Death on the Diagonal (29 page)

Belle slowed for the stop sign at the corner and glanced again into the rearview mirror. It was obvious that the driver of the car behind her either didn’t see her stop, or didn’t see the sign, or was dialing a cell phone, or was distracted in some manner, but whatever the case, he was going to rear-end her. She pushed her foot firmly down on the brake pedal to avoid being catapulted into the intersection and braced her body as she waited for the impact. Kelly gave her a strange look; it all happened in the blink of an eye.

It wasn’t a light tap; it was a forceful collision. Belle’s seat belt held her in place, but Kelly lurched forward, her forehead colliding with the hard dashboard. She was knocked unconscious immediately and slumped forward in the seat. A small trickle of blood rolled across her face, as Belle straightened her body and took the gun from her lap.

“I can take that pistol if you’d like,” the voice said from outside the car. “I know how to use it.” It was Walter Gudgeon.

“I was coming to your house to apologize for being so hard on your husband,” he said, “and saw her marching you out to the car. That’s the Dawn I knew. That blond hair and outfit didn’t disguise her for a second.”

Belle unhooked her seat belt and stepped from the car. She rolled her head from side to side to loosen her neck and back muscles.

“Sorry about rear-ending you like that. I didn’t know what else to do. I saw you put your seat belt on, so I was hoping it would work.”

“It sure made a mess of your nice car.”

He shrugged. “It’s only a car. I called the police on my cell phone. Do you want to call Rosco?”

“No, he should be on his way home. Thank you, Mr. Gudgeon. It appears as if you saved my life.”

“I guess it’s all in how you see it, how you look at life. As I was about to plow into you, do you know what I was thinking?”

“No.”

“I was thinking that this old Dodge is the exact same color green Young Walt wants to paint the fleet of Walt’s Wire Wagons.”

“And . . . ?”

“I’m beginning to think it’s not a half-bad idea.”

1. Grp. for those with 2-Down

4. Fort Worth campus; abbr.

7. Belief

10. Fib

13. Dupe

15. British singer, Chris

16. Coach, Parseghian

17. Horse sense, part 1

20. Talent of 47-Across

21. Some towns

22. Computer key

23. Doctor

26. “___ Rider,” Eastwood film

27. Outlaw, Kelly

28. 63-Across task

31. Swan’s former coworkers?

35. 50 plus grp.

36. Horse sense, part 2

40. Irish nobleman

41. Pirate gallows?

42. Hosp. workers

43. 43-Down locale

46. Mister in Munich

47. Author of horse sense quote

49. Be in charge; abbr.

52. Aiming

55. Tierney role

56. Horse sense, part 3

60. Grassland

61. MMMC ÷ II

62. Gin cocktail

63. Ambulance workers; abbr.

64. Ship’s heading

65. Extra work for 31-Across; abbr.

66. ___ Moines

1. Wide open

2. Sedans and wagons

3. Specific

4. Cash drawer item

5. Gear tooth

6. Spanish article

7. Certain patch

8. Peaceful

9. Potato option

10. Lion portrayer

11. Some savings accts.

12. Comfort

14. Coach, Hodges

18. Horseshoe peg

19. Greek goddess

23. Vaccine developer, Jonas

24. Away from the wind

25. Had been

26. Pistol ___

28. Author, Caleb

29. Spring dance

30. Tach readouts

31. Headliner

32. Skinny

33. “. . . lend me your ___”

34. Mole

35. Way off

37. Comedian, Mort

38. Annoyed

39. Certain satellite; abbr.

43. Stage backdrops

44. Internet discoveries?

45. Prickle

47. Talent of 47-Across

48. Type of trip

HORSE SENSE

49. Amor
50. Pooh creator
51. Don
52. Ready and willing follower
53. Appear

54. School grps.
55. Tiny particle; abbr.
57. Sgt. or Cpl.
58. Grass
59. Chicago trains

The Answers

OFF TO THE RACES

SUBMISSION

TO CATCH A THIEF

MEASURE FOR MEASURE

SOCIAL CLIMBER

HORSE SENSE