The Guilty

Chapter 58

Dinner was tense, awkward, and uncomfortable for everyone.

Only little Tyler seemed to be able to rise above the somber mood. Every few minutes he would reach out and touch his father’s cheek.

Robie could never remember his father smiling like that when he’d been a kid. But he couldn’t begrudge Tyler his positive effect on his old man. He felt his own mouth tugging upward in a smile when Dan Robie reached over and tousled Tyler’s hair.

He caught Victoria looking at him once, but when he caught her eye she busily passed more food around the table.

Reel sat there taking it all in, registering every move, every word, and she seemed profoundly unsatisfied with the results.

Dan Robie took a drink of tea, set his glass down, wiped his mouth, and said, “Toni filled me in on everythin’ before I left jail.” He glanced first at Reel and then at his older son.

“I appreciate all the work, and the risks you two have undertaken. I probably would’ve been set bail regardless. But I don’t think my case would look as good as it does right now without your efforts. Actually, I know it wouldn’t.”

“Reasonable doubt,” remarked Reel.

Dan pointed a finger at her. “Exactly. Alternative explanations and motives.”

“I thought you wanted a slam dunk to wipe away all doubt, not just from the jurors but from everyone in Cantrell,” interjected Robie.

“I do want that. But right now I’ll take what I can get.” He glanced at Tyler and then Victoria.

“For two reasons.”

Tyler reached out both arms and his father gently lifted him up and set the boy on his lap. He kissed Tyler on top of the head and looked at Victoria.

“You seem tired. You been sleepin’ badly?”

Victoria coughed. “Not too good, actually. For obvious reasons.”

“I hope you’ll sleep better tonight.”

“I’m sure I will. With you back next to me.”

“You want to take Ty on out and see if Priscilla has some ice cream for him in the kitchen, hon?” Dan said to his wife. “I need a few minutes with Will and Jessica.” In a lower voice he added, “Not for Ty’s ears.”

Victoria swept Tyler up in her arms and carried him into the kitchen.

As soon as the door had closed behind them Dan pulled his chair in closer. “Bobby Wendell is in a lot of trouble.”

Robie said, “If he hired those people to do what they did, he is. But it still has to be proven.”

“But you don’t think he had anyone killed? Clancy? The Chisums?”

“No, we don’t,” said Robie.

“Aubrey Davis is still goin’ to try the case against me, unless we can deliver him definitive proof that someone else was responsible.”

“I would have expected nothing less from him.”

“Talk to me more about this serial killer.”

Robie and Reel took turns filling him in on what Wurtzburger had told them.

Dan rubbed his jaw. “You know it seems a little convenient that a serial killer would just happen along and kill three people who had, by their actions, given other people motivation to murder them.”

“Sort of what we’d been thinking, too,” said Reel.

“How do you explain away the forensic evidence against you at the crime scene?” asked Robie.

“Planted.”

“Then I doubt it was our roaming serial killer who’s responsible. Why would he want to frame you?”

“He wouldn’t,” said Dan. “No reason to. Which is why I think your FBI buddy is barkin’ up the wrong tree here.”

“Which gets us back to question one. Who killed them?”

“If it’s just one person,” said Reel. “Clancy and Janet Chisum, maybe the same person. But it might be that a second party killed Sara Chisum.”

“It could be,” agreed Dan slowly. “But then it gets really complicated. Maybe too complicated. In my legal experience most murders are pretty straightforward and the person responsible readily apparent.”

“Why didn’t you stay in jail?” asked Robie. “Safer in there for you.”

“Yeah, that’s what someone would say who hasn’t been in a jail cell. It’s not a lot of fun. Besides, I would rather be out here protectin’ my family in case there is some nutjob out there gunnin’ for me.”

“That’s why we’re here.”

“Even so. They’re my responsibility.” He paused. “I know all of this has been a surprise for you. My bein’ married. And havin’ a young son. I hope you and Victoria have been gettin’ along okay. I could understand if there’s some friction there.”

“It’s been fine,” said Robie. “She’s very nice. And I know she loves you very much. And she’s a great mother to Tyler.”

“Yes she is. I’m a very lucky man. Never thought I’d have a second shot like this at happiness.” He grinned like a schoolkid.

Reel said, “Dan, you still haven’t answered one big question for us.”

Dan settled his gaze on her. “Let me guess. Was I or was I not drivin’ the Range Rover that night?”

“You get an A plus. Now an answer would be even better.”

“The fact is, I don’t remember,” said Dan.

Robie and Reel exchanged a glance.

“And you don’t believe me?” said Dan.

Robie answered. “Doesn’t matter if we don’t. And by the way, we don’t. It’ll only matter to the jury. And no one sitting on it will believe that you can’t remember whether you were in the Range Rover that night or not.”

“Are you protecting someone?” asked Reel.

Dan looked at her sharply. “Like who?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking. We know that Victoria, Tyler, and Priscilla were out of town. So who else might be deserving of you falling on your sword?”

“Nobody, because I’m not protectin’ anyone. Maybe I was out that night. Or maybe the two witnesses didn’t see what they thought they saw. I’m not the only one who drives a Range Rover in Cantrell. Clancy had one, too.”

“Damn,” muttered Robie. He stood abruptly.

So did Reel.

They headed out together.

Dan called after them. “Where the hell are y’all goin’?”

Neither one answered him.