We’re taken into a private room and told to sit. The hard metal chairs do nothing to calm my nerves as my stomach rolls and the anger builds.
“I should just shoot the motherfucker,” I blurt out. “Or slice his throat open.” I feel for the knife that is sheathed in my boot.
“I’ll do it,” River says coldly. We each have our own hatred for Lawson, but River’s runs deeper than the rest of ours does. Not only does River feel like he’s failed us, he was deceived by his wife for so long that he feels responsible for her actions.
“No one is killing anyone today,” Cara reminds us with a stern look.
The door opens and Lawson walks in with his hands in cuffs and his legs in shackles. I can’t help but snicker, causing the rest of the guys to do so as well.
“I’m not saying anything, so don’t ask,” the pompous little fuck says as he sits down. Before I can blink his head is bouncing off the table and back up again, while blood trickles out of his nose.
I look at the guard who has Lawson by the hair. “You’ll answer every fucking question or you will become Bubba’s bitch tonight. You know he’s been asking about you since he found out you like little girls. Says he wants to show you what it’s like to be raped. Bubba wants to hear you beg for your mommy.”
I have second thoughts about killing Lawson for fear I’d end up on the wrong side of being Bubba’s bitch.
“You gonna play nice, Teddy boy?”
“Yup,” he says, looking away from everyone.
“That’s what I thought. Ask your questions, boys, Teddy has to go outside in a little bit.” It’s then that I realize why our car wasn’t searched—someone wants him dead and they’re hoping one of us do it. The guard shouldn’t be telling us his whereabouts, but he did and by the look on his face, he’s serious.
“The first thing we’re going to say to you is this: next week at your trial—if you make it that long—you’re going to plead guilty and save the tax payers a lot of money,” Cara says, starting things off for us.
He shakes his head. “I’m going to walk.”
“How do you figure?” I ask, leaning forward. There’s no judge in his or her right mind that would let this scum walk, not with the evidence stacked against him.
“Donna. She’s going to testify for me. She won’t corroborate anything you guys say. Plus, there’s my father. Do you think he’ll testify against me? Besides, the one person left to pin any charges on me is dead now.”
The room grows silent as we take in what he’s saying. He doesn’t have a clue that Frannie is dead. It’s Evan who starts laughing first, followed by the rest of us. I place my hand on Evan, letting him know I need to talk.
“Who’s dead now?”
“Your wife. I’m sorry you didn’t get to say good-bye.” He bats his eyelashes as if he means well. I take deep breath and pretend like I’m torn up on the inside. I’m not because I spoke with Penny yesterday and I know she’s alive. “I do plan to have some fun with that delectable daughter of yours though.”
Before anyone can stop me, my knife is out and digging into his neck. The guard is being ever so helpful by holding his head still for me. A small path of blood starts to drip as he swallows, increasing his heart rate.
“Do you feel that, Lawson? Your pulse is quickening and you’re fucking scared.” I drag my knife ever so slowly, watching more blood rise to the surface. I pause at his pulse point and see nothing but fear in his eyes. “One move and you’re done. You’ll bleed out before anyone can come in here and save you. Say one more thing about my daughter and I’ll end your life. Do you understand me?” He’s afraid to move so he blinks twice, and it takes me a beat or two before I sit back down, leaving my knife on the table so he can see his blood on the blade.
“If you mean Frannie, she’s dead,” River says as what little color was left in Lawson’s face drains away. “I shot her months ago. So really, you’re going to walk into court and plead guilty because if I have to get up on the stand and recount everything I know, I’m going to be pissed. But if Penelope McCoy has to get up on that stand and look at your smug ass sitting in the chair, the only way you’re leaving the court house is in a body bag. If you think I’m joking, try me.”
The guard uses this opportunity to lean down and say, “Wow, I think you’ve made some really good friends here. They’re willing to put you out of your misery.”
Lawson rolls his eyes, but otherwise doesn’t say anything.
“Why?” River asks. He doesn’t elaborate and there isn’t really a need to. The question is self-explanatory.
Lawson shrugs. “Donna and I were alone a lot as kids and I started experimenting on her. At first, she was scared and wouldn’t come to our dad’s a lot or she’d hang out with my mom, even though my mom hated her. My dad had an affair that resulted in Donna so my mom didn’t want her around. Anyway, when she hit puberty I guess she got horny and wanted to know what shit felt like so I showed her.”