“No. Since Jimmy disappeared from his life, he’s become a tyrant. He blames me every day for what happened. I don’t have a moment of peace. He controls everything I do. It’s easy for you to sit here with no one to answer to and judge me.”

“You’re right. I had an easy night.”

She grabbed his hand. “Matt, don’t hate me. Things are not the way they appear. You’re in my heart. I don’t want to be with David. But until this divorce is over, I’m under his thumb.”

“We could leave here tomorrow if you wanted.”

“Don’t be naive. We can’t leave with David still in the picture. We’ve discussed this. He and his father will find us. They’ll find Jimmy, and you’ll go to jail. You won’t believe this but the main reason I stay with David right now is to protect you.”

He snorted. “I can do without your protection.”

“You think you can. You’re in constant danger. We both are as long as David is alive.”

“Is that what they call a hint?”

She sat on her knees and stared up at him like a little girl. Even in his pain, he had to marvel at how innocent she looked. His angel, talking about murder. He had no illusion about what she would say next.

“I’ve thought about this a long time,” she said. “If I’m lucky and I finally get a divorce, David will still know where I am. But if I try to disappear, he’ll get suspicious. The FBI would probably do the same. Either way it’s hopeless. But if David dies in an accident then all our problems are solved. I no longer have to be with him behind your back, and you no longer have to keep looking over your shoulder.”

“And you get his money.”

“The money isn’t as important as our peace of mind.”

“You can have peace of mind with his blood on your hands?”

“Yes. He’s a horrible person. He doesn’t deserve to live. If he ever finds Jimmy again, he’ll raise him to be a monster. You don’t want that any more than I do.”

“He won’t want Jimmy once he discovers he’s mine.”

“Do you want to take that chance? Or an even worse chance? That Jimmy grows up with no father at all.”

Matt waved his hand. “You mention the FBI. If David should suddenly die after all this kidnapping business, you can be sure they’d be all over you.”

“No.”

“Don’t no me. I know what I’m talking about.”

“That’s right. You understand the FBI. You outwitted them like no one ever has. You can do it again. I have faith in you. You can figure out a way to get rid of David so that they’ll suspect nothing.”