by Jude Pittman
“Yep, that’s the way we figured it. Works fine too. Of course, every time a load of kids shows up, the whole damn bar heads down to the creek to cheer him along.”
“That’d probably qualify as cruel and unusual punishment,” Gillian said shaking her head.
“I’ve got something I need to tell you.” Kelly turned back to Stella.
“Marcy?” Kelly heard the fear in her voice.
He nodded. “I’m sorry, Stella. It’s bad news. Mark called a few minutes ago. They’ve charged her with first-degree murder.”
Stella’s hands flew to cover her face and Kelly reached out to pull her against his shoulder. “I know it’s tough but don’t give up. They’re a hell of a long way from a conviction. It’s just a charge. Mark’s a damn good lawyer and he’s not about to sit back and let them railroad her.”
Stella raised her head. “Did you find out anything in Dallas?”
“I’m not sure. I think I might have a chance with Alex’s wife. She’s got her own reasons for not wanting a bunch of insensitive clods digging into her life but we’ll just have to wait and see on that one. Meantime, I’m not giving up. Monday morning I’ll be on the phone to Jim Forbes and maybe he can open a couple of doors for me.”
Stella nodded and turned to Gillian. “Sorry to dump the family problems on you like this.”
“You’re not dumping and listen, I understand. I’ve got a niece I’m pretty fond of myself. Look, if you’d rather talk to Kelly alone, I don’t mind taking a walk. The dogs and I could do with some exercise.”
“No, don’t do that. There’s nothing more to say anyhow. Say, how are you on the pool table?”
Gillian smiled. “Amateur but I’m game to give it a try.”
“Good!” Stella reached in her pocket for a quarter. “Your call.”
* * *
Kelly leaned back on his stool and watched while they played. Stella whipped her easily and he was glad. She needed to win right now. The better he got to know Gillian the more she mattered. She’d used exactly the right touch with Stella and she hadn’t even blinked an eye about the pool game. She’d understood Stella needed some help with her emotions and she’d handled it like a trooper.
Cam came back before the game was finished and the four of them chatted about Saturday night’s shindig for a while. Then Kelly gave Stella a hug, promised to call the minute he heard anything and he and Gillian headed back to the cabin.
It was one of the best weekends Kelly could remember since he lost Lynda. They talked, took long walks, made love, cooked gourmet meals and played with the dogs. The hoedown at the Hideaway was a hit with everybody. Stella was a bit quiet, her mind obviously troubled with thoughts of Marcy but she snagged Kelly for a couple of dances and her initial animosity to Gillian had faded with the pool game. They might not become bosom buddies but they’d get along okay. Kelly was glad, because the way things were shaping up with Stella and Cam, there was a good chance the four of them would be spending a lot of time together.
* * *
Gillian left Sunday afternoon. She had a horse show to attend on Monday. Her assistant did fine with the preliminary workups, but Gillian needed to make sure nothing was overlooked.
The cabin seemed empty. Even the dogs had gone out to spend the warm fall day chasing jackrabbits and sniffing out ground squirrels.
Kelly lounged around for a while, took care of a few household chores and finally went for a walk. He wandered down to the bait house, chatted with Bubba and a couple of fishermen from Fort Worth and then made his way back home.
Inside he saw the light flashing on his answering machine and his heart skipped a beat. Damn, Gillian hadn’t been gone four hours and he was acting like a lovesick pup.
He pushed the button. “Kelly, this is Lorena Miller. I’ve done some thinking about our conversation. I’d like to see you. Could you run over here later on this evening, say about seven? I have to leave for a while but if you can make it, would you call and leave a message with Celestina?”
Kelly rewound the tape and reached for the phone.
“Miller residence.”
“Hi, Celestina. This is Kelly McWinter. The detective who called on Mrs. Miller on Friday.”
“Yes. Mrs. Miller said you would call.”
“Good. Will you tell her that I will be able to make it at seven.”
Chapter Six
“Very dry.” Tanya Leone smiled and held the crystal martini glass to Lorena’s lips.
“Good!” Lorena sipped. Her fingers closed around the delicate stem and she tilted her head to let the icy liquid tingle down her throat.
Tanya moved around the bar. The glass-and-chrome surface caught the light and bounced it back against her suntanned skin. “Have you made a decision?” she asked, running her hand through her honey-colored hair and tucking it behind her ear.
Lorena patted the sofa. Tanya sat and tucked her legs under her seat.
“I don’t know, Tan.” Lorena sighed. “If only Daddy wasn’t such a macho freak. He’d disown me if he found out about us.”
Tanya placed her hands on either side of Lorena’s face and looked into her eyes. “Are you sure? Maybe it wouldn’t be as bad as you think.”
“It would be worse,” Lorena whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. “Daddy wants a grandson. If he even suspected our relationship was a sexual one, he’d make damn good and sure I never saw you again.”
“Does that mean you’re going to pay the blackmailer again?”
“I don’t know. I’ve already paid once and I knew at the time it was stupid. These guys never stop. Besides, I don’t know how I’m going to get hold of fifty thousand dollars without answering any questions. Everything is tied up until the appraiser comes in because of Alex’s death.”
“I thought you owned all this.” Tanya swept her hand to indicate the rich brocade sofa, the grand piano and the elegant stemware that graced tiers of crystal shelving.
“I do but now that Alex is dead, the state requires an inventory of all of our property and according to Gavin, I can’t sell anything until the estate is settled.”
“Couldn’t you get a loan?”
“I suppose but I don’t want to. I’m thinking of going to the police.”
“The police.” Tanya’s eyes widened. “What about your father?”
“I’ll just have to think of a way to explain the photographs. I could tell him I was drugged. If the police catch the blackmailer, he’ll never get a chance to use those photographs. Now Alex is dead, nobody can prove you and I were ever anything more than friends. I thought he was the blackmailer, you know.”
“You thought your husband was the blackmailer?”
“Of course.” Lorena tilted her head and sipped. “Daddy has all the money. Alex didn’t own a thing, except Wyatt Recording and he wasn’t making near enough out of that to support all his habits.”
“But the police... Lorena, think of the scandal. You know they leak all kinds of stuff to the newspapers. It’ll be in all the tabloids.”
Lorena’s eyes flashed. “What’s the matter? Are you afraid to have people know about us?”
“Of course not. That’s your issue, not mine. I don’t have a family, remember? Nobody gives a shit whether I’m straight or not. I was thinking about how much your social life means to you. Do you really want all your friends to start treating you like you’ve got some kind of a disease?”
“I’m sorry, Tan. Don’t mind me tonight. I’m being a bitch.”
Tanya’s laughter rang like music in the room and Lorena caught her breath. Tanya was gorgeous—so young and alive and vibrant. She couldn’t lose her. She wouldn’t lose her. She’d have to think of something.
“What about that detective who caught us out by the pool.”
“What about him?”
“Well, he is a detective and he definitely knows about us. Maybe he’s the blackmailer.”
“Oh, Tan, you goose. He’s been hired to try to get my husba
nd’s mistress out from under a murder charge. Besides, he’s not a blackmailer. He’s one of those true blue types. You know, God and country and the Texas Rangers. That’s him. Straight as they come.”
“Well, there’s your answer. He’s perfect. Why don’t you hire him to find the blackmailer?”
Lorena frowned, swirled the liquid in her glass and drained the last of the drink. “That might be a possibility,” she said, tapping the empty glass against her leg.
“Want a refill?” Tanya slid her legs off the sofa and prepared to stand.
“Please. That was so good.”
Tanya rose and stretched herself. She arched her back, leaned forward, retrieved the empty glass and strolled to the bar. Lorena’s eyes glowed as she followed Tanya’s golden back across the room and a smile played across her lips.
“I got good vibes from this Kelly McWinter,” she said, mulling over Tanya’s suggestion. “I could offer to help him find Alex’s killer. Although I’m quite sure Alex’s little sweetie probably did nail him over the head with a tire iron. I can’t say I blame her. Alex would’ve been hell to live with if I’d had the slightest interest in him as anything more than window dressing.”
“I’ve always wondered how you got him to go along with your little arrangement.” Tanya handed over a fresh drink and slid back down on the sofa.
“That’s easy—money.” There was a bitter edge to Lorena’s voice and a puzzled frown flitted across Tanya’s upturned face.
“You sound like it mattered.”
Lorena’s laugh was heavy with scorn. “Not personally it didn’t. It just confirmed what I’ve always thought of men—my father, Alex, all of them. They’re out for everything they can get and pity the poor woman who falls into their clutches. My mother was a classic example. She adored my father, devoted her entire life to serving his pleasure and in the end, she died of a broken heart because he dumped her like a sack of garbage.”
“I’m sorry, darling. I shouldn’t have asked. Let’s not talk about it. I can’t stand to see you unhappy.”
“Know what I’d rather be thinking about?”
Tanya’s eyes sparkled and mischief lifted the corners of her mouth. “Why don’t we go upstairs and talk about it.”
“That’s the best suggestion I’ve heard all day. You go ahead, I’ll just call that detective and get it over with.”
* * *
When Kelly rang the doorbell promptly at seven, Lorena, relaxed and comfortably dressed in black tights and a snug red shirt, met him at the door.
“Hi!” She flashed a brilliant smile and motioned him inside. “Would you care for a drink?” she asked as she led him into the lounge.
“Thanks. I’ll take a beer if you’ve got one handy.” Lorena nodded.
“Have a seat while I get us fixed up.”
Kelly cautiously lowered himself into a rather decorative armchair and watched as Lorena refilled her own glass and then poured beer into a tall silver stein.
“I suppose you’re wondering why I asked you here?” She handed over the beer and settled into the matching chair.
“Hoping would be more accurate. I assumed you’ve done some thinking about my request.”
She nodded her head. “That’s part of it but I’ll be honest with you. I believe your client did kill my husband. Still, if she’s innocent, I certainly wouldn’t want to see her convicted.”
“I appreciate that,” Kelly said. “And the other part?”
Lorena reached in her pocket and pulled out an envelope. “I’d like you to read something,” she said, handing over the letter.
Kelly read, “As agreed, I enclose the photographs. I have, of course, kept the negatives. One further payment of fifty thousand dollars will secure them for you. Now that your husband is dead, I’m sure you wouldn’t want your father to know the truth about your marriage. This will be the last payment, on my honor. Instructions will follow as before.”
Kelly raised his eyebrow and met Lorena’s eyes. “You’ve already paid this joker something?”
Lorena nodded. “Twenty thousand. At the time it seemed like the only thing to do.”
Kelly shook his head. “It never works, you know. These guys are bloodsuckers and once they get hold of you, they don’t let go until they’ve drained you dry.”
“I know.” Lorena’s reply was barely above a whisper. “There were extenuating circumstances to this. At least I thought there were, at the time.”
“How’s that?”
“I thought the blackmailer was my husband.”
Kelly leaned back in his chair and watched the conflicting emotions flutter across her thin, white face. “I’m a bit confused. Are you saying your husband knew about your—shall we say dual life—and you thought he was threatening to go to your father?”
“Exactly!” Lorena’s tone was matter-of-fact. “My husband and I had an understanding. My husband liked to live extremely well and he was chronically short of money. I assumed, based on what I knew of him, that he’d gotten himself into some kind of a jam and had chosen to extract the money rather than admit his weakness and ask me to give it to him.”
“Is it worth this kind of money to keep your father in the dark?”
“Yes!” She snapped the word, her emotions evident in the rigid set to her chin. “Were the photographs that incriminating?”
“Yes. That’s why I suspected my husband. He’s the only one who could possibly have taken them and I don’t know how even he managed that.”
“Could your husband have had an accomplice?”
Lorena pursed her lips. “It looks like he must have. As you can see, this letter was written after his death, so either he was working with someone, or someone found the photographs after his death and decided to take over where he left off.”
“Do you have any suspicions?”
She shook her head. “I’ve been over it a thousand times. The pictures were taken here, in my own bedroom. That’s why I suspected Alex. It couldn’t have been anybody else.”
“What about your servants?”
“Impossible. Only Celestina is here full-time and I’ve had her since she was a teenager. I have complete confidence in her. Besides, she wouldn’t have the faintest idea how to conceive a blackmail plan.”
“Maybe somebody else put her up to it.”
“No.” Lorena set her chin and shook her head again. “It’s impossible. Celestina has a very limited circle of acquaintances and frankly, I doubt if it would ever occur to her to question my relationship with Tanya.”
Kelly took a swallow and glanced back at the letter. “Surely you don’t think Marcy had anything to with this.” He handed it across to her.
“No.” She shook her head. “At least I hadn’t thought about it. From what I understand, this Marcy is a rather naïve, young girl who was stupid enough to fall for Alex’s line. It takes a certain kind of individual to be a blackmailer and unless I’m wrong about your client, she’s not the type.”
Kelly smiled. “You’re not wrong. She isn’t. I’m curious though, why you’re telling me all this if it doesn’t involve my client.”
“I should think that would be obvious.” Lorena’s eyes searched his face and her lips twisted into a grimace that was probably intended as a smile. “I want to hire you to find the blackmailer.”
Kelly shook his head. “I’m afraid I’ve already got my hands full with Marcy’s case.”
“Wait.” Lorena put up her hand. “Hear me out first. I realize you’ve got a client and I know she’s going to come first with you but consider this. I’m willing to give you all the help you need checking into Alex’s life and associates and all I’m asking in return is that, while you’re searching for his killer, you also search for the person who is blackmailing me. Surely the thought has crossed your mind that they might be one and the same person.”
Kelly looked at her. “Why do you say that?”
“It’s obvious. The blackmailer has to be someone who knew Alex
intimately enough to have access to some very personal photographs. Something a mistress—like your client—would have easy access to. They probably came up with the blackmail scheme together, but knowing Alex he decided he didn’t want to share the money. Your client didn’t like that, so she killed Alex and took the negatives off his dead body.”
“It wasn’t Marcy. But you might have something about the blackmailer being someone Alex trusted. If I decide to help you with that, you’ll need to understand that my primary loyalty is to Marcy. If I discover anything that will clear her of murder, even if it’s contrary to your interests, I will act in her favor.”
“As long as we’re agreed that any information you have about me or my lifestyle will remain confidential even if you stop representing my interests.”
Kelly’s forehead furrowed as he thought over her proposition. Finally he nodded. “I guess I can live with that. Now, about Alex. Can you think of anyone who might have been close enough to him to have the opportunity for blackmail?”
“I’ve been going over that in my own head for days. Obviously it would have to be a female.”
“Why obviously?”
“Because Alex didn’t have male friends. He had acquaintances but he didn’t have friends. Alex was what is commonly referred to as a ladies’ man. He thrived on female attention and he didn’t give a damn whether they were married or not.”
“Which means Alex might’ve been killed by a jealous husband.”
“Of course and that supports my idea about the blackmailer. Alex might’ve given her the negatives for safekeeping. Then, when he was killed, she decided to use them on her own.”
“So, who was that woman?”
Lorena shook her head. “Alex and I led completely separate lives. The only time we even spoke to each other was when we were compelled to attend a social gathering. I was not acquainted with any of his friends and I never made the slightest effort to inquire into his relationships with women. The only thing I can tell you for certain is that the woman was not from our social circle.