“I . . . I guess that is possible.”
“But it’s only a possibility. And that doesn’t make it true.”
As Pine put the SUV in gear and they drove off, her phone buzzed. It was Jack Lineberry calling.
“Jack?”
“Atlee, something has happened.” He sounded frantic.
“What?”
“Oh my God,” he exclaimed.
“Look, just take a few deep breaths and calm down.”
He ignored her advice and she forgot about it as soon as he spoke. “The police were just here.”
“What police?”
“The Georgia State Police and a detective from Virginia.”
“Virginia? What did they want?”
“The body in your father’s grave was positively identified as Ito Vincenzo.”
“Okay, no surprises there.”
“Yes, but now they know that I lied about identifying the body as Tim Pine, Atlee. I think they’re going to arrest me for obstructing justice in a homicide investigation.”
“Homicide investigation? What the hell are you talking about?”
“When I told them that Tim had called me and told me what happened, they asked did I have any proof that he actually killed Vincenzo in self-defense. They asked how I could be sure that Tim didn’t murder him.”
“And what did you tell them?”
“What could I tell them? I didn’t have any proof. I just knew what Tim told me. And the fact that he disappeared and Vincenzo was buried in his place? I can tell you that the police are highly suspicious of that. They said something about him now being a fugitive.”
“Do they know the whole story about my parents and the mob bosses? That would make them understand why Vincenzo would want to kill Tim.”
“They didn’t seem to. And, legally, I’m still not really allowed to disclose anything about that. But it might all have to come out depending on how this plays out.”
“Did they say what they were going to do?”
“They said they were putting out an arrest warrant for Tim Pine. They’re going after him, Atlee. My God, after all these years.”
Pine could only stare dumbly out the windshield.
Well, that was one I didn’t see coming.
CHAPTER
18
THE WOMAN SAID TO EL CAIN, “Just so you know, we require a week’s worth of rent in advance. Cash, no checks, no credit cards ’cause the folks who stay here are dishonest as hell, and they keep ripping us off.”
She was short, pudgy, and thick-boned, in her early forties, with long, dyed blond hair parted in the middle, where her dark roots were waging a comeback. She had a spiteful look, and her tone was aggressive and unfriendly. She was dressed in faded jeans, a pair of black flats, and a sweatshirt silk-screened with, ironically, the image of a smiley face.
“Nice to know I’m moving into such a high-class place.”
“Thought you would’ve figured that out before you walked in here.”
“Do you live here?” asked Cain.
“God no. It’s not safe at night.” The woman added, “They did put a charcoal grill in the back, but you got to bring your own charcoal and lighter fluid. And you take full liability for any fires out of control or shit like that. And let me tell you, some drunk bastards have come close to burning this place down more than a few times while grilling hamburgers and hot dogs.”