The Accomplice(107)

“He didn’t know. Not then.”

“Yes, he did. Griff told him after that weird Scarlet visit over Christmas. Owen knew what it would do to you if it really got out at school. Anytime after that, he could have changed the story, he could have told the truth and been spared a lot of shit. If anyone knew who you were, you would have been the suspect, not him. Maybe he told one lie a long time ago that was bad and fucked things up. But he also told another lie that probably made your life a whole lot easier. It’s time to stop being angry.”

Mason heard a creak on the stairs. “We cool?”

Luna nodded. Mason slipped out of the bedroom.

“What are you doing?” Casey whispered from the doorway.

“Checking on Luna.”

Casey turned to Luna. “You okay?”

“I’m fine,” Luna said.

“Come to bed, Mason.”

It was quiet for the rest of the night. But Luna still couldn’t sleep. She had to rethink her whole life yet again. She’d spent decades itemizing her sins, tracking her conscience like a loan shark. Guilt was a form of debt, and she was always in the red. Luna wasn’t clear on whether that was the right or wrong way to live. She didn’t have a strong opinion on what Owen, Mason, or Casey had done. When it came down to it, Luna’s debt would always be greater than theirs.

In the morning, Luna was woken by the sound of whispers and rustling. She got out of bed and found Casey and Mason dressed and packed, with their suitcases waiting by the front door.

“Morning,” Luna said.

“We were trying to be quiet,” Casey said.

Mason gave Luna a tentative kiss on the cheek. Casey gave Luna her usual bear hug, which isn’t advised with someone who’s recently been shot.

“Ouch,” Luna said.

“Sorry,” said Casey. “What are you doing today?”

“I’m going to see Griff.”

“Is he coming here?”

“No. We’re meeting in Hyde Park.”

“You’re allowed to drive?” Mason asked.

“I was cleared a few days ago.”

“Be careful,” Mason said.

Luna thought he was talking about more than her driving. “I will,” she said.

Mason carried luggage to the car. Casey turned back at the foyer and leveled her gaze at Luna.

“There’s a full moon tonight. Don’t forget to look up. You never know when it might be your last,” Casey said.

Casey was telling Luna to live in the moment, to enjoy the easy gifts that life offered. But Luna couldn’t help but feel a faint threat in the subtext.





November 2019


Leo Whitman had no idea who had killed Irene. He’d hoped it was Owen. If convicted, Owen would lose his claim on Irene’s estate and Leo might have a better chance at contesting the will. After hiring Amy Johnson as his assistant, Leo managed to convince her that Owen was the most likely suspect. Leo suggested Amy record her conversations with Owen.

“If you got him to confess, you’d be a hero,” Leo had said.

Amy tried, that one time. Owen didn’t confess. And he never spoke to her again. Amy wasn’t sure what the old guy’s angle was. She worked for him for two weeks and quit when her first paycheck bounced.

No one had called Leo Whitman to tell him that Luna was shot, Irene’s killer was apprehended, or that the case was closed and the police would stop knocking on his door, suggesting he was capable of murder. He had to read about the gunman in the paper. For Leo, the story boiled down to one clear fact: Irene was dead because of Luna. As he’d said, where there’s Luna, there’s Owen. He blamed both of them. At least Luna paid a price. She was shot. Leo got drunk one night and called Owen. Leo had a few things to get off his chest. Before he could say a word, Owen interrupted.

“Irene told me about you. A long time ago. I remember now. You fucked her when she was a teenager. Then you married her mother. Don’t ever call me again.”

The police came to Leo’s house a few weeks later. That awful middle-aged woman and that boy.

“What can I do for you, Detectives?” Leo said.

“It’s what we can do for you,” said Noah.

“I just want to give you a quick refresher on the law,” said Burns. “Blackmail is illegal.”

“What is your point?”

“We know you were blackmailing Irene. The DA is currently deciding whether to press charges.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Leo said. His hand tremor increased, like the signal on a metal detector.

“You found out that Irene was having an affair with Sam Burroughs,” Noah said.

“And?” said Whitman.

“You used that information to extort money from her,” Burns said.

“No. I simply asked for what was rightfully mine,” Leo said.

“If that’s your defense, you should discuss it with your attorney. It’s not our business,” Noah said.

Before the detectives departed, Burns said, “In case you were curious, the statute of limitations for felony blackmail is five years.”

In the car, heading back to the station, Goldman said, “Feel better?”

“I do,” said Burns.