up. I promised Tim we'd talk to you before we spoke to them.'
'What's it going to be, Dad?'
Kerrigan glared at Tim. 'I should have known you'd never have the guts to kill someone.'
Tim hung his head. Even now his father could hurt him.
'Your son was very brave, Mr. Kerrigan,' Hunter said, 'and very insistent that we give you the first opportunity to cut a deal.'
Kerrigan stared at the agent. 'I have no reason to cut a deal. I don't know what you think Harvey Grant and this detective have done, but I'm not part of it.'
J. D. Hunter ordered one agent to drive Tim Kerrigan home and another agent to drive Tim's father to jail. Cindy saw the car drive up and opened the door for him.
'Are you all right?' she asked warily. Tim had not told her what was going on, but she knew something terrible was happening.
'Is Megan asleep?'
'For hours.'
'We need to talk.'
Tim led his wife into the living room. 'I'm going to tell you everything. I want you to know that I love you.' Tim looked down. 'I haven't always loved you but I know I do now. You might not love me when you hear what I have to say.'
'Just tell me what happened tonight,' Cindy said. Her tone was neutral and Tim could see how hard it was for her to hold in her emotions.
'My father has been arrested for conspiracy to commit murder and the attempted murder of several people, including me.'
Cindy stared as if she did not understand.
'Harvey Grant and several other people--some of whom we know very well--are also in custody.'
'My God. That's impossible.'
'They are guilty, Cindy. They are ruthless. You have no idea.'
'Did you . . .? Were you a part of this?'
'No! I've been working with the FBI.'
Tim dropped his head again. He felt like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
'Then what have you done?' Cindy asked.
Tim took a deep breath. He was going to confess everything, absolutely everything. Then he would accept whatever Cindy chose to do.
'I am not the person you think I am. I am a bad person.'
He choked and could not go on for a moment. Then he inhaled, he looked Cindy in the eye, and he began by telling her how he had deserted Melissa Stebbins a week and a half before the Rose Bowl.
Chapter Fifty-Six.
Kate Ross found Amanda Jaffe idly stirring a cup of coffee in a booth in the hospital cafeteria. She looked solemn and exhausted, like everyone else in the restaurant.
'How's your dad?' Kate asked as she slid into the other side of the booth.
'He's in surgery. The doctors don't think there's any permanent damage. They'll be done soon and I'll find out for sure.'
'Are you okay?'
'Physically, yeah. I was lucky. But I'm . . .' She shrugged.
'I know all about it, Amanda. One part of you is thrilled that you're alive and the other guy isn't, and another part feels guilty as hell, even though you know you didn't do a damn thing wrong.'
Amanda nodded. 'It's something like that. I'm trying not to think about what happened at the house. Mostly, I've been worrying about Frank.'
'I've got something for you that will help take your mind off Frank for a little bit. Jack Stamm called the office. He's scheduled a hearing at two to dismiss all the charges against Dupre.'
'What?'
'Daniel is going to handle it, so you don't have to worry. And there's more, and you're going to love it. Harvey Grant, Stan Gregaros, and Tim Kerrigan's father are in custody.'
'The Vaughn Street Glee Club?'
'That's what I'm thinking. And there's something else. Did you hear what happened to Tim?' Kate asked.
'Someone had a newspaper in the intensive care waiting room, so I saw the headline. I can't believe that Maria Lopez tried to kill him. Does anyone know why she did it?'
