Blood of Cain

52

I bought two disposable phones and used one to make a call to Dave Collins. I told him what happened and he said, “So right now there isn’t a posse on the tail of an older model red Toyota pickup truck, but it’s just a matter of a short time before that changes. Courtney may still be in Florida. It’s unfortunate that in her wake three more people are dead. Two probably because they were, no doubt, hired guns who stepped in the wrong trailer at the wrong time. So their SUV was wiped clean and no one has a clue who leased it, right?”

“Someone does.”

“Of course. I’d love to follow the bread trail back to wherever the hit order originated. Maybe it was Bandini.”

“I don’t think so. Why would they shoot the dwarf? These guys took orders from bigger fish — sharks, and they smell blood. Maybe they were the two guys who followed me into the Denny’s parking lot, or could be from the same litter. Somehow Courtney survived the first attack. I’ve got to find her before they do. If I can prove that she’s not Andrea Logan’s biological daughter, Courtney will no longer be a liability in the eyes of corporations and PACs funding Logan’s presidential bid.”

“But if you prove the opposite it will be deadly for her.”

“It’s already deadly. I don’t have a choice.”

“Yes you do. This kid’s stepped into the middle of some serious defecation. And by default, she’s taken you with her. We need to think this through, Sean. Every possibility, angle and probability. The irony is the more visible you are, the less likely that someone will put a bullet in your head. With your old connection to Andrea Logan, if something should happen to you, her hubby or at least those orchestrating his campaign would be more than suspect. They can’t afford for that to happen. It’s similar to when Giuliani was fighting the mafia in New York. The mob hated him, but he was too visible, too public to be the recipient of an organized hit. You’re that way now. Courtney is not. And because she’s wanted in murders, it’s worse.”

“I have to find her.”

“You have no idea where to look. She’s not going to show up at another carnival. Do you think the murdered dwarf is related to Solminski, the one working for Bandini?”

“Yes. Looked close in age. Maybe brothers. Possibly twins.”

“She might try to get in touch with him, especially since they’re friends and she’s driving the dead man’s truck. Could you convince Solminski to tell you if she does?”

“Maybe. If he is related to the dead man with the bloody snake, he might have a motive to help me find who’s threatening Courtney. Maybe he’ll point me toward her if he knows where she is or where she’s trying to go.”

“But there’s still a remote chance that the guys in the fire were sent by Bandini. Since you were detained by the local constables in Hillsborough County, the media flew the coop here, most following your trail, the trail of destruction down there in Gibsonton. Courtney might be hiding out with some family member somewhere. FBI will probably find her, and let’s hope it’s before she becomes unfindable — no body — no proof of a murder, and certainly no result of a crime. Logan skates into the White House, and Courtney gets tucked away in the scrapbook of legacies and mysteries next to Jimmy Hoffa’s grainy picture.”

“I can’t let that happen.”

Dave lowered his voice. “I know you can’t, but I have to be the voice of reason in a situation where reason can’t float your lifeboat. You’re my friend, and that’s the least I can do.”

“How’s Nick?”

“Better. Moving about. He walked Max, and spent some quality time with her at the Tiki Bar. Good thing Kim is there to send them both home.”

“I’ll see you in less than an hour—”

“Speaking of Kim, she told me to tell you something if I heard from you. She said a woman called the marina and left a message for you. Kim said the woman had been watching all of the news coverage, saw the allegations about Courtney being the daughter of you and Andrea Logan, and then she said she knows Courtney. Apparently she gave her a ride after she found her walking in the Ocala National Forest.”

I accelerated the Jeep, felt my chest tighten. Who was this woman? Was it some kind of ploy or trap? If I didn’t get pulled over for speeding, I’d know very soon.