Free Icy Betrayal by David Keith

Scott wanted Lombard’s car to be found close to the accident scene.”
    “Did you wear gloves?”
    “Yes and a hat. Scott was worried about my hair somehow being found in Lombard’s car. We left it near where we planned to stage the accident and went back to the plant in Scott’s car. That’s when I got into mine. Scott took the ice truck and again we went back to Highway 46. Once we were there, we staged the accident. Then he left me, telling me to wait a few minutes before calling 911, and he drove the ice truck back to the plant.”
    “The damage to your car—how’d that get there?”
    “Once we got out on Highway 46, Scott drove my car into a tree. Not very hard, just going maybe ten miles per hour. He tacked some moving blankets to the tree so the bark wouldn’t come off on the car. Scott said that would leave enough damage to the front end and the police would believe that I hit Lombard on accident.”
    It almost worked, thought Keller. And most importantly, investigators would have no reason to look for any kind of link between the woman involved in the accident and the deceased’s business partner. The plan was pretty ingenious.
    “What about the hunting vest and the rifle?”
    Her answers were rhythmic, recited as though in a trance. “Scott took some keys from Lombard’s desk and got them from the safe and the locker. Once we got to the place on Highway 46, Scott put the vest on him and tossed the rifle into the brush. Then we took Lombard’s body out of the ice truck and put him on the shoulder of the road. Scott said everybody knew Lombard liked to hunt so it wouldn’t be suspicious.”
    “And you’re sure both you and Scott wore gloves while doing all this?”
    “Yes, both of us. But once the accident was staged I gave Scott my gloves, and he took them.”
    “And once all the pieces were together you called 911 and reported you hit someone crossing the highway?”
    “Yes,” she said, fighting back the tears.
    “Scott kept saying it would be okay. ‘I’m gonna take care of you, baby,’ he told me. I guess deep down I’ve always wanted a man to take care of me. Ever since I was little.”
    Keller winced. He knew her vulnerabilities were largely his fault. He reached down into his pocket and quietly switched off the tape recorder. Then he reached out and held Lisa’s hands in his.
    “Listen, consider the facts. Scott lied to you about being married. And he lied to you about the insurance policy. It wasn’t $500,000; it was for $2 million. He was playing you. If it came down to you or prison, what do you think Scott would do? He’d say it was all your idea, cut a deal, and hang you with a murder charge. Think about it.”
    “Two million dollars?” Lisa was stunned.
    “Yes, two million bucks. Lisa, I know I’ve been a horrible father to you. I want to make it up to you as best I can. I’m gonna do what I’ve never done for you, I’m going to take care of you, but you have to do what I tell you to do. It’s the only way to keep you out of prison.”
    Lisa turned toward the window. A light snow had begun to fall. She took a deep breath. “Okay, I understand.”
    “I promise I’ll take care of you now.”
    “Okay.”
    Keller reached down for the bag he’d brought in from the truck and set it on the table. “There’s one more thing. I have some phones here. They can’t be traced. You and I need to stay in touch, but we have to use these phones and these phones only. Don’t ever call me from your home phone or your cell phone. Don’t even use a work phone to contact me. Those can easily be traced by police. Do you understand?”
    Lisa agreed and took the phone.
    “Here are the numbers to the phones. The first one listed is yours. The second is the one I’ll be carrying. You can reach me 24 hours a day.
    “Okay, thanks.”
    The impact of the moment reverberated through them both. A photograph, taken thirty years earlier and posted on a worn out refrigerator had led a