Thick as Thieves(67)

She couldn’t deny a stab of jealousy.

“Thank you for this,” she said as Crystal led her into a homey, pleasant living area. It was neat and uncluttered, but felt lived in. “I thought of calling ahead, but—”

“You thought an ambush would be more effective.”

Arden gave her an abashed look. “Truthfully? Yes. Someone recently pulled a similar stunt on me.”

“Ledge?”

“He, uh, wanted to demonstrate the inadequacies of my locks.”

“Sounds like him.”

Arden didn’t take it further than that.

Crystal motioned her into a chair. “In any case, I’m glad you sought me out. Red or white?”

“Whichever.”

“How about a bourbon?”

Arden laughed nervously. “Do I look like I need it?”

“A bit.”

Once they had drinks in hand, and Crystal was sitting opposite her on the sofa, she said, “I heard about the loss of your baby. I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you.” Arden couldn’t think of a graceful way to ask if Crystal had children or planned to, so she kept her curiosity at bay.

To break that solemn spell, each took a sip of her drink. Crystal said, “I suppose you came to me because you’re aware of my close relationship with Ledge.”

“I don’t believe it’s a secret to anyone.”

Crystal gave a wry smile over that. “What I want you to understand is that my loyalty lies with him. He’s very protective of my privacy, and it works both ways. I won’t betray any of his confidences.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to.”

“Good.” She settled more comfortably on the sofa. “What is it you want to ask me?”

“Ledge told me himself that he and the current DA have been in a grudge match for many years. But he didn’t tell me why.” She stared into the exotic pair of eyes. “Is it over you?”

Crystal looked down into her drink. “It was. I mean, they already disliked each other before I entered the picture, but it intensified when we got to high school and Ledge and I started hanging out. Rusty felt entitled to having anything he wanted.”

“He wanted you, and you were Ledge’s girl.”

She gave a small shrug. “Rusty hated that.”

“I know that Ledge enlisted in the army even before he graduated.”

“He’s told you quite a lot about himself.”

“I twisted his arm. He told me about how he came to be a soldier and how long he served. That was a long time for the two of you to be separated.”

“We were each busy doing our thing. I started out a beautician in the salon. When the owner got ready to retire, I got a small business loan and took it over.”

“And obviously made a success of it.” Wanting to get back to the subject of the hostility between the two men, she said, “With Ledge away, you were left free for the competition.”

“Believe me, Rusty was never competition, but he took advantage of Ledge’s absence. He tried numerous times to get something going with me, even after he married and started his family. Anywhere I happened to be, he would show up and make sure that people saw us talking.”

“Insinuating that there was something between you.”

“Exactly.” She looked sorrowfully into the near distance. “Judy, his wife, believed there was. Still does. She despises me. Little does she know how much I despise him.”

“Why don’t you tell her?”

“Have a showdown? Her accusing, me denying?” She shook her head. “That would only spawn more gossip. But Rusty knows full well how much I detest him. I made it plain to him that I wouldn’t have anything to do with him, even if Ledge didn’t exist.”

“He didn’t take no for an answer.”

“He doesn’t,” she said.

“He still pursues you?”

“Not as openly. He stopped doing that when Ledge came back. Ledge may be the only person in the world who intimidates him. Which, of course, makes Rusty even more resentful of him.”

She paused before adding thoughtfully, “But their feud isn’t only about me anymore. It’s evolved over the years. It’s over something that runs much deeper.”

“What?”

“You’ll have to get that from one of them.”

Unsurprised by her evasion, but also frustrated by it, Arden said, “Do you know what it is?”

“Aspects of it. Not everything.”

Arden covered her hesitation to continue by taking a sip of her drink. “I think their conflict has something to do with the night my father disappeared.”

Crystal’s eyes widened fractionally, indicating to Arden that she had knowledge of the night in question. Her guard went up again. “What would be the connection?”

“Ledge was arrested that same night.”

Crystal replied with a soft yes.

“He claims Rusty set him up.”

“He’s certain of it,” Crystal said.

“Do you believe that’s the case?”

“I believe Rusty is that unscrupulous.”

“So do I.”

“I didn’t know you had met him.”