me.”
“It’s like something in the movies,” Frankie said.
“Not the G-rated ones you’re supposed to be watching.” She tried to smile. “I always told Charlie not to let you watch those action movies.”
“Can’t the police or someone keep him from hurting you?”
“They’re trying. There are problems. He’s very important.”
“I don’t understand.”
How could she? Grace thought. Bribes and deals and corruption were outside her realm of knowledge. “Sometimes I don’t either. But the bottom line is that we have to run.”
“But you didn’t do anything wrong.” Frankie was frowning. “Can’t we fight them?”
Three million dollars on Frankie’s head.
“No, we can’t. But I’ll try to work out a way that will keep us from having to run again.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry this happened, Frankie. I wish I could have stopped it.”
Frankie turned. “Charlie would have wanted you to fight. He was in World War Two, and he said if they hadn’t fought those Nazis they would have run all over this country. Even here in Alabama . . .”
Grace watched her lead Darling into the stable. She’d taken it as well as Grace could expect. It was probably not real to her, as that remark about the movies proved. But Charlie’s death was real; that terror she’d experienced last night was real. Given time, she’d accept the reality of the story Grace had told her. She dismounted and started to follow Frankie.
“Grace.” Robert was coming toward her. “I’ll take care of your horse. North and Crane are here. They’re in the car outside the paddock. They want to talk to you.”
“I don’t want to talk to—” She stopped. She had no choice. She had to talk to them. She’d need help to relocate and protection for Frankie. She tossed Robert the reins of her horse. “Frankie will help you. Stay with her until I get back.”
He nodded and led the horse into the stable.
She glanced at the blue Buick outside the paddock. No one else had gotten out of the car. They were making her come to them. A psychological move? If it was, it didn’t bode well.
She started across the paddock toward the Buick.
H ell, no!” Grace opened the door of the Buick and got out. “You’re nuts if you think I’d let you use me or Frankie for your games.”
“You’d be quite safe,” Crane said. “We’d see that you were protected. We just need to draw Marvot out of his lair, and you may be the ticket.”
“And put Frankie at more risk? No way. Find us a place to dig in until Marvot forgets about us.”
Crane shook his head. “Unfortunately, we can no longer fund your protection. After all, we gave you eight years.”
“And my father gave his life.”
“I know nothing about that. It was before my time. My job is to put this business to rest, and I expect your help in doing it.”
“By letting you stake us out like a goat for a tiger.”
“Or perhaps take a more active role. I understand you might be able to—”
“Screw you.”
Crane flushed. “Understand me. Cooperate or you’re on your own. You’ve had a free ride long enough. I’m leaving for Washington this evening. I’ll expect your answer.”
She turned to North. “You’re not talking. Is Crane speaking for both of you?”
He shrugged. “He’s my superior, Ms. Archer.”
“And that’s my answer?” She slammed the car door. “Get your butts off this farm. That’s your answer.” She strode away from them toward the paddock.
“You were tough on her,” North said. “She can’t be pushed, sir.”
“Everyone can be pushed,” Crane said. “You just have to press the right buttons. She has a child to protect, and she’ll give in eventually. Start the car. Let’s get back to town. I want her to see us drive off. The finality will frighten her.”
“Don’t count on it.” North glanced after Grace as he started the car. She was staring straight ahead, and her body language was angry and
“It’s like something in the movies,” Frankie said.
“Not the G-rated ones you’re supposed to be watching.” She tried to smile. “I always told Charlie not to let you watch those action movies.”
“Can’t the police or someone keep him from hurting you?”
“They’re trying. There are problems. He’s very important.”
“I don’t understand.”
How could she? Grace thought. Bribes and deals and corruption were outside her realm of knowledge. “Sometimes I don’t either. But the bottom line is that we have to run.”
“But you didn’t do anything wrong.” Frankie was frowning. “Can’t we fight them?”
Three million dollars on Frankie’s head.
“No, we can’t. But I’ll try to work out a way that will keep us from having to run again.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry this happened, Frankie. I wish I could have stopped it.”
Frankie turned. “Charlie would have wanted you to fight. He was in World War Two, and he said if they hadn’t fought those Nazis they would have run all over this country. Even here in Alabama . . .”
Grace watched her lead Darling into the stable. She’d taken it as well as Grace could expect. It was probably not real to her, as that remark about the movies proved. But Charlie’s death was real; that terror she’d experienced last night was real. Given time, she’d accept the reality of the story Grace had told her. She dismounted and started to follow Frankie.
“Grace.” Robert was coming toward her. “I’ll take care of your horse. North and Crane are here. They’re in the car outside the paddock. They want to talk to you.”
“I don’t want to talk to—” She stopped. She had no choice. She had to talk to them. She’d need help to relocate and protection for Frankie. She tossed Robert the reins of her horse. “Frankie will help you. Stay with her until I get back.”
He nodded and led the horse into the stable.
She glanced at the blue Buick outside the paddock. No one else had gotten out of the car. They were making her come to them. A psychological move? If it was, it didn’t bode well.
She started across the paddock toward the Buick.
H ell, no!” Grace opened the door of the Buick and got out. “You’re nuts if you think I’d let you use me or Frankie for your games.”
“You’d be quite safe,” Crane said. “We’d see that you were protected. We just need to draw Marvot out of his lair, and you may be the ticket.”
“And put Frankie at more risk? No way. Find us a place to dig in until Marvot forgets about us.”
Crane shook his head. “Unfortunately, we can no longer fund your protection. After all, we gave you eight years.”
“And my father gave his life.”
“I know nothing about that. It was before my time. My job is to put this business to rest, and I expect your help in doing it.”
“By letting you stake us out like a goat for a tiger.”
“Or perhaps take a more active role. I understand you might be able to—”
“Screw you.”
Crane flushed. “Understand me. Cooperate or you’re on your own. You’ve had a free ride long enough. I’m leaving for Washington this evening. I’ll expect your answer.”
She turned to North. “You’re not talking. Is Crane speaking for both of you?”
He shrugged. “He’s my superior, Ms. Archer.”
“And that’s my answer?” She slammed the car door. “Get your butts off this farm. That’s your answer.” She strode away from them toward the paddock.
“You were tough on her,” North said. “She can’t be pushed, sir.”
“Everyone can be pushed,” Crane said. “You just have to press the right buttons. She has a child to protect, and she’ll give in eventually. Start the car. Let’s get back to town. I want her to see us drive off. The finality will frighten her.”
“Don’t count on it.” North glanced after Grace as he started the car. She was staring straight ahead, and her body language was angry and
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