Page 105 of Wild Frost

Ian dialed Holden. We recorded the call.

Holden answered after a few rings. "Tell me something good."

"It's not exactly what we had hoped for," Ian said.

"What does that mean?”

"It means Zach didn't get the job done."

A frustrated exhale escaped Holden's mouth. "So, what? They’re going to match DNA to us?"

"Eventually."

"Well, that's just fucking great!"

"It wasn't my idea to put the panties on Darrell's boat,” Ian quipped.

"How was I supposed to know that 15 fucking years later that would come back to haunt us?”

"I told you it was a stupid idea at the time."

"Fuck!”

“They're going to connect you to Landon’s and Cameron's murder as well.”

"And just how are they going to do that?"

"Do you still have the gun?"

"I had nothing to do with that."

"Look, don’t bullshit me. We killed Wes for Christ’s sake. You think I don't know you killed Landon and Cameron when they started freaking out? Landon practically had a nervous breakdown at Cameron’s funeral. He called me several times for advice. He was days away from trying to make a deal. I'm surprised you haven't tried to kill me yet.”

"Bro, I wouldn’t do that to you. You're not weak like the others. It's always been you and me, man. Those fucking guys were just along for the ride. They'd sell us out in a heartbeat, and you know it.”

Guilt tormented Ian's face. "Where's the gun?"

“This is a privileged conversation, right?”

“Relax. Nobody’s listening. They’d need a warrant to tap our phones, and they don’t have one yet.”

That seemed to satisfy Holden for the moment. Ian and Holden never had a formal client relationship. Asking casual advice from your lawyer friend over the years wasn’t enough to establish a true relationship.

"I’m going to take the boat out and throw it overboard somewhere," Holden admitted.

"Don't do that.”

"Why not?"

"Give it to me. I'll get rid of it. They’re watching us like hawks right now. The minute you get on the boat, they can board and search for any reason or no reason at all. Is it on the boat now?”

"No. It’s in my apartment.”

"Look, it's only going to be a matter of time before they convince a judge to get a warrant.”

"How long does it take for DNA results to come back?”

"Depends on whether they do a rush job. But the crime lab is so backed up, it could take weeks. I'm coming over now. I'll take the gun and get rid of it.”