Rich Blood (Jason Rich #1)(49)

She looked at him, and tears suddenly appeared in her eyes. She grabbed his hand. “Thank you, J. J.”

Was it true affection? Or an act? With Jana, he could never tell. “You’re welcome,” Jason said. “Now, I need you to tell me something.”

“Anything,” she said, squeezing his hand.

“You took out $15,000 from the bank the day before Braxton was killed. What did you do with it? I’m not buying your story that you left it in your car.”

Jana peered down at the table. “I gave it to one of Tyson’s deputies. The money was a down payment on what I owed him.”

Jason took in a deep breath and exhaled. “How much did you owe?”

“Fifty grand.”

“Jesus,” Jason said, running a hand through his hair. “How do you know that the man was with Cade?”

“I just did. With Tyson, I’d get calls from strange numbers. I’d be told where to be. And then I’d go. On the night of the Fourth, I went to a strip mall, and I gave the money to one of his men. Then I drove to the Hampton Inn, where I met Tyson. What I did with him was also . . . a payment.”

“Oh, Jana,” Jason muttered.

“Don’t you dare judge me. You have no idea what I’ve been through these past three years. My husband abandoned our marriage. My kids were brainwashed. So I got into drugs.”

“The bottom line is that there’s no way you can defend yourself on the stand without implicating Tyson Cade?”

She held out her palms, exasperated.

Jason stood and began to pace the room. “Then you can’t take the stand.”

“The hell I can’t. I’ve got to tell the jury I didn’t do it. That I didn’t pay Waylon Pike to kill Braxton. Don’t I have to say that?”

Yes, Jason thought. “I’m not sure I’d recommend you taking the stand even without this Cade business,” he said, not looking at her.

“Why?”

“Because I don’t think a jury in this county will believe you.” He looked at her. “I’m not sure I believe you.”

“Fuck you.”

“No, thanks,” Jason said. “Look, I’m going to bring some paperwork by so that we can turn the power and water on out at the house at Mill Creek.”

“Why? You can stay at my house at Buck Island.”

“No. I’m staying at Mill Creek, and that’s final. I’m going to ask the girls to stay with me. I’m assuming that’s OK with you.”

She hesitated.

“Jana, we both know that Tyson Cade wasn’t bluffing. He doesn’t look like the kind of dog that just barks. Nola and Niecy will be safer at Mill Creek with me.”

She hung her head but finally nodded. “Please take care of them, Jason.” She sniffled. “I don’t know what I’d do if . . .” She trailed off.

“I will.” Jason leaned in and kissed her cheek. “I promise.” He walked to the door and knocked three times. “I’ll be in—”

“J. J., I gave that money to Tyson Cade. What if he gave it to Pike to kill Braxton? I mean, that’s probably what happened, don’t you think? He set me up to take the fall.” Her voice was high. Desperate.

“Why would he do that?” Jason asked.

When a guard opened the door, Jason said, “False alarm. A few more minutes, OK?”

The officer rolled his eyes, and the door slammed shut.

Jason approached his sister and leaned his hands on the table. “Cade wouldn’t want to hamstring his money sources. With Braxton dead and you in here, where’s he going to get the rest of the money you owe him? Doesn’t make sense.” He stared at Jana, who’d closed her eyes.

“There’s no way we can win, is there?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” Jason said, taking a seat. He didn’t want to give her any false hope. “But the state has to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, which is a much higher standard than the personal injury cases I typically handle. That’s one thing we have in our favor.”

She snorted and looked at him. “Presumed innocent, right? We both know that a jury in this county is going to presume I’m guilty.”

It was the most honest thing he’d heard his sister say in a long time, and Jason was taken aback.

“You know I’m right,” she added.

“Yes,” he said.

“So what do we do?”

“We go after Waylon Pike with both barrels. He’s cut a deal to save his ass. I’m getting a copy of his statement, and I’ll sic my investigator on him. If the jury doesn’t believe Pike, then the state’s case turns to shit.”

A tiny smile came to Jana’s face. “Thought you said you didn’t do criminal work.”

“I don’t, but I remember a little from law school, and I’m a fast learner. To win, we’ll have to discredit Pike, but that’s not all.”

“What else?”

Jason raised off the seat and paced back to the door. Again, he knocked three times.

“J. J.?”

“We have to give the jury something else to believe. A plausible alternative to you paying Pike.”

“How are you going to do that without involving Tyson Cade?”