Weak Flesh by Robertson Jo

Author:Robertson, Jo [Robertson, Jo]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Jo Robertson
Published: 2012-04-22T15:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Gage browbeat James Wade for over an hour, but the man insisted he hadn't seen Bailey this morning. Although he'd arrived late to his job at the saw mill, he accounted poorly for his actions before ten o'clock when the deputies took him to the Station House.

Gage pressured him further. "This looks very bad for you, Wade," he threatened, his patience nearly threadbare. "Are you telling me you can't remember what you did before work?"

Slouching in the chair opposite Gage's desk, Wade appeared even cockier than during his last interview. Not at all like a man who had something to fret about.

"I ain't done nothing wrong, Marshal. I told you that." Wade spread his hands in a gesture of innocence. "I didn't harm Nellie and I ain't touched that school teacher. I don't know nothing about her."

"You were late to work because you were ill?"

Wade shrugged. "Yeah, I don't rightly remember the details, but I felt pretty poorly."

"Hung over from a late night of drinking, then?"

Gage knew he'd guessed right by the look on Wade's face. The man was probably telling the truth. "Did you see anyone during the time in question? Can anyone testify to your so-called sickness?"

"Didn't see anyone," Wade muttered.

"You drank alone?"

"Not a crime, is it?" Wade countered belligerently.

"Not unless you got skunk-drunk and hurt someone. Maybe accidentally." Gage leaned across the desk and pierced Wade with a hard look. "Maybe you came across Meghan Bailey early this morning. Had words with her. Everyone knows how aggressive the woman can be."

Gage leaned back in his chair, eyed Wade speculatively. "Is that what happened? Miss Bailey accused you of having hurt her friend? She learned something about the two of you, confronted you, and you retaliated. It was an accident, right?"

Wade jumped out of his chair and it clattered to the floor. "God dammit, Marshal! I never seen the woman."

Fifteen minutes later Gage was convinced Wade told the truth. Not about everything. The man was a slippery liar who knew how to protect his own hide, and Gage was certain the little weasel hid something behind all that bluster that he didn't want Gage to know.

But he didn't think the man had run into Bailey between last night and this morning. He believed that part of his story.

He still wanted to discuss the ruby ring, but not now. Right now Bailey was on his mind.

What mess had she gotten herself into, he wondered, still more annoyed than worried.

#

Mr. Thomas was nowhere to be found, but since the schoolhouse was comfortably warm, Meghan took the opportunity to complete a few tasks for the return of the students after vacation. When he still hadn't returned by the time she'd finished up, she glanced at the clock.

She didn't relish arriving early at the Station House and having to wait around the drafty old place for Gage, so decided to visit Mrs. Nolan again instead. The woman had remarked that she was an early riser and invited Meghan to stop by any time she wished to speak about her daughter's schoolwork.

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