Read Online Killing the Secret by Donna Welch Jones - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Donna Welch Jones
Ads: Link
You need me more than I need you.”
“You do have a good point, Wilbur. However, unlike you, I can leave this town within twenty-four hours and never look back. On the other hand, you’re sixty-two and likely will spend the rest of your life in the state pen. So you might want to reconsider who needs whom the most.”
Delia snickered.
Wilbur clamped his lips shut and flopped down on the cot. He was snoring loudly within ten minutes.
“That man is obnoxious,” Delia said. “Any news on the case?”
“We can’t talk about it as long as Wilbur is here. He may be faking sleep to get more information. His preliminary hearing is at three. After that, we’ll start calling people in for interviews.”
“Do you want me to pick-up a sandwich for you across the street?” Delia offered.
“Yes, thanks. I’m not ready to face all the hate. Please get something for Wilbur, too.”
Delia rolled her eyes.
As Delia retrieved her purse and walked out the door, Lexie was wondering what the woman thought of her. Maybe she, too, believed that Lexie helped Abbey’s killer. Delia was more like a mother to her than her own. The thought of Delia’s possible disapproval brought Lexie’s ever-ready tears back to the surface.
The back door slammed. Lexie sprung from her chair-ready to draw her gun.
“And well you should stand in my presence,” Red laughed. His blue eyes lit with humor.
“Don’t be so loud.” Lexie eased back in her chair. “Most of the town hates me. At any moment I expect to be drug to a hanging tree. What’s worse, you might have woken up the sleeping drug dealer. Trust me, he’s far more likeable asleep, in spite of the snoring.”
“Sorry, Sheriff, I’ll try to be more gentle and dainty the next time I enter your presence.” Red shoved over the phone and sat on the edge of her desk.
“To what do I owe this visit, Mr. Anderson?”
“Just an offer of help. If you need anything, just ask. By the way, Tye and I saw no sign of Abbey’s car this morning when we flew over the area.”
“I appreciate the offer. Right now I’m on hold until I get Wilbur to court,” Lexie said.
Red reached down and pulled her to her feet. His muscled arms enclosed her and she felt safe for a few seconds.
“I’m out of here. Got a paying customer this evening. Keep your chin up.” Red left as quickly as he arrived.
Lexie went into the restroom to cry. Sometimes kindness was harder to deal with than scorn. Perhaps it was because she didn’t think she deserved forgiveness. She agreed with her enemies: Abbey was killed because she didn’t take her seriously. Now she needed to find the murderer before someone else died.
She washed her face then brushed and braided her hair for the first time in two days.
“Lunch is here,” Delia called from the other room.
Lexie handed Wilbur his sandwich through the cell bars. She wrote notes as she chewed.
Cecil Lansbury arrived soon after their trash was tossed in the can. He was 300 pounds of ruthlessness in the courtroom, but in person he was the closest thing Diffee had to a gentleman. His round baby-face defied his sixty-three years.
“Hello, Miss Delia,” he said in a reverent voice.
“Hello, Cecil. Why are you defending that scum?”
Cecil’s voice was gentle and steady. “Everyone gets representation, Ms. Delia.”
“I know, I know, but he doesn’t deserve the best attorney in the state.”
Cecil blushed. “Thank you for that, Ms. Delia.”
“Cecil, the three of us can walk over to the courthouse. I’ll find an office for you to meet with him privately,” Lexie offered.
She unlocked the cell and handcuffed Wilbur. For some reason, he’d been very quiet since his nap.
“Good day, Ms. Delia,” Cecil said.
“Same to you.”
During the walk to the two-story brick court building, Lexie passed Ruben and Sam sitting at their usual spot.
“Hello,” she said. Neither man spoke. Ruben nodded and Sam diverted his eyes.
Wilbur didn’t miss the
“You do have a good point, Wilbur. However, unlike you, I can leave this town within twenty-four hours and never look back. On the other hand, you’re sixty-two and likely will spend the rest of your life in the state pen. So you might want to reconsider who needs whom the most.”
Delia snickered.
Wilbur clamped his lips shut and flopped down on the cot. He was snoring loudly within ten minutes.
“That man is obnoxious,” Delia said. “Any news on the case?”
“We can’t talk about it as long as Wilbur is here. He may be faking sleep to get more information. His preliminary hearing is at three. After that, we’ll start calling people in for interviews.”
“Do you want me to pick-up a sandwich for you across the street?” Delia offered.
“Yes, thanks. I’m not ready to face all the hate. Please get something for Wilbur, too.”
Delia rolled her eyes.
As Delia retrieved her purse and walked out the door, Lexie was wondering what the woman thought of her. Maybe she, too, believed that Lexie helped Abbey’s killer. Delia was more like a mother to her than her own. The thought of Delia’s possible disapproval brought Lexie’s ever-ready tears back to the surface.
The back door slammed. Lexie sprung from her chair-ready to draw her gun.
“And well you should stand in my presence,” Red laughed. His blue eyes lit with humor.
“Don’t be so loud.” Lexie eased back in her chair. “Most of the town hates me. At any moment I expect to be drug to a hanging tree. What’s worse, you might have woken up the sleeping drug dealer. Trust me, he’s far more likeable asleep, in spite of the snoring.”
“Sorry, Sheriff, I’ll try to be more gentle and dainty the next time I enter your presence.” Red shoved over the phone and sat on the edge of her desk.
“To what do I owe this visit, Mr. Anderson?”
“Just an offer of help. If you need anything, just ask. By the way, Tye and I saw no sign of Abbey’s car this morning when we flew over the area.”
“I appreciate the offer. Right now I’m on hold until I get Wilbur to court,” Lexie said.
Red reached down and pulled her to her feet. His muscled arms enclosed her and she felt safe for a few seconds.
“I’m out of here. Got a paying customer this evening. Keep your chin up.” Red left as quickly as he arrived.
Lexie went into the restroom to cry. Sometimes kindness was harder to deal with than scorn. Perhaps it was because she didn’t think she deserved forgiveness. She agreed with her enemies: Abbey was killed because she didn’t take her seriously. Now she needed to find the murderer before someone else died.
She washed her face then brushed and braided her hair for the first time in two days.
“Lunch is here,” Delia called from the other room.
Lexie handed Wilbur his sandwich through the cell bars. She wrote notes as she chewed.
Cecil Lansbury arrived soon after their trash was tossed in the can. He was 300 pounds of ruthlessness in the courtroom, but in person he was the closest thing Diffee had to a gentleman. His round baby-face defied his sixty-three years.
“Hello, Miss Delia,” he said in a reverent voice.
“Hello, Cecil. Why are you defending that scum?”
Cecil’s voice was gentle and steady. “Everyone gets representation, Ms. Delia.”
“I know, I know, but he doesn’t deserve the best attorney in the state.”
Cecil blushed. “Thank you for that, Ms. Delia.”
“Cecil, the three of us can walk over to the courthouse. I’ll find an office for you to meet with him privately,” Lexie offered.
She unlocked the cell and handcuffed Wilbur. For some reason, he’d been very quiet since his nap.
“Good day, Ms. Delia,” Cecil said.
“Same to you.”
During the walk to the two-story brick court building, Lexie passed Ruben and Sam sitting at their usual spot.
“Hello,” she said. Neither man spoke. Ruben nodded and Sam diverted his eyes.
Wilbur didn’t miss the
Similar Books
