InSight

danger of returning to their own countries may find refuge in the States.”
    “You didn’t mention Mrs. Gentry, her father, and that psycho, Collyer,” Ab by said. “Have they found him?”
    Abby hadn’t asked until now, and that had been fine with Luke. He didn’t want her upset while she was in the hospital. Jeff shook his head, clearly indicating the ball was in Luke’s court.
    “The North Carolina Highway Patrol found a black Honda Accord on a back road near Florence the morning after Collyer took off,” Luke said. “The car had South Carolina plates, a registration the DMV is still trying to trace, and some very sophisticated high-tech equipment.” Luke didn’t mention that splattered brain matter indicated the driver was shot at close range while sitting behind the wheel. “The feds identified the dead man as a South African by the name of Erik Van Brooten , a.k.a. Graeme Collyer, wanted by Interpol for some very nasty deeds in half a dozen countries.”
    The color drained from Abby’s face. She released a long, slow breath. “So he’s dead. Do they have any idea who killed him?”
    “Nope.” Luke glanced at Jeff and shrugged. “I imagine Mr. Van Brooten pissed off someone enough to exact revenge, wouldn’t you, Jeff?”
    “Guys like that usually do.”
    Abby was quiet for a while. Luke didn’t know if she bought it. Unless someone mentioned it, she didn’t know that Luke had disappeared after the explosion while she was unconscious. Luke justified the murder of Collyer a hundred different ways: self - defense when Collier pulled a gun, protecting Abby from future attacks, making sure his lawyer didn’t get him off with a loophole in the law. Luke could live with what he’d done because Abby would be safe.
    Then Abby asked the question Luke knew was coming. “And Mrs. Gentry?”
    In spite of telling Mrs. Gentry that they would wait for the police to arrive, Luke and Jeff took off. They didn’t want to be at the scene if Abby’s ex-mother-in-law took their advice. “Someone called 911 from her house. The police found her dead on her veranda. It looked like she committed suicide with her own gun. No one else was there, and there was no sign of foul play.”
    Abby didn’t move except for an almost imperceptible twitch in her cheek. Her hand reached up slowly to cover her mouth. At first, Luke thought she might be sick, but she sat there, staring into her dark world.
    “The police found a packed suitcase and a torn plane ticket to Morocco ,” Luke said. “She planned to skip the country, but she must have received word that the judge froze all her money and realized how futile it would be. She’d have been caught and sent to prison, especially after a jury listened to your recordings.”
    “How did she know about it? She left the warehouse and never knew I had it.”
    Luke mouthed “Shit,” while exchanging shrugs with Jeff. “Um, maybe Scanlon called her when he found out,” Luke said, grasping for an explanation. “Or maybe someone else from the department called. One of her inside snitches.”
    Jeff nodded and made the okay sign. “That skinny, uppity bitch saw the future,” he said, “and it wasn’t pretty. Three crappy meals a day, sleeping in the same cell with some biker babe who’d love to crack the whip over her.”
    Abby looked like she was thinking it over. “Don’t be too sure. Carlotta Gentry would probably have had them all working for her after two weeks, cracking the whip over them.”
    “She couldn’t bargain her way out,” Jeff said. “Scanlon singing like a bird left her nothing to deal. Boston police arrested her father, and he served up half the mob in return for spending the rest of his days in Italy or Scottsdale or some cushy place in witness protection. ’Cause if his old friends find him, his life isn’t worth spit.”
    “Good deal for everyone,” Luke said.
    Luke watched Abby’s face. A tear slid from the corner of her eye. He started to say something but saw Jeff shake his head. She sat quietly for a long time before speaking. He made out every word as clearly as if he could hear.
    “Carlotta Gentry was an evil woman,” she said. “God forgive me, but I hope she suffers in hell as much as she made her son suffer on earth.”
    “I’m sure she will,” Luke said.

Chapter Forty-Seven
    Unlocking the Vault

    L uke dropped by Abby’s office after work. “Cancel all your appointments for the week of your choice, as long as it’s