Page 118 of Provocation
‘Your dad’s driver ? He was let go, Stephens said.’
I nod. ‘He must be working for someone else in the area. I’m going to see what he remembers from the night of April’s accident. You stay here, okay?’
‘Okay,’ she acquiesces.
I walk over to the group of drivers slowly, and catch Peters’ eye. I see him do a double take, swear quietly, and then look behind him. I get ready to chase him if he runs, but he clearly thinks again and stays where he is, watching my approach with narrow eyes.
‘What do you want, kid? I don’t work for the Novelles no more,’ he says as soon as I’m close enough.
‘Just wanted to ask you about the night of my stepmother’s car accident.’
He shrugs. ‘Don’t know nothing about that.’
I pull out a wad of bills.
‘You sure?’
He eyes them and his lips pinch together. ‘What do you want to know?’
‘Did you pick up my father that night?’ I ask, drawing a little closer and lowering my voice.
‘Yeah. What about it?’
‘From the gala?’
He looks torn, and then his eyes find the money again. ‘I’m not supposed to talk about it.’
I pull out another few twenties and he swallows.
‘No. Not the gala.’
‘Where then?’ I ask.
He grits his teeth. ‘The side of the road near the convenience store on the way back into town.’
’Go on.’ I add several more bills to the pile.
Peters shakes his head. ‘He was fucked up. I thought he was drunk. He was swaying and staggering. He wasn’t making any sense. I got him in the car and brought him home. He passed out in the back and I had to shake him awake. He went inside and that was it. Didn’t know about the accident until the next day. Your dad gave me five grand to tell the cops I picked him up. A week later I was let go.’
I stare at him. ‘What do you think happened?’
He snorts. ‘I think your dad drank too much or took something and decided to drive home with your mom. I think he crashed the car and killed her and then called me to get him.’
My phone starts to buzz in my pocket. I take it out.
Blake.
'What is it?' I say into the phone, more sharply than intended.
'Detective Black was just found in the alleyway outside Wrath with a knife through his chest,’ Blake says in my ear.
'Fuck!’ I whisper hiss.
'The cops are all over.'
‘Where are you?’ I ask, holding out the cash for Peters who snatches it quickly and stuffs it in his pocket.
‘Still at the house,’ Blake says.
