacket and cut across the parking lot in a jog.

When he reached his car, he opened the trunk and lifted out a duffel bag. After securing his car again, he stashed his duffel in the back seat of Cal’s car and got in on the passenger side. “Hi.”

“Hi.”

Theo buckled up. “Been here long?”

“Only a few minutes.”

“I could do without the rain.”

Cal drove them out of the parking lot. “We’ve got more to talk about than the weather, Theo.”

“Yeah, I guess we do. You first.”

“Did Eban call you and offer to send a limo?”

“Yes, but I told him to never mind, that we were riding together so we’d have a car at the FBO when we got back.”

“What time did he call you?”

“A little after three, I think.”

“Huh. He called me at two-thirty,” Cal said. “I told him the same as you.”

“Then why’d he call me after?”

“To check up on us.”

Theo began rocking forward and back in his seat as far as his seat belt would allow. “Why would he feel the need to do that?”

“Because he’s Eban. He thinks like a fox. Always calculating. Thinking ahead. Like flying us down to Belize to devise a fail-safe plan for taking out Zach Bridger.”

Theo bobbed his head. “That’s what he said.”

“I don’t think that’s it, Theo. I think he’s got another purpose in mind.”

By now they were on the freeway, where traffic had slowed to a crawl due to the inclement weather and rush hour. The stop-and-go seemed to make Theo even edgier. In addition to the rocking, he was cracking his knuckles. “Cal, Melinda called me.”

At the mention of his sweet, loving, trusting, pregnant wife, Cal’s fingers contracted around the steering wheel. “When?”