Darkest Journey (Krewe of Hunters #20)(57)
“You saw Selma.”
“Yes,” she said quietly. He didn’t see the dead, but he knew and accepted that she did.
He nodded. “I have no idea why anyone killed that poor woman.”
“But you do know why someone might have killed Albion Corley and Farrell Hickory?”
He hesitated. “Dad,” Charlie said firmly.
“Farrell was thinking about getting married again.”
“Why would someone kill him for wanting to marry again?” Charlie asked, perplexed.
Her father was silent.
“Dad.”
“Okay, okay. Farrell was in love with Albion’s cousin Shelley. Albion knew about it, and he wanted to see me because he wanted to see what I thought was the best way to go about the wedding. And I was quiet for two reasons—what I knew was told to me in confidence, and I wouldn’t have wanted the cops to get the wrong idea. I was in it to help Farrell and Shelley. They thought I’d know the best way to go about doing things.”
“The best way to go about the wedding?” Charlie said, incredulous.
“Charlie, we can make laws, but a lot of people are still prejudiced.”
“He was afraid because Farrell was white and his cousin was black?”
“He wasn’t afraid, exactly. He just wanted to do everything right so both families would be on board once Farrell went public with the news. They’ve been keeping it quiet. He didn’t really expect there to be a problem, but just the idea that Farrell was getting married again was going to be news to everyone.”
“Was that really what Farrell and Albion were fighting about on the Journey? Nothing about history at all?” Charlie asked.
“No, the fight was over what really happened that day, and the supporting documentation just isn’t there.”
Charlie fell back on the sofa, perplexed. “Do you think someone out there...? Do you think it might have been a hate crime?”
“No, and that’s why I omitted the truth about how well I knew the men.”
“Omitting the truth is lying!”
“I’m sorry, Charlene, I really am. But I was afraid if I said any of this, the police would be so busy looking in the wrong direction that they wouldn’t look in the right one.”
“Dad, how can you be certain this isn’t the right direction?”
“Because no one knew. No one but Albion, Shelley, Farrell and me. I guess someone else could have overheard something and figured it out, but it just doesn’t seem like it could matter.”
“Oh, Dad, of course it could matter,” Charlie said. “You have to tell Ethan everything you know.”
“Ethan!” he exploded. “Ethan nearly got you killed once and—”
“He saved my life. I would have been a sitting duck if he hadn’t been there.”
Jonathan turned away. “He should have gotten you out of there and told the police everything down at the station. He shouldn’t have kept you there where you were nearly killed.”
“But I wasn’t, and that’s because he tackled the killer. He saved my life.”
Her father fell silent.
Charlie stood and hugged him. “Dad, get used to Ethan. He’s going to be around.”
He groaned. “Oh, Charlie, no. You aren’t right for each other. I could see the way you looked at him back then, and I was afraid, and I don’t feel any better about you two now.”
“Why? Dad, Ethan is a good man.”
“He scares me,” Jonathan said. “He scares the hell out of me, because... Charlie, I love you. I’m your father, and I want you to be safe.”
“You have to talk to him and tell him what you know,” she said flatly, then glanced at her watch. “And I have to go find Alexi and Clara to start rehearsing.”
“You shouldn’t be here.”
“Just a few days ago you wanted me here.”
“But now I’m afraid.”
“Dad...”
“They killed that woman in Baton Rouge, Charlie. They killed her just because she knew Albion. I’m afraid. I’m afraid they’ll think you know something you don’t.”
“Who are ‘they,’ Dad, and what on earth could they think I know? You’re the one with information that could help solve this case. If you know anything else at all...”
“I don’t.”
“Talk to Ethan, Dad.”
His shoulders seemed to slump. “You shouldn’t be here. You should have gone up to DC or Virginia or wherever your friends’ new theater is.”
“I love you, Dad,” Charlie said, and kissed his cheek. “But that’s not going to happen.”
Then she hurried out and down the hall. She should have met Alexi and Clara in the main restaurant ten minutes ago. They had a lot to go over.
But she had to talk to Ethan first. He had to get Jude and Thor, and the three of them needed to talk to her father—but first she had to be sure he understood that even though her father had lied, he was guilty of nothing more than trying to protect his friends. He was a good man.
Just as Albion Corley and Farrell Hickory had been good men.
She suddenly realized she was afraid, but not for herself.
For her father.
*