The Bad Daughter(70)

“Not particularly,” said Alec.

“Not at all,” said Melanie.

Clearly, her siblings weren’t in the mood for conversation or speculation, so there was little point in trying to pursue either. They drove for a good five minutes without a word, the only sounds coming from the country music on the radio. Something about loss and heartache. Welcome to the club.

Her phone rang.

Thank God. At least someone wants to talk to me. Robin pulled the phone from her purse, saw it was Blake, and lifted it to her ear. “How’s it going?”

“Slowly. Taking a fifteen-minute break,” he told her. “Looks like I’m going to be tied up for the rest of the afternoon.”

“That’s okay. We won’t be home for a while.”

“Alec still with the lawyer?”

“No. He’s done.”

“Anything to report?”

“Apparently not.”

“Okay, listen. Something you should know.”

“What’s that?”

“Landon—he went out shortly after you guys left. Hasn’t come home.”

Robin’s eyes shot to her sister.

“What?” Melanie asked without looking at her.

“Okay, thanks,” Robin said to Blake. “See you later.” She returned the phone to her purse, debating whether or not to tell Melanie about Landon, imagining how the conversation might go.

“Blake says Landon’s not home.”

“So? He’s allowed out. He’s not a prisoner.”

“I’m just saying…”

“Don’t say.”

She felt the car speed up, then slow down, then speed up again. “What’s happening?”

“I think someone’s following us,” Melanie said.

Both Robin and her brother immediately spun around in their seats to look.

“Is it the sheriff?” Robin asked.

“It doesn’t look like a patrol car,” said Alec.

“Can you see who’s driving?”

“No.”

“Maybe they’re not following us,” Robin said.

“They’ve been behind us since we left Main Street. I’m pulling over.”

“Maybe that’s not such a good idea,” Robin said.

“You have a better one?”

“Mom always said you shouldn’t go looking for trouble,” Robin reminded her sister as Melanie pulled the car to the side of the road and stopped.

“Yeah, and look where that philosophy got her. Maybe if she’d looked for trouble a little earlier, she’d still be alive.” The car behind them continued past. “Okay. Good. Looks like I was wrong.”

“No,” Alec said. “Look. They’re pulling over.”

“Shit,” said Robin when the dark blue Buick stopped about fifty yards down the road.

“Who the hell is that?” Melanie asked, as the driver exited the car and began walking toward them.

Despite the sun in her eyes, Robin had no trouble recognizing Dylan Campbell. There was no way to disguise either his swagger or the unspoken dare in the tilt of his head. “Shit,” she said again.

“Is that who I think it is?” said Melanie.

“You gotta be kidding me,” said Alec, pushing open his car door.

“Alec, don’t…,” Robin began, but Alec was already out of the car. “Goddamn it.” She opened her car door at the same time Melanie opened hers. A fistful of hot air hit her like a punch to the jaw, almost knocking her to the dry ground.

“Well, hail, hail,” Dylan said. “Looks like the gang’s all here.”

“Why are you following us?” Robin said.

Dylan’s face relaxed into a big grin. Despite the heat, he was dressed all in black, and seemed none the worse for wear. “That’s my girl. No time wasted on foreplay. Hi, Melanie. You’re looking well. And Alec. How you doin’, buddy? Haven’t seen you in forever.”

“Forever isn’t long enough, you piece of shit.”

“At least this piece of shit wasn’t in Red Bluff the night someone shot the face off his beloved ex-wife. Which I understand is more than can be said for you.”

“Okay,” Robin said, “you’ve said enough.”

“Did you shoot her, Alec?” Dylan asked, ignoring her, and asking the question she was afraid to. “Did you kill Tara? Did you leave my little girl without a mother?”

“I wouldn’t get too cocky if I were you,” Robin said, her voice carrying more bravado than she actually felt. “That alibi of yours isn’t all that airtight. You could easily have hired someone.”

“You should know me better than that, Robin. I’m strictly a hands-on kind of guy. I’d never hire anyone to hurt Tara. If I wanted the bitch dead, I’d have taken care of it myself. I wouldn’t let someone else have all the fun.” He shook his head. “And I sure as hell wouldn’t have left any witnesses.” He pushed his hair away from his forehead, smiled as it fell right back. “Besides, I’m a changed man. Prison will do that to a guy. And I would have thought that you, of all people, would believe that everyone deserves a second chance. Gotta say, I’m kind of disappointed.”