A Marked Man by Stella Cameron

Author:Stella Cameron [Cameron, Stella]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MIRA
Published: 2006-12-12T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

“A sheriff knows things are out of control when the whole damn town moves a meetin’ about a crime to the rectory,” Spike said, clattering into Cyrus’s kitchen, the heels of his boots ringing. “What happened to this kind of get-together bein’ held at the station?” He nodded at Guy who gave a sloppy salute.

Cyrus’s kitchen was pretty crowded and he forgave Spike for sounding off. The man was up to his eyes in missing women and the breaks weren’t coming his way. “It’s because Lil’s expected back here—we hope,” Cyrus told him. “We want to be around when she shows up. We’re not meetin’ about a crime as far as we know.”

Spike ignored Cyrus and pointed at Annie. “Dr. Reb told me she’s on her way over to take a look at you.” His attention shifted from Annie to Max. Spike’s eyes narrowed. “You’d better get in line for medical attention. What the hell’s goin’ on around here?” He glanced at Cyrus. “Sorry, Father.”

“Never could keep his mouth clean,” Homer said. He slouched off in a corner by himself, his elbow propped on a white-tiled counter.

Spike stared at Max again. “Your old buddy Tom Walen’s blown any cover you thought you had in this town. He’s made sure folks are thinkin’ you could save us a lot of grief and money by lettin’ on what you did with Michele Riley.”

Max knew any response he made would sound defensive.

“That’s like accusin’ him,” Annie said. She turned a lighter shade of pale so the scratches on her face glared. “They couldn’t even try him on those two other women. He’s bein’ trapped by gossip.”

“If he’s trapped, he’ll do it himself,” Spike said. “Or maybe I should say he’s already done it himself. You’ll need to account for your movements today and this evening, Max. Unless Lil shows up first—alive and healthy.”

“Now you’re tryin’ to say he’s done somethin’ to Lil?” Annie jutted her chin. “That’s just wrong, Spike.”

Nothing was good about the situation, but Annie’s attempt to protect him eased Max’s pent-up anger.

The smell of coffee, good as it probably was, turned Annie’s stomach. Max might get arrested because some people could turn rumors into facts.

No one broke the silence. Most wouldn’t look at one another.

Annie could scarcely bear to see Madge. As worried as she must be about Lil, Annie had figured out that for Madge, little Millie was the recipient of all the love the woman couldn’t give to…Annie glanced at Cyrus and her eyes filled with tears. He watched Madge like a desperate man. He had made the Church his bride, but he cared deeply for Madge, and not just as a friend the way they both pretended. Did they fool themselves? Annie wondered.

“I want to hear it again,” Spike said and cleared his throat. “From the top. Everything any of you can remember about Lil’s movements today. Sometimes you hear somethin’ you didn’t notice before.”

“From the top,” Homer muttered. “You’d think we were havin’ one of those musical rehearsals.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.