Best Kept Secrets(109)
a lot to lose if she takes this case to a grand jury, whether
I'm the killer or not."
"She's right," the older man observed. Reede merely
shrugged, tossed the wrench on a worktable and closed the
motor casing. "Ely told me she came to his office asking
questions about his daddy's scalpel and the day of the murder."
"The scalpel, huh?"
"Yeah. Know anything about that?"
"Hell, no, do you?"
"Hell, no."
Reede went to a cabinet where he kept a supply of liquor
and beer. He poured himself a hefty shot of Jack Daniels and
tossed it down. He tilted the bottle toward Angus. "Want
one?"
"Sure, thanks." As he sipped the whiskey, he watched
Reede slam back another one.
Catching Angus's curious stare, he said, "It's been that
kind of day."
"Alex?"
Reede ran his hands through his hair like a man plagued
by demons. "Yeah. Damn, she's tenacious."
"There's no telling what kind of crap Merle Graham filled
her head with."
"No wonder she's vengeful." He blew out a breath of
extreme agitation. "If ME doesn't get that racetrack, all my
future plans will be affected."
"It's that important to you, huh?"
"What did you think, that I want to be a f*cking sheriff
for the rest of my life?"
"You worry too much, boy!" Angus said heartily. "We'll
get it, and your future looks nothing but sunny. That's what
I came out here to talk about."
Reede regarded him curiously. "My future?"
Angus finished his whiskey in one hefty swallow and
crushed the paper cup in his fist. He pushed his cowboy hat
back further on his head and looked up at Reede, smiling
devilishly.
"I want you to come back and be an active part of Minton
Enterprises again."
For a moment, Reede was rendered speechless by shock.
He fell back a step, laughed, and said, "Are you shittin'
me?"
"Nope." Angus raised a callused hand. "Before you say
anything, hear me out."
He had already outlined in his mind what he was going
to say. After receiving disturbing calls from two worried
members of the racing commission who had read about
Alex's investigation in the Austin newspaper, he'd decided
he'd better get more aggressive about putting a stop to it.
This thing wasn't going to blow over, like he'd originally
hoped.
The long-distance conversations had ended on an optimistic
note. He'd pooh-poohed Alex's allegations, told them a few
dirty jokes, and had them laughing by the time they hung
up. He wasn't gravely concerned yet, but he definitely saw
the need for ME to present a solid front. Having Reede as
an integral part of the corporation again would be a positive
step in that direction.
Now, his rehearsed words flowed smoothly. "You know
almost as much as I do about racehorses, and more than Junior
ever took the time or effort to learn. You'd come back into
the company as an executive. I'd divide responsibilities
equally between you and Junior, though you'd have different
functions.
"I know how much this airfield means to you. You've got
a sentimental attachment to it, but you also see its moneymaking
potential. So do I. I'd incorporate it into ME. The
corporation could afford to finance the rebuilding and expansion
you want to do. We'd also have a lot more clout
with the airlines."
His smile broadened. "Shit, I'd even throw in a few shares
of ME stock as incentive. You can't pass up a deal like that,
boy."
He was disappointed in Reede's reaction, which he had
hoped would be astonishment tinged with pleasure. Instead,
it appeared to be astonishment tinged with suspicion.
"What brought this on?"
A picture of equanimity, Angus said, "You belong with
us--always have. I'm in a position to get things moving for
you. You'd be foolish not to take advantage of my offer."
"I'm not a boy who still needs your charity, Angus."
"I never considered you a charity case."
"I know that," Reede said evenly, "but no matter how
we dress it up with fancy words, that's what I was." He
peered deeply into the older man's eyes. "Don't think I'm
not grateful for everything you've done for me."
' 'I never asked you for gratitude. You always did an honest
day's work for anything I sent your way."
"I wouldn't have had any advantages at all if it hadn't
been for you." He paused before going on. "But I paid you
back, several times over, I think. When I left your company,