A Killing Rain by P.J. Parrish Read Free Book Online

battle.”
    “Petty?” Susan said. “Petty?”
    “You’re a lawyer, Mrs. Outlaw,” Wainwright said. “You know how these things are. He’s the boy’s father.”
    “I’ve had custody of him for the last five years with barely a word from the asshole. Doesn’t that mean anything?”
    “What do you have on paper?” Wainwright asked.
    “What?”
    “What’s in your divorce papers regarding custody?”
    Susan stared at him, her body tight. “We’re not divorced.”
    Louis turned and stared at Susan. Her eyes were steady on Wainwright, but Louis sensed she could feel his stare.
    “We have a separation agreement,” she added.
    Wainwright looked at Louis, raising a brow. “I suppose that’s something. Does it say anything about custody?”
    She shook her head. “Just that he’s supposed to pay child support and has to call before he shows up.”
    “And you’ve held him to that agreement?” Wainwright asked.
    She shook her head again.
    Wainwright cleared his throat. “What do you want me to do, Mrs. Outlaw?”
    “Dan, can’t you call Miami and see if they can intercept him at the airport?” Louis asked.
    “I can try but I doubt they’ll lift a finger, Louis,” Wainwright said. “There’s no crime here.”
    “No crime,” Susan said turning away.
    “Wait,” Louis said. “He can’t take a child to Australia without a passport.”
    Susan spun back to face them. “That won’t stop him. Austin’s the kind of man who knows people. He’s not above getting Benjamin a passport illegally. And there are plenty of people in Miami who would do it. Believe me, I know. I defended one once.”
    The room fell silent again. Louis looked at the clock. Almost seven.
    “Mrs. Ou tlaw,” Wainwright said, “I’m sure he’ll call you when he gets to wherever he’s headed. He probably just wants to scare you.”
    “He doesn’t want to just scare me,” she said . “He wants me to go back with him and he’s using Ben to make me come. Don’t you understand?”
    “Did he ask you before he left? To go back with him?” Wainwright asked.
    She nodded . “He said we’d have a new life, that he has money now. That he was sorry for everything. I don’t know what gave him the idea I’d even consider it.”
    “You sure?”
    Susan’s eyes narrowed. “Sure about what?”
    “That you didn’t give him any ideas about a reconciliation?”
    She stared at Wainwright . “What exactly are you asking me?”
    “Susan —-” Louis said.
    “No, I want an answer. Are you accusing me of sleeping with him?”
    Wainwright didn’t flinch. “I was only suggesting that sometimes urges can be impulsive between people who have an emotional history. Sometimes what is only a quickie for old time’s sake can sometimes be misconstrued by the other party.”
    Susan pointed to the door. “Get out of my house.”
    Louis came forward. “Susan —-”
    She spun, her eyes silencing him.
    Wainwright sighed and started toward the door. “I’ll call Miami and I’ll let you know if it does any good.” He stopped at the door. “Good night, Mrs. Outlaw.”
    She didn’t reply, her arms crossed over her chest . The door closed and the clock chimed. Seven straight up.
    “I need to get going,” Louis said
    “You’re leaving?” Susan asked .
    “For Miami. I’ve got less than three hours to catch that plane.”
    “I’m going with you.”
    “No. What if we’re wrong? What if he is just trying to scare you and shows up back here?”
    “You know he won’t come back here. I’m going with you.”
    Louis shook his head. “You need to stay here on the chance that something else has happened, like an accident or something. I’ll call you when I get there. I promise.”
    She looked at him, a wave of anger in her eyes at being left out .
    “We’ve got to be a team here, Susan. You need to stay.”
    “Wait” she said, disappearing. She came back from the bedroom with a pager and slapped it in his hand. “I’ll page you if I