Best Kept Secrets(137)
"I'm glad you called. I needed to talk to you anyway."
"Would you like a drink?"
"No, thanks."
"Seen Junior lately?"
"Yes. We had coffee together this morning."
Angus was pleased. His lecture had obviously worked. As
usual, Junior had just needed a pep talk to get into gear.
"Before we get to my business," Angus said, "what's on
your mind?"
"Specifically, the night my mother died, Angus."
His hearty smile faded. "Sit down." He guided her to a
small upholstered couch. "What do you want to know?"
"When I spoke with Junior this morning, he confirmed
what I'd already been told--that he proposed to Celina that
night. I know that you and Mrs. Minton opposed the idea."
"That's right, Alex, we did. I hate to tell you that. I don't
mean to speak badly of your mother because I adored her as
Junior's friend."
"But you didn't want her for his wife."
"No." He leaned forward and wagged his finger at her.
"Don't think it was snobbishness on my part. It wasn't. Sarah
Jo's opinion might have been swayed by class and economic
distinctions, but not mine. I would have objected to Junior
marrying anybody at that time in his life."
"Then why did you consent to his marriage to Stacey
Wallace only a few weeks later?"
No dummy this girl, Angus thought. He assumed an innocent
pose. "The situation had changed by then. He'd been
emotionally devastated by Celina's death. Stacey worshiped
the ground he walked on. I thought she would be good for him.
For a while, she was. I don't regret blessing that marriage."
"A prestigious judge's daughter was also a far more suitable
match for the son of Angus Minton."
His blue eyes darkened. "You're disappointing me, Alex.
What you're suggesting is downright tacky. Do you think I'd
force my son into a loveless marriage?"
"I don't know. Would you?"
"No!"
"Even if the stakes were awfully high?"
"Listen," he said, lowering his voice for emphasis, "anything
I've ever done for my boy has been for his own good.''
"Does that include killing Celina?"
Angus jerked upright. "You've got your nerve, young
lady."
"I'm sorry. I can't afford to be subtle. Angus, Junior says
he left the ranch that night, angry and hurt, because Celina
turned down his proposal."
"That's right."
"It was left to you to drive her home."
"Yes. Instead, I offered her one of the cars and gave her
the keys. She told me good-bye and left the house. I assumed
she drove herself home."
"Did anyone overhear this conversation?"
"Not that I know of."
"Not even your wife?"
"She went up to bed right after supper."
"Don't you see, Angus? You've got no alibi. There's no
witness to what happened after Junior left.''
It pleased him enormously that she seemed worried about
it. Her features were anxious and drawn. Lately, he'd found
it hard to think of this girl as his enemy. Evidently, she was
nursing that same ambiguity.
"I slept with Sarah Jo that night," he said. "She'll vouch
for that. So will Reede. We were in bed the next morning
when he came running in to tell us that he'd found Celina's
body in the stable."
"Wasn't my grandmother worried about her? When Celina
didn't come home, didn't she telephone the ranch?"
"In fact, she did. Celina had already left the house. She
had bragged that you were already sleeping through the night,
so I guess Mrs. Graham went back to bed, assuming that she
was on her way. She didn't realize until the following morning
that Celina hadn't made it home."
"What time did Grandma Graham call?"
"I don't remember. It wasn't very late because I was still
up. I usually go to bed early. I was especially tired after the
day we'd spent in the stable with that mare."
Alex was frowning in concentration. He grinned. "Sound
plausible?"
Grudgingly, she returned his smile. "Yes, but it's riddled
with holes."
"It's damn sure not enough to ask a grand jury for a murder
indictment. It's nothing like a blood-soaked Gooney Bud
holding a scalpel."
Alex said nothing.
Angus reached out and covered her hand. "I hope I didn't
hurt your feelings, talking frankly about your mother like