“But you don’t have it yet, do you? And if you were to put it on the market, you’d be picked up in seconds flat. Things like that don’t go unnoticed.”
“Oh, trust me, there’s an underground market. Money makes the world go ’round, Mo. I learned that the hard way. You all had nice parents. I had assholes. I’ve made my own way in this town forever and I’m ready to shake off the dust of this place. But I had to make sure the Highsmith heirs were all gone first. And Wendy, because she figured it out. Plus, she was getting back together with Richard.”
“And then there’s J.J.,” Mo breathed.
Debbie nodded. “I would’ve had a couple of options. J.J. loves me. I could’ve kept him around and used him—you know, in case something went wrong and people thought the money belonged to the kid. I’d be in control of it!”
“Not if you kill him!” Mo pointed out.
“Well, another option is that I can make myself look like a hero by saving J.J.—and making Van Camp look like a homicidal cop!”
“And you involved Tommy.”
“Easy as pie. I guess you never paid much attention to Tommy. Growing up, no one ever did. He was a loser. He had acne and he was clueless and awkward. Poor Tommy. He was so willing to get into this scheme with me. So helpful. He even broke into Wendy’s for me to steal her computer, and he trashed the place so it wouldn’t look obvious. Mo, he thinks he hit pay dirt with me. I haven’t decided what I’ll do about Tommy. But for now...I convinced him we’d put one over on the cop—and then just walk away.”
“I doubt it. They probably have Tommy by now—and he’s probably telling them everything.”
“He would never betray me. He wanted to do all this. He wanted to help me. Mo, he swore he’d do anything for me! I told him I could handle this and that when they found me, I’d convince them it was the detective. Then Aidan could go on thinking that yes, Highsmith’s people were involved. Which is exactly what he thinks, you know. I realized that whenever I overheard him talking about what happened—and I made a point of overhearing him. Now it’ll all fit together. Aidan will figure they were in on it with the detective. He’ll spend the rest of his life wondering, but he’ll never prove anything!”
“But Tommy—”
“When they find me here and they know this has all taken place when Tommy wasn’t anywhere nearby—well, he’ll be in the clear.”
“So Tommy did what he did out of...love. Some screwed-up, twisted kind of love.”
“You could say that. But I can tell you he started to like it. Killing—even just hearing a killing that you orchestrated—is exhilarating! And maybe we’ll share the treasure. That’s what I promised him, anyway. But...we’ll see.”
“You said Wendy helped you put it all together....” Mo decided to keep her talking. It worked in mystery novels and suspense movies—and at this point she had nothing to lose.
“Yeah, it was just a matter of sorting out all the pieces. See, Sondra knew about the currency and she knew the tale about Lizzie, but like I told you, she didn’t know who Lizzie had become. The little girl, Lizzie, I mean, who married into the Highsmith family. I did—because of Wendy! Sweet Wendy, who loved to confide in me! Anyway, I’m probably running out of time. They’ll come here, and they have to find you and the kid and the detective dead—and me bleeding.”
“You’ve not only betrayed Wendy, you’re an idiot,” Mo said flatly. “Aidan’s figured all of this out.”
Debbie lifted the knife. “No. He thinks I’m beautiful and kind. Ask him! You know, I wanted to be nice to you, Mo. You were always decent—at least before. But I guess you’re as big a jerk as the others.” Debbie started to move her arm; Mo eluded her, dashing to the other side of the low flat tomb.
In her flurry of movement, she kicked Jimmy Voorhaven’s arm.
She thought he stirred.
Debbie made another lunge for Mo, and Mo jumped back against the tomb again.
Then Jimmy started to move in earnest. Debbie swore—and raised the knife to bring it down on him. Mo started to fly at her, but she didn’t have to. She heard a roar as Rollo came running out of the darkness and shadows. He leaped at Debbie, knocking her off her feet. But Debbie still had the knife and Rollo’s throat was vulnerable.
“Here! Rollo, here!” Mo commanded. She wouldn’t risk a human life for her dog, but neither would she let him die needlessly.
He scrambled back to her—just in time to miss the blade of the knife.
Debbie staggered to her feet at the same moment Jimmy did. He reached for his gun, but it was gone. She’d apparently had the sense to disarm him. He was weaving as he stood, still drugged, barely conscious.
“What...what...” he muttered.
The hatchet remained by the tomb. Mo jumped for it just as another sound caused the earth to shudder; it was the iron door of the vault being shoved in.
For a second, Mo saw nothing but the silhouette of a man, larger than life, standing in the doorway.