Page 93 of Kill Your Darlings

“No.The trust was set up in the name of Mary Catherine Devlin-Baldwin.”

I stared at Finn.“Baldwin?Judge Baldwin?”

“His wife.His late wife, to be exact.There’s nothing inherently shady in the trust.Mary Catherine Devlin-Baldwin came from money, and the trust was part of how that money was managed.”

I said, “Judge Baldwincan’tbe behind this.He wasn’t—yes, he would have used his influence to keep Dominic from being kicked off the football team.But that’s not what I meant when I said he was rich and powerful.He’s a good man.A sincerely good person.Caring.Generous.Everybody, and I meaneverybody,in Steeple Hill looked up to him.”

Finn looked unimpressed.

I said weakly, “He sent me Christmas presents every year.”

Because I was the sheriff’s kid, sure, but it had still been a thoughtful gesture.Those had been genuinely nice gifts.

Finn said, “I’m simply telling you where the trail leads.”

“But that can’t be right.”

“You don’t think Dominic’s father might have some hard feelings toward the people he believes disappeared his son?”

I felt like I’d walked into a meat locker, felt the chill in my bones.

“But how would he know any of this?How would he know we were involved?How would he have found out?And why would he come afterme?I didn’t kill Dominic.Where would he get the idea thatIkilled Dominic?I didn’t evenknowDominic.I don’t think he ever spoke directly to me in my entire life.”

Finn said, “I think we should ask him.”

“Ask him?AskJudge Baldwin?”

“I think that’s the simplest and best option.”

I stammered, “B-but what if we’re wrong?We can’t talk to him without revealing…revealing way too much.I’d be implicating myself to a judge.”

“Retired judge.But yes, I think we should be completely candid.Don’t forget.He’s also in legal jeopardy.If Baldwin orchestrated or knowingly participated in a plan to harm, blackmail, or discredit you—or worse—”

“But maybe he didn’t!”

Finn didn’t seem to entertain that possibility, because he kept right on.“That’s conspiracy.If he’s asked, encouraged, or paid someone to commit a criminal act, that’s criminal solicitation.If he evenknewabout the plan or helped in any way to facilitate it—which seems pretty likely given that Georgi Argyros is the licensed driver of that Caddy—”

“Jesus Christ.”I closed my eyes.“Geo used to work for the judge.In fact, that’s how he got out so fast after he went to jail for stealing a car.Judge Baldwin interceded.”

“I’m guessing Geo still works for the judge.Though maybe not in an official capacity.”

“I can’t believe it.”

Finn said nothing.

I opened my eyes, looked at him.“I don’t know, Finn.I don’t see how we prove any of this.It’s all guesswork and speculation.It’s all circumstantial.”

“We don’t need ironclad proof—just reasonable suspicion in order to point out to Baldwin that he’s got a lot to lose, too.If we approach this right, we might be able to pressure him into admitting the truth.Our goal is to get him to back off.Even if he doesn’t confess his involvement, if we can stop this from spiraling any further out of control, that’s mission accomplished.”

“But if he had Milo killed?”

“I still don’t think Milo’s dead.”

Neither did I, really.I thought it over and had to admit, “I don’t believe Geo would kill Milo.He wouldn’t have anything to do with that.”I smiled without humor.“In fact, I could see him offering me up in place of Milo.”

“Geo may not know the truth.He may think you really did kill Dominic.He might even think you had something to do with Milo’s disappearance.”

I sat motionless, feeling mostly numb.

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