Best Kept Secrets(123)

married. Then, when she died ..." She sighed sympathetically.

"He acts kinda mean sometimes now, but down deep,

he's still good." She averted her head. "I know he doesn't

like Fergus, but he still treated me nice yesterday."

This woman and Reede were former lovers. Alex looked



at her closely. It was impossible to envision Wanda Gail in

the throes of ecstasy with any man, but especially with Reede.

Her face retained enough of its former prettiness for Alex

to have recognized her picture in the yearbook, but her skin

was loose, her throat flabby. The full, teased hairdo she'd

been sporting in the class photo had been replaced by the

severe and unflattering bun. The eyes that had been dramatically

enhanced with cosmetics for the picture wore no

makeup at all now. Her waist had thickened to match the

dimensions of her bust and hips, which, when she was a

teenager, must have been voluptuous.

Wanda Gail looked at least ten years older than her classmates,

Reede and Junior--even Stacey. Alex wondered if it

had been her previous wild life, or her married life with

Plummet that had accelerated her aging process. She would

bet on the latter. He couldn't be much fun to live with. For

all his piousness, he brought no joy or love to those around

him. To Alex, that's what one's faith should be about. Her

admiration for this woman was tinged with pity.

It became even more so when Wanda Gail looked up at

her and shyly remarked, "You were nice to me, too. I didn't

expect you to be nice, 'cause you're so fancy and have such

pretty things." She gave Alex's fur coat and eel handbag a

wistful glance.

"Thank you," she replied. Then, because Wanda Gail

seemed stricken with self-consciousness, Alex resumed the

questioning. "How did your sisters react to your marriage?"

"Oh, I'm sure they didn't like it."

"You don't know?"

"Fergus thought it would be best if I didn't mix with them

anymore."

"He separated you from your family?"

"It was for the best," Wanda said, immediately rising to

his defense. "I left my old life. They were part of it. I had

to turn my back on them to prove to Jesus that I was forsaking

sin."

Alex chalked up another reason to despise the preacher.



He had brainwashed his wife against her family and used her

immortal soul as leverage. "Where are your sisters now?"

"Peggy Gail died a few years ago. I read about it in the

newspaper. She had cancer," she said, her face sorrowful.

"What about the other one? Nora Gail?"

Wanda's lips narrowed with stern disapproval. "She's still

living her sinful ways."

"Here in town?"

"Oh my, yes." Again, she clasped her hands beneath her

chin and said a quick prayer. "I pray to God that she'll see

the light before it's too late."

"She never married?"

"No, she likes men too much, all men. She never wanted

one in particular. Maybe Reede Lambert, but he didn't want

anything permanent."

"She liked him?"

"Very much. They enjoyed each other physically, but it

never amounted to love. Maybe they were too much alike.

Stubborn. They both have a mean streak, too."

Alex tried to make the next question sound casual. "Do

you know if he still sees her?"

"I expect he does," she said, folding her arms across her

middle and sniffing righteously. "He liked us all, but Nora

Gail was always his first choice. I don't know if they still

sleep together, but they've gotta stay friends 'cause they know

too much about each other. Ever since the night Celina was

killed, there's been--"

"What about it?" Alex interrupted.

"What about what?"

"The night Celina was killed."

"Reede was with Nora Gail."

Alex's heart fluttered. "He was with your sister that night?

You're sure?"

Wanda gave her a puzzled look. "I thought everybody

knew that."

Everybody but me, Alex thought bitterly.

She asked Wanda where Nora Gail lived. Reluctantly,



Wanda gave her directions to the house. "I've never been

there, but I know where it is. I don't think you can miss it."

Alex thanked her for the information and rose to leave. At

the door, Wanda became nervous again.' 'I don't think Fergus

would like it that I talked to you."

"He won't hear about it from me." Wanda Gail looked

reassured until Alex added, "I'd advise him against any more

vandalism, and I would appreciate not getting another condemning

letter in the mail."

"Letter?"