I watched her turn the car around and begin its journey up the lane. When she was winding out of sight, I hurried back to the door and made my way to the chair opposite Janie and Kahle.
"What's going on?"
"Jake. I know who killed Jason."
I didn't understand. I wanted to hear these words for so long. I had waited patiently for the moment when I would hear them. But how did Janie know? And why was she the one talking. They both looked uneasy. I could tell Janie was trying to sooth herself.
"I don't understand. You know? How do you know?"
"It's a long story Jake. I don't know what Holt and Kahle have told you about my past, my time out of the country, but I know."
"Slow down. I'm lost. Explain Janie. How can you know who killed Jason?"
I turned to Kahle.
"Did you arrest him?"
"Jake. Look. I did a lot of things I'm not proud of. Things I don't really know that I'm ready to share with you. I know that's hard to understand. I know that's hard to accept and I know that's not what you want to hear right now. But listen to me--"
"Fine. Just tell me."
"Jake, I was living with this guy in Costa Rica. He wasn't a good guy. He was a dealer, a trafficker. I got mixed up in all of it. My life was a mess. I'm sorry."
"Janie don't apologize to me. Let's stay focused on what's important right now. What does this have to do with Jason?"
"I'm getting to that. So he sent me to Venezuela to meet with someone for him. I was afraid. I had wanted to run, so I took that as my opportunity. I went North. I came home."
"I don't see any connection."
"I left Costa Rica at the end of August, Jake. I came back to the U.S. but I took a vacation. You know I didn't show up here until Christmas."
"So you're telling me that this guy tried to kill you but got Jason? It's a stretch Janie."
"You don't know Pablo. You don't. Listen. I have no doubts that this was him. He did it."
"Why kill Murphy?"
"We don't know yet. Maybe he was a witness, maybe he got in the way."
"But it was months later that he died."
"I know. We're still trying to piece that together. That's Kahle's assignment. But listen to me now Jacob..."
She leaned forward and put her hand on my knee. She stared intently into my eyes. Blink.
"In the investigation, Kahle contacted the authorities down there. That means they know I'm alive. It's the only way he would know to contact them. They'll share that with Pablo. He'll know he killed the wrong person. And he'll come back. He'll come back to finish this."
"Why?"
"Because I can bring him down."
I couldn't process it all. Jason was murdered by accident. Janie was the real target? If I had been ten minutes earlier...I would be dead too. That state trooper...she saved my life.
"What now?"
Kahle sat up.
"Right now, I think it best for both of you to stay put. Don't make any rash decisions. Don't leave town."
"That seems kinda backwards, don't you think?"
"No. If you run, he'll chase you. We know the case here. We know the players. We can help. I've already contacted the FBI to help us out. They'll be able to provide us with extra man power to keep you under surveillance. They'll be able to help us track this guy down and catch him before he comes back."
"How long until we think he'll show up?"
"She doesn't think it'll be him. He'll send someone. We'll have to go after him on his turf. I'm going to try my best to deal with the police there, but like she said that could be a challenge."
"So what are we supposed to do? Sit and wait?"
"Unfortunately, that's all you can do right now."
"Shit. Are you serious Kahle? I don't go many places, but I can't be a prisoner here."
"That's fine. You can still go places. Just don't venture out of Wessington. And try to keep us posted where you are going, what you're doing, so that we can keep a careful watch."
"It's gonna be OK Jake. They'll get him. I know it."
She stepped over to my chair and sat on my lap. I felt like we were kids again. Just for a moment. I hugged her. I held her tight.
"You're strong. You're so strong. I love you. I'm just glad you're home."
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