Page 82 of The Devil's Advocate

‘There’s no amount of money. I want free of it. I want it all out in the open. What we did. The people we’ve hurt. The men we’ve killed, and the lawyer I shot in the head—’

‘It was all a just cause. God’s cause, Colt. Cody Warren and that bitch had one purpose. To set murderers free. We don’t let the guilty go free. We burn them. That’s our calling.’

‘Yourcalling, maybe. Look at Andy Dubois. I got him to confess when it suited us to wrap up the case, fast. We let the real killer go free. You suspect as much. I know that. It was plain the moment we saw those photos from the medical examiner.’

‘But don’t you realize we had to stick with Dubois to get a conviction. The ME’s photos give Dubois reasonable doubt, and Dubois’ confession gives the real killer reasonable doubt,ifDubois was innocent. The only thing we can do to give Skylar’s family some peace is get a conviction. You think he’s innocent? His kind are all the same. If it wasn’t for Skylar’s case, I would be prosecuting him for something else down the line. If anything, we’re probably saving lives putting Dubois down.’

That was how he saw it. That twisted logic had once fooled Lomax, but no longer. He thought that maybe he had allowed himself to be swept up in this bullshit in the past. That thought was no salve for his conscience. Lomax knew that Korn just wanted to take another soul with the chair. Didn’t matter who it was or whether they were guilty or innocent. He lived to kill. It had taken Lomax some time to see it, but now it was clear. He knew what he had to do.

‘I can’t do this no more. Dubois didn’t kill that girl,’ said Lomax.

Korn remained very still, listening to every word. His jaw opened, lips parted to speak, but he hesitated, as if a thought remained unformed, then burst into life as he said, ‘It was you, wasn’t it? You took the security-camera footage from the gas station.’

‘I needed an insurance policy. The footage changes everything. I’m going to release it. This trial must stop, and you’ve got to let Andy Dubois go. The real killer is on that video.’

‘I’m not going to lose this trial, and I’m not going to lose you, Colt. We’re friends. I was there for you when Lucy got sick.’

Lomax wiped something from his eyes, said, ‘When she was first diagnosed I just thought it was bad luck, you know? It was right after we got the house, we had some money behind us and we didn’t need to worry about anything.Rightthen. She got sick. And I think I did that. I made her sick. The things I’ve done, that shit comes around, you know?’

‘No, I don’t know,’ said Korn.

Lomax fixed Korn in his red-eyed gaze and said, ‘You will. You can’t put that many people to death and it not come around to bite you in the ass someday.’

‘That’s where you’re wrong. My father had money, and he passed it to me. People think wealth bestows power, but my father knew better. Real power comes from holding life and death in your hands.’

‘You’re full of shit. You talk about killing someone, but you’ve never liked getting your hands dirty. You don’t have the balls to do it yourself – that’s why you like putting all those boys on Yellow Mama, watching them squirm and roast. You’re sick, and you’re a coward.’

And with that, he hung his head, nodding slightly, to himself. He had made up his mind. This had to stop. Korn had to be stopped. For him.

For Lucy.

He heard Korn get up out of the chair with a sigh. Heard his footsteps on the wooden floor, coming closer. They stopped right in front of Lomax. He saw those polished, patent leather shoes reflecting his broken face.

‘I’m sorry I got you into this,’ said Korn.

‘I am too. I just can’t be a part of this no more,’ said Lomax.

As Lomax stared at the floor, and the polish on Korn’s leather shoes, he thought he heard something. That creaky board out on the porch.

‘And I am sorry for Lucy, and your loss. Youareright about a couple of things, though,’ said Korn.

‘Yeah?’ asked Lomax, as he raised his head.

His eyes flared wide as he saw the barrel of the Sig Sauer he had left on the counter, now in Korn’s hand, and pointed at his head. In his other hand was the envelope containing the pen drive. He must’ve lifted them from the counter when Lomax turned his back.

‘First, I don’t like getting my hands dirty, but sometimes I don’t have a choice. Second, youreallycan’t be a part of this no more,’ said Korn.

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

BLOCH

Soon as she heard the shot, a couple of things happened almost instantly.

First, she stepped to one side, fell into a crouch and swiveled on her right foot at the same time, so that she turned and dropped and her back found the wall of the house beside the door.

Cover.

Second, Maggie was in her right hand, muzzle up at the sky, ready.