"He'll deny it, of course."

"Not much else he can do. The kidnappers are dead, and the phone may or may not be enough to convict, but it's enough to charge him. He's in enough legal trouble that he may never return. It's not the plan I wanted, but I did it because it gives me a way out of this."

"You're not turning yourself in then," I said.

"Nope. Doing that won't fix Brenda's plans for Vicki. I have to deal with her next, or you two will never have peace." He stood and put his hand on my shoulder. "This might be the last time we are together,...