The Price He Paid by Jean Brashear

Author:Jean Brashear
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Jean Brashear
Published: 2019-02-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

The old man met them at the door. “What’s he doing here?”

“Mr. Langley is with me, Mr. Sims. We’re inspecting the properties Miss Margaret left to me.”

“Uh-uh. Not having a murderer in my house. Man nearly beat my nephew bloody when he tried to help Mickey.”

Callie didn’t have to look back to feel David stiffen. She wondered which one of Mickey Carson’s drinking buddies this man was related to. “Mr. Sims…” she began.

“You get the hell off my property,” the old man interrupted. “You ought to still be locked up. Ned Compton was going to save Oak Hollow. Town’s suffered ever since.”

“That’s enough, Mr. Sims.” Callie glanced back and saw David’s jaw harden, his green eyes flare. For a second, she considered leaving, but then she realized that this man might have information that could impact David’s case. She needed anything she could get, but antagonizing him would gain nothing, so she made a choice. “Would you please excuse us?” she said to David. “I’ll catch up with you at the next place, all right?”

David went utterly still, and one glimpse from him made her feel queasy at the cost to him. His shoulders were ramrod straight as he turned on his heel and left without a word.

“Miss Margaret would be ashamed of you, keeping company with a criminal, young lady.”

Callie bit her lip until it hurt. “May I come inside?” she asked instead. “I’m trying to take good care of Miss Margaret’s estate, and I’d appreciate a few minutes of your time to discuss your situation.”

“I missed only one payment.”

“I’m not here to cause problems, Mr. Sims. I simply want to talk a little and see what we can work out.”

“Invite her in, for goodness sake, Hiram,” said a female voice from behind him. “I’m Luella Sims. You’d be Miss Margaret’s niece. Please come in. Would you care for some sweet tea on this hot morning?” The woman was tall and big-boned, her hair a silver helmet.

“Thank you. I’d appreciate that.”

“I’ll be right back. You just have a seat.”

Her husband grudgingly escorted Callie to a sofa dotted with floral chintz pillows, then took his own seat in a rump-sprung recliner. Arrayed on top of the television were several photos of various adults and children. “Your family?” she asked.

He shrugged a shoulder and only grunted.

Mrs. Sims bustled back in with a sweating glass, placing it on a crocheted doily atop the coffee table in front of Callie. “Yes, our three girls and their babies. Seven grandchildren in all.” She beamed.

This could be her source, Callie realized, so she sought for the correct response, though her store of small talk was sorely lacking. “They’re very cute.”

“Bright as pennies, every one of them. Tim here—” She touched one photo of a boy maybe around Jessie Lee’s age. “He’s already decided to be a lawyer.”

“Boy could argue the day of the week and convince you,” grumbled his grandfather, but there was pride in his tone.

Callie wondered if pointing out that she was an attorney would help or hinder her aim.

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.