Read Online Slade's Secret Son by Elizabeth August - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Elizabeth August
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“Texas Ranger.” He shook his head. “I’m not surprised. So what’d he do down there?”
“He’s not wanted for anything. We just need to talk to him,” Slade said in an easy drawl.
“Well, you’re too late. He got himself into anothertraffic accident about two months ago. This time, he managed to kill himself. Good riddance, if you ask me.”
Slade extended his hand to the man. “Thanks for the information.”
The man accepted the handshake, nodded to Lisa, then continued on down the street.
“That takes care of Grady,” Lisa said, opening the back passenger door and tossing the file onto the seat.
“So which case do you want to look into next?” Slade asked.
“Rachel Miller.” Lisa pulled the woman’s file out of the box, closed the door and climbed into the front seat. “The more I think about it, the more she seems like a likely candidate to go off the deep end. She was very high-strung.”
Slade drove to the address she gave him. It was a split-level home in one of the more upscale suburbs. The large front lawn was beautifully manicured and the gardens were full of flowers. “This place has taken on a new life,” Lisa remarked, recalling how the lawn had been in desperate need of a mowing and the gardens had been inundated with weeds on her first trip here. “The place used to look as depressed as its owner was. Maybe she moved.”
“Don’t let your guard down just because the scenery is prettier,” Slade ordered.
Lisa frowned at herself for being distracted by the change in the place. Still, she was ready to wager that Rachel Miller didn’t live here anymore. And I would have lost that wager , she admitted when their knock was answered by the small brunette. It was the same Rachel Miller but different. She was all smiles and there was an expression of honest welcome on her face.
“Miss Gray,” the woman gushed, recognizing Lisa immediately. “It’s so good to see you again.”
Slade glanced at Lisa questioningly.
Catching the exchange, Rachel laughed. “I’ll admit we parted under less friendly circumstances, but I owe everything to Miss Gray.” She made a large waving gesture with her arm to indicate their surroundings. Her expression becoming sympathetic, she returned her attention to Lisa. “I was so sorry to read about you getting shot.”
“Thanks.” Lisa was having a hard time getting used to the new Rachel Miller and couldn’t help wondering if this was an act. But it didn’t look or feel like an act.
“Oh, my manners,” Rachel admonished herself. “Please, come in. Can I offer you some coffee?”
“No, thanks,” Lisa replied for both herself and Slade as they stepped inside. In the hall, there was a huge mirror on the wall and a bouquet of flowers on the table beneath it. And there was a light and airy feel to the house. The last time she’d been here, the curtains had all been drawn and there had been no mirror.
Rachel led the way into the living room. When they were all seated, she regarded Lisa with a puzzled look. “I’m glad to see you so that I can thank you, but why are you here?”
“We think that Lisa wasn’t shot by accident. We think she might have been the target,” Slade said bluntly.
For a moment Rachel said nothing, then her smile returned. “And you thought I might be responsible.”
“You were very upset with me,” Lisa reminded her.
Rachel nodded. “You’re right. I was.” Her expression became one of gratitude. “But I’m not angry with you any longer. I owe this whole new life to you.” Excitement spread over her features. “I’ve been on television.” She named several of the most popular talk shows andtwo morning news shows. “They all wanted to do something to warn people about plastic surgery…you know, how to really be careful about choosing a doctor and not expecting too much.” Her smile broadened. “And next week, I’m going in for some reconstructive surgery by the very best plastic surgeon in the
“He’s not wanted for anything. We just need to talk to him,” Slade said in an easy drawl.
“Well, you’re too late. He got himself into anothertraffic accident about two months ago. This time, he managed to kill himself. Good riddance, if you ask me.”
Slade extended his hand to the man. “Thanks for the information.”
The man accepted the handshake, nodded to Lisa, then continued on down the street.
“That takes care of Grady,” Lisa said, opening the back passenger door and tossing the file onto the seat.
“So which case do you want to look into next?” Slade asked.
“Rachel Miller.” Lisa pulled the woman’s file out of the box, closed the door and climbed into the front seat. “The more I think about it, the more she seems like a likely candidate to go off the deep end. She was very high-strung.”
Slade drove to the address she gave him. It was a split-level home in one of the more upscale suburbs. The large front lawn was beautifully manicured and the gardens were full of flowers. “This place has taken on a new life,” Lisa remarked, recalling how the lawn had been in desperate need of a mowing and the gardens had been inundated with weeds on her first trip here. “The place used to look as depressed as its owner was. Maybe she moved.”
“Don’t let your guard down just because the scenery is prettier,” Slade ordered.
Lisa frowned at herself for being distracted by the change in the place. Still, she was ready to wager that Rachel Miller didn’t live here anymore. And I would have lost that wager , she admitted when their knock was answered by the small brunette. It was the same Rachel Miller but different. She was all smiles and there was an expression of honest welcome on her face.
“Miss Gray,” the woman gushed, recognizing Lisa immediately. “It’s so good to see you again.”
Slade glanced at Lisa questioningly.
Catching the exchange, Rachel laughed. “I’ll admit we parted under less friendly circumstances, but I owe everything to Miss Gray.” She made a large waving gesture with her arm to indicate their surroundings. Her expression becoming sympathetic, she returned her attention to Lisa. “I was so sorry to read about you getting shot.”
“Thanks.” Lisa was having a hard time getting used to the new Rachel Miller and couldn’t help wondering if this was an act. But it didn’t look or feel like an act.
“Oh, my manners,” Rachel admonished herself. “Please, come in. Can I offer you some coffee?”
“No, thanks,” Lisa replied for both herself and Slade as they stepped inside. In the hall, there was a huge mirror on the wall and a bouquet of flowers on the table beneath it. And there was a light and airy feel to the house. The last time she’d been here, the curtains had all been drawn and there had been no mirror.
Rachel led the way into the living room. When they were all seated, she regarded Lisa with a puzzled look. “I’m glad to see you so that I can thank you, but why are you here?”
“We think that Lisa wasn’t shot by accident. We think she might have been the target,” Slade said bluntly.
For a moment Rachel said nothing, then her smile returned. “And you thought I might be responsible.”
“You were very upset with me,” Lisa reminded her.
Rachel nodded. “You’re right. I was.” Her expression became one of gratitude. “But I’m not angry with you any longer. I owe this whole new life to you.” Excitement spread over her features. “I’ve been on television.” She named several of the most popular talk shows andtwo morning news shows. “They all wanted to do something to warn people about plastic surgery…you know, how to really be careful about choosing a doctor and not expecting too much.” Her smile broadened. “And next week, I’m going in for some reconstructive surgery by the very best plastic surgeon in the
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