After Dark (16 page)

    "I can't do that."

    Johnny Mack came up behind her, a
hairbreadth between his chest and her back. He ached to reach out and
place his arms around her, to draw her close within his embrace. He felt
the tension in her body as she stood there rigid as a statue. He suspected
that she was holding her breath, waiting to see if he would touch her. He
wanted to. God, how he wanted to.

    "You told me yourself that
you might need a good lawyer," he said. "If the evidence against
you warrants a grand jury hearing, then it's possible you'll be arrested
for Kent's murder."

    "I can hire my own lawyer."

    "I've already hired one for
you."

    She spun around and glared at him.
"You've already contacted Quinn Cortez?"

    "Last night. One phone call from
me and he'll fly to Noble's Crossing at a minute's notice."

    "Then, you two really must be
good friends if he's willing to stay on hold until we see what the district
attorney is going to do."

    "Quinn has been my best friend
for over fourteen years. When we were both going through Judge Brown's
retraining program, we were a couple of young hoodlums. No one who
knew Quinn back then would have thought that one day he'd become a renowned
trial lawyer."

    "He has quite a reputation.
And I'm sure his fees are astronomical. I take it that you're paying
his retainer."

    "I know your financial situation,
Lane, or at least enough that I realize all your money is tied up in the
Herald and that Edith owns fifty-one percent of the newspaper." He
glanced around the room. "It must take a small fortune to keep up
this place."

    If you feel that hiring Quinn Cortez
as my lawyer repays me for saving your life, then consider me repaid.
You can go back to Texas with a clear conscience. If I am arrested-"

    "Quinn doesn't lose cases.
Even if you killed Kent he can get you off."

    "Then, I don't have anything
to worry about, do I?"

    Jackie removed Mary Martha's
lunch tray from the table and set it outside the bedroom door. The housekeeper
would pick it up later, and when evening came, she would deliver the
next meal. Sometime during the afternoon, Jackie would have to take
Mary Martha down into the garden for her daily hour in the sun. Miss
Edith was convinced that a daily outing, was essential to her daughter's
recovery.

    Glancing down at the sleeping, childlike
woman curled into a fetal position, Jackie shook her head. What a shame
that a woman with everything going for her-money, social position
and beauty-would turn out to be a mental case. Such a waste.

    Why couldn't I have been born
with a silver spoon in my mouth? Jackie wondered.

    She had been raised on the other
side of the Chickasaw River, a block away from Arlene' s family and
three blocks away from Myer's Trailer Park. All her life she had wanted what
the folks in Rich Man's Land had. For as long as she could remember, she had
envied girls like Mary Martha Graham and Lane Noble.

    The only thing that had separated
them-other than the river-had been money. Lots of money.

    Grinning like the proverbial
Cheshire Cat, Jackie shoved open the bathroom door, sat on the closed
commode lid and pulled a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from the pocket
of her uniform. After lighting up, she took a deep draw and closed her
eyes. Savoring the smoke. And daydreaming about her good fortune. She
had known that taking this job as Mary Martha's nurse would pay off for
her, one way or another. She had figured ingratiating herself to the Queen
Bee of Noble's Crossing was a smart move.

    Ever since she'd found out that
James Ware was bonking Arlene, she had considered blackmailing the mayor.
But Arlene was her friend. Besides, James Ware didn't have a dime of
his own money. Miss Edith held the purse strings, and from what she had heard,
she was downright stingy when it came to doling out cash to her hubby.

    She had hoped something would
pan out, that somehow living here on Magnolia Avenue, even as one of the
hired hands, would open some doors for her. But she had never dreamed
what a goldmine she would discover or just how profitable learning
certain damning information would be. She'd get paid a bundle to keep
quiet. Enough so that she would never have to work again. If she were
to tell what she knew, heads would roll. Important heads.

    She wouldn't act too soon. This situation
needed some consideration. When would be the best time to spring the
trap? And just how much was the information really worth? All she had to
do was mention going to the DA and she would get whatever she wanted.
Think, Jackie, think. How much? A million? Two million? More? Mustn't be
greedy. Two million should do nicely.

    "I should have known he wouldn't
come back to Noble's Crossing unless he had enough power to hurt Us"
Edith tapped her manicured nails against her cheek in an unconscious
gesture. "So he's rich now. A multimillionaire."

    "From what I can find out, he's
one of the most powerful men in Texas," Buddy Lawler said. "Seems
Johnny Mack's a genius at wheeling and dealing."

    "Just like his father and
grandfather before him." A tentative smile curved Edith's red
lips. "Blood will tell."

    The smile vanished as memories
of her mother flashed through her mind. Her weak, fragile, little mother,
who had committed suicide when Edith was ten. Thank God, she hadn't been
her mother's daughter in any way. She was made of stronger stuff. But unfortunately,
she had passed on her mother's weak genes to Mary Martha. Yes, blood
will tell.

    "If Johnny Mack is here to
help Lane, then he has the money to do it," Buddy said. "And if he
wants Will-"

    "He may be top dog in Houston,
but around here I'm in charge. I'm the one who pulls the strings and makes
the puppets dance to my tune."

    "Meaning?" Buddy lifted
his eyebrows as his gaze settled inquisitively on Edith.

    "Meaning that with Johnny Mack
now rich and powerful, the playing field is almost equal. And fighting
an equal is so much more fun, especially when you win."

    "And just what will you
win?" Buddy asked.

    "What do you think I'm fighting
for? The safety of my family, that's what. Johnny Mack Cahill has been, since
the day he was born, a threat to me and my children."

    "Are you sure protecting your
family is the only thing you hope to accomplish?"

    "What are you implying?"

    "I know you, Miss Edith."
Buddy cleared his throat.

    "You're the type of woman who
likes revenge. Why else would you have had an affair with Johnny Mack
if you hadn't done it to get revenge against Mr. John? And why now would
you be so insistent that Lane is guilty of murdering Kent, unless it was
to take revenge against her for lying to Kent and to you about Will's paternity?"

    "Why you…" How dare he
speak to her in such a manner! Buddy Lawler was an underling. A loyal,
obedient underling. So why, now, was he acting so boldly, questioning
her authority? "What do you think gives you the right to say such a
thing to me? You forget your place. You forget to whom you're speaking."

    "No, ma'am, I know who you are
and I didn't mean any disrespect." Buddy lowered his head in a subservient
manner. Embarrassment stained his cheeks. "But you know why I'm involved,
why I've always been involved." He lifted his gaze just a fraction,
enough to make eye contact with Edith. "Fifteen years ago I followed
Kent's orders to get rid of Johnny Mack, but you know why I did it. And I'm
knee-deep into things now for the same reason. All I'm asking is for you
to assure me that no matter what happens, your first priority is taking
care of Mary Martha."

    "Yes, of course that's my
first priority." Edith laid her hand on Buddy's arm and patted him in
what she hoped was a reassuring manner. After all, Buddy was the last person
she wanted to offend. She needed him. Mary Martha needed him. "But
there's no law against my getting a little sweet revenge while I'm keeping
my daughter safe."

    "No, I don't suppose
so," Buddy agreed, somewhat reluctantly. "But if I see that
you're putting her at risk in any way, I'll remind you."

    Damn him! He was much too sure of
himself. "There will be no need to remind me. And you hear this, Buddy
Lawler, if I didn't know that everything you've said to me came out of your
devotion to Mary Martha, I'd make you very sorry that you ever took that
corrective tone with me." Edith drew back her hand and slapped
Buddy's face. "Do you understand?"

    His face crimson, except where
the white imprint of Edith's hand marked his cheek, Buddy clenched his
jaw and spit out a brusque, "Yes, ma'am."

    Johnny Mack parked his rental car
on the side of the road and walked through the open black wrought-iron gates
that separated the driveway of the Graham mansion from Magnolia Avenue.
Only twice before today had he set foot on the Graham estate. The first
time had been when he had screwed Edith Graham in the summer house. And
the other time had been the night he had brought a slightly tipsy and very
distraught Mary Martha home when he'd found her wandering along the road
near the country club. She had probably been the prettiest girl in Noble's
Crossing-delicate and fragile like a porcelain doll. Any man would
have wanted her. Most probably had. But he wouldn't have-couldn't have-had
sex with her. Even then, he hadn't been an amoral man. His feelings for Mary
Martha hadn't been sexual, not even when she had thrown her arms around
him and tried to kiss him. What he'd felt for her had been pity and concern.

    She had begged him to make love
to her, but he had declined her offer as gently as he'd known how. That was
when she had broken down and cried. And told him she was pregnant. He had
held her, comforted her and had listened to a sordid tale that had turned
his stomach. Part of him had believed her, and yet another part of him had
refused to accept the truth of her scandalous story. Everybody in town
knew that John and Edith Graham's only daughter was touched in the head.

    Johnny Mack hesitated when he reached
the front portico. He wouldn't be any more welcome here now than he would
have been fifteen years ago. Here in his father's ancestral home.

    But it was time that he and Miss
Edith met again, face-to-face. Time for him to prove to her that he was a
man to be reckoned with. Time for him to warn her-in person-that he was
back in town. He had returned to the scene of the crime-to the town where
he had almost been murdered-because of Lane and Will. Now he was staying
in order to protect them from injustice. And the fact that there wasn't a
damn tiling Miss Edith could do to force him out of Noble's Crossing gave
him great satisfaction.

    Without another moment's hesitation,
Johnny Mack rang the doorbell. The thunder of his own heartbeat roared
in his ears.

    Simultaneously as the doorbell
rang, Edith caressed Buddy's stinging cheek, and Jackie Cummings led a serene
Mary Martha into the room.

    Buddy jerked away from Edith and
rushed to Mary Martha's side. "You look mighty pretty today, honey.
How are you feeling?"

    Such devotion. Such mindless devotion.
Poor Buddy. He had never loved anyone except Mary Martha, and her daughter
wasn't capable of appreciating all that young, tempting virility. At
thirty-eight, Buddy was in his prime. Not a big man, but ruggedly built,
with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. He looked quite appealing in
his police uniform. And as much as she had tried to deny it, Edith found
him attractive. Whenever he gazed at her with those intense blue eyes,
she couldn't help wondering how he would react if she made the first move.

    "Miss Mary Martha ate a good
lunch today," Jackie said. "And when she woke from her nap, she
was all ready for a little walk in the garden, weren't you, dear?"
Jackie, whose arm was laced through her patient's, smiled warmly.

    "She chills easily, even on
warm summer days," Edith said. "Perhaps you'd better run back upstairs
and get Mary Martha a shawl."

    "Of course." Jackie helped
Mary Martha to the sofa, seated her and continued smiling as she nodded
to Edith and hurried out of the living room.

    There was something about Jackie
that bothered Edith. Oh, she was all smiles and sweetness and was totally
obedient. But there was an odd look in her eyes, as if she were assessing
the net worth of everyone and everything in the house.

    Edith sat beside her daughter.
"Would you like for me to join you on your walk today?"

    "Where's Kent?" Mary Martha
asked. "I want Kent to take a walk with me."

    Edith closed her eyes momentarily,
then leaned over to clasp her daughter's hand. She sighed deeply and said,''Kent's
not here, dear. Don't you remember?"

    Mary Martha shook her head.
"Where is he?"

    The housekeeper, Mrs. Russell,
knocked on the door, then entered. "I'm sorry to bother you, Mrs. Ware,
but there's a gentleman here to see you."

    Edith released Mary Martha's
hand, then sat up straight as she glanced at Mrs. Russell. "What gentleman?"