Darkness at the Edge of Town (Iris Ballard #2)(98)

“Get your DA on the horn now,” Carmichael said. “We need that arrest warrant now.” He looked at me. “Good job.”

“More often than not, yes,” I said with a smile.

We finished our statements, and I actually felt a little lighter. I’d helped. I made a point to savor the moment. “We’ll have him in custody in an hour or two, God willing,” Hancock said.

“Keep him locked up as long as you can,” I said.

“You do know this means you can’t come back here. You can’t have anything to do with the case from here on, now that you’re officially a part of it. There can’t be any more hints of impropriety. You have to go home, back to North Carolina.”

“But—”

“You know I’m right. We can’t give his lawyer any more ammo. We want to put this guy away for life. One technicality and the DEA loses its whole case.”

He was right. Everything I’d done before was as a free agent, completely unofficial. The authorities could use my observations for background but nothing else. Once the warrant was issued I was part of the case, a victim of Mathias’s, and firmly on the side of law enforcement. Anything else I did could be used officially. I’d aligned myself with a side. Legally. There was officially nothing else I could do. I frowned at Hancock. “Just get him, okay? I got the sense he wants to run but doesn’t have the funds. Arrest him before he does. And watch out for my brother. His eyes are wide open now; he just won’t leave his wife. If you see even half an opportunity to get him out of there, take it. Arrest him if you have to. Just get him out, okay?”



“I promise,” Hancock said. “You’ve done good, Nancy Drew. You ran the ball, but we’ll take it to the end zone. I promise. You’ve gone above and beyond. You did all you could. No matter what comes next, know that. Trust that.” He patted my hand. “I’m proud of you, Iris.”

“That means a lot to me.”

“And I wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t true. I promise to call you when we have him in custody. And I’m sure Joyce will tell you the rest. Go home. Spend time with your boyfriend. You—”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I said automatically.

“Right. Yeah. Whatever you say.” Hancock rose from the desk. “I have a lot to do now. Come say bye before you leave town. And don’t be a stranger. Once a decade isn’t enough.”

“After all this, are you sure?” I asked as I stood too.

“I’m sure. Now go home before I kick your butt out.”

“Just like the good old days,” I said as we walked in opposite directions.

I spotted Luke near the coffee machine. “All done?” he asked as I approached.



“Yeah. And we’re being kicked out again. Officially this time. We can’t have anything to do with the Movement from here on.”

“Makes sense. Ready to go?” Luke asked.

“I guess,” I said with a frown.

Luke frowned too. “This isn’t giving up, Iris. It’s taking a step back.”

“I know.” I sighed. “Come on. We’d better leave before they kick us out. Three times in one day is more than enough.”

“Ready when you are.”

Luke drove us back to my grandparents’ house in that still uncomfortable silence. I was too exhausted to care. That much.

“Thank you,” I said.

“For what?”

“Helping me? Being here? Staying by my side even after…you know.”

He was quiet for a few seconds, then, “It was the right thing to do.”

“And that was the only reason you helped me?”

He glanced over at me. “No. I—” His phone rang. “Damn it.” He answered. “Hey, Darla, what’s up?”

At least when we arrived home we were greeted by the scent of apple, cinnamon, and sugar. Grandma stood in the kitchen working on a pie. “Hello, you two. How did it go?” Grandma asked.

“Great. Mathias should be in custody by nightfall,” I said.

“That’s wonderful! Thank God. And Billy?” she asked.

“Sorry. No news since we left the farm. But with Mathias removed, maybe Hancock can convince Billy to leave,” I said.



“I have to get some work done. Call me when it’s time for dinner,” Luke said to me, cellphone still out. He smiled politely at Grandma before moving toward his room. “Excuse me. Hey, Darla, I’m back.”

“I should check my emails too. Unless you need help. I can wreck the pie for you,” I quipped.

“No. Go work.”

I left before she changed her mind. I had over a dozen emails from Miranda and two from Carol. Most of the messages had a theme: Where are you? When are you coming back? A damn good question. I had no idea what the answer was. I had no idea what to do next. Again. There truly was nothing else I could do for Billy directly, but it just felt wrong to pack up and leave with everything up in the air. I didn’t know what to say to either woman, so I didn’t answer the emails. Instead I flopped on my bed and closed my eyes. I must have fallen asleep after the adrenaline rush. I awoke to Luke standing over me, touching my shoulder, two hours later. “Dinner,” he whispered.