Best Kept Secrets(162)

Furious, she wrested her arm free and ran through the

house, grabbing his keys off the end table where she'd seen

him drop them the night before.

Reede let her go and placed a call to his downtown office. Without preamble, he barked, "Get me a car out here on the

double."



"They're all out, Sheriff. All except the Jeep."

"That'll do. Just get it here."



Forty-five



Stacey Wallace Minton shocked her friends by walking into

the living room fully dressed, dry-eyed, and seemingly composed.

They had been speaking in hushed tones in deference

to her suffering. They had believed that she was getting some

much-needed rest in preparation for the ordeal facing her.

Tupperware and Pyrex dishes, filled with salads and casseroles

and desserts, had been delivered to the house by a

steady stream of concerned acquaintances. Without exception,

all had asked, "How's she taking it?"

By all appearances, Stacey was taking her father's death

very well. As always, she was impeccably dressed and

groomed. Except for the grayish circles beneath her eyes, she

could have been on her way to a club meeting.

"Stacey, did we wake you? We put a note on the door,

asking people to knock instead of ringing the bell."

"I've been awake for a while," she told her friends. "What

time did Junior leave?"

"Sometime during the night. Would you like something

to eat? Lordy, there's enough food in there to feed an army.''

"No, thank you, nothing right now."

"Mr. Davis called. He needs to discuss the funeral arrangements

with you, but said that could be at your convenience."

"I'll contact him later this morning."

As her friends watched in stupefaction, she went to the



hall closet and took out her coat. They exchanged concerned

and bewildered glances.

"Stacey, dear, where are you going?"

"Out."

"We'll be glad to run errands for you. That's what we're

here for."

"I appreciate the offer, but this is something I've got to

do myself."

"What are we supposed to tell people when they drop by

to see you?" one asked, anxiously following her to the front

door.

Stacey turned and calmly replied, "Tell them whatever

you like."



Angus didn't seem surprised to see Alex when she walked

into his den unannounced. He was seated on the leather sofa,

massaging the toe that continued to give him pain. "I didn't

hear you come in," he said. "I just got in from the stables

myself. We've got a two-year-old gelding with shin bucks,

which can't be a damn bit more painful than gout."

"Lupe told me you were back here."

"Do you want some breakfast? Coffee?"

"No, thank you, Angus." Hospitable to the bitter end,

Alex thought. "Is this a convenient time-for us to talk?"

He laughed. "As convenient a time as any, I reckon, considering

what we're going to talk about.'' She sat down beside

him on the sofa. He studied her with shrewd blue eyes. ' 'Did

Joe spill his guts before he killed himself?"

"He didn't invite me to his office to take a confession, if

that's what you mean," she answered, "but I know about

your deal with him. How did you talk Junior into going along

with it, Angus?"

"At that point in time," he said, making no effort to deny

her allegations, "the boy didn't care what happened to him.

Celina's death hit him so hard, he was married to Joe's girl

almost before he realized it. Know what? I'm not sure he

could have made it those first few months if Stacey hadn't



taken such good care of him. I never regretted making that

deal with Joe."

"Who were you protecting?"

Changing the subject abruptly, he said, "You look a little

worse for wear this morning. Did Reede ride you that hard

last night?"

Embarrassed, Alex ducked her head. "Junior told you?"

"Yes." He pulled on his boot, wincing as he worked the

sore toe into it. "Can't say that I'm surprised--disappointed,

but not surprised."

She lifted her head. "Why?"

"Like mother, like daughter. Reede always had an edge

over every other man with Celina. Who knows why? That's

just the way it was. Chemistry, I think they call it nowadays.''

He set his foot on the floor and leaned back against the tufted

sofa. "What's between you two?"

"It's more than chemistry."

"So, you love him?"

"Yes."

He drew a worried expression. "I'll caution you like a

daddy would, Alex. Reede's not an easy man to love. He