CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

Jack knew it was a risky play. The price? His brother’s life. But he wanted to get Chris Ryan dead to rights. He needed to catch him red-handed. So, he waited.

And doubted.

Chris played the part of grieving relative with the perfect mix of gravitas and grief. He held up Mary Doyle as she walked down the aisle of First Methodist Church, drugged up to her eyelids with Valium. Amy’s mother followed, the children on her arms, and Joe Doyle walked behind them all, rigid, staring straight ahead with an expression of fury Jack suspected was more due to the DEA agents combing over his businesses than for the death of his family or his daughter being in custody for the murders.

Jack stood at the back of the sanctuary and surveyed the room. He knew a quarter of the congregation by name, and half by sight. Ellie, sitting near the rear, caught his eye. She raised her eyebrows and gave him the once over. The uniform. He shrugged. She smiled slightly, dipped her head in prayer, and pushed her hair behind her ear. Jack hid his smile out of respect for the dead.

Ellie liked the uniform.

Kelly sat with her son, Seth, on the other side of the room, staring purposely ahead. Jack wondered vaguely why Kelly wasn’t sitting with Ellie when he saw Ethan sitting next to Olivia, Troy, and Susan Grant. Susan turned around in the pew, searching for Brian no doubt. She saw Jack and turned back around quickly. The fact Brian wasn’t here, and Susan didn’t know where he was, gave Jack hope his twin was still alive.

The interminable service finally ended, and Jack snuck out the back before the family filed out, followed by the congregants. There would be no graveside service since Matt and Amy had made it clear they wanted to be cremated and their ashes sprinkled on Kyle Field at A&M. Jack shook his head. Aggies.

He got in his car and drove off, not wanting to get sidetracked by the newspaper editor or gossipy citizens who wanted to know why Michelle wasn’t there. Was it true she’d been arrested for murder? He waved as he drove past Lincoln Bishop, parked on a side street in his personal car. Five law enforcement officers were on Chris Ryan—Jack and Bishop, a sheriff’s deputy, Tom Hunter in an unmarked Suburban, and Miner Jesson, whose job it was to stay close to the Doyles and to alert the others when Chris Ryan left the reception at Joe Doyle’s house.

“He’s settled in,” Miner said through the radio twenty minutes later. “He doesn’t look like he’ll be leaving for a while.”

“Bishop, where are you?”

“Parked outside the house.”

“Eastman?”

“Drinking coffee at the Chevron.”

“Hunter?”

“Doyle Industries.”

“I have to stop at my house. Tell me as soon as he leaves.”

“Roger.”

A minute later, Jack pulled into his driveway, killed the engine, and got out of the car. He hoped Ethan was at the reception. He didn’t want to do this with him in the house, but he would if he had to.

Jack walked through the house and up the stairs. Julie lay on the bed, typing on her phone and grinning. When she saw Jack, the grin fell from her face. “What are you wearing?’

Jack looked down, forgetting for a moment about the uniform. He didn’t bother answering and held out the divorce papers.

She looked from the papers and back to Jack. “No.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll take Ethan.”

“He won’t go.”

“I’ll tell him how you cheated on me.”

“He knows who cheated on whom. You shouldn’t have left your phone last year. All of those messages and texts from your boyfriends? I’ve made copies of them all to present as evidence if you contest the divorce.”

“My father will hire the best lawyer money can buy …”

“Julie, for once in your life, take the easy out. Divorce me. Find some rich man who won’t care what you do in your free time as long as you’re there to look good on his arm and let him fuck you when he wants. It’s the life you’ve always wanted to lead. Your mother’s life, right?”

She rose and walked to Jack. “Do you think I’m going to let you take my son away and start a new little family with your pregnant girlfriend? Yeah, I figured it out. With a little help from Kelly. What will Ethan think when he finds out?”

“I already know.”

Ethan stood in the doorway, staring at them. “I guess I should be happy you both want me around.”

“Of course I do, sweetie,” Julie said. She moved forward, arms outstretched.

Ethan moved away from her and into the room to stand by Jack. “Don’t touch me,” he said.

“Ethan?”

“I wouldn’t go live with you if you were the last person on earth. If a judge rules I have to, I’ll run away. I’ll do a better job than you did, though. I won’t be found.”

“Ethan, why are you acting like this?” Julie said.

“I heard you.”

“Heard me?”

“And Uncle Eddie the other morning. The walls are paper thin, Mom, and my room is right next door. Jesus. It’s like you wanted to be caught.”

Jack’s stomach twisted. He put his arm around Ethan’s shoulder and was relieved when he didn’t flinch away. Jack held out the divorce papers again. “The terms are good. Better than you deserve. Have a lawyer look them over then have him call my lawyer.”

Jack’s radio crackled and Miner’s voice came across. Jack turned it down before Julie and Ethan could hear it. “I have to go.”

“Of course you do,” Julie said. Jack walked past her. “You haven’t even tried since I got back.” Jack stopped in the doorway and turned. Julie’s chin was lifted in triumph, at her ability to reel him back in. Every time.

“Ethan, I’ll be home late.”

“Sure, Dad. No problem.”

Jack turned to Julie. “You need to be gone when I get home.”

“You would leave your fourteen-year-old son home, alone?”

“The difference between him and you, Mom, is I know he’s coming back.” Ethan walked out the door, and Jack followed.