Even from the opposite end of the counter Amy could see that the white string around the box was already loose.
“I’ll be sure to take care of that for you, Mrs. Riley.”
Mrs. Riley glanced at Amy. “I consider you a very lucky woman to be engaged to Ned here, Amy. And I defend him every chance I get. As far as I know he didn’t have anything to do with that robbery or these terrible killings.”
Amy felt her face burn. Anger and embarrassment. “Well, that’s very nice of you, Mrs. Riley.” Wanting to spare Ned any further talk of the matter.
But Mrs. Riley wasn’t finished. “I know you need money for that farm of yours you should’ve given up a long time ago. If you had, Ned, people wouldn’t be so suspicious of you. That’s one thing. And as for the killings—I always say that Ned is a sweet little man. Some of my friends always wondered why Amy here didn’t take up with Sheriff Cain. He’s so handsome and strong and—well, manly—but I always say that Ned is a comfort. And maybe that’s what Amy needs at this time in her life.”
“That’s so sweet of you, Mrs. Riley,” Amy said, now more amused than angry. “And when people speak up against you, I’m always the first to say that just because she gossips and tells lies doesn’t mean that deep down she isn’t a very pleasant woman.”
Now it was Mrs. Riley’s face that flushed red. The blue gaze scorched Amy’s face. “I see. A decent woman offers her support to a man the whole town thinks set up that robbery and killed those three poor boys and you think it’s all right to mock her? Are you going to let her insult me this way, Ned?”
“Well, if she hadn’t, Mrs. Riley, I would have.” Ned picked up her small box. “The string is already loose. Just as it was on the last box. But this time I’m going to do you the favor of retying it for you.”
She snatched the box from his hands. “I’ll mail it. Ralph at the post office would never let anybody mock me.”
Lenihan’s Irish eyes twinkled with malice. “Maybe you don’t know what he says about you after you’ve gone.”
She stormed to the door. “Now I know that what people say about you is true. And I hope they hang you.”
She slammed the door so hard the glass shivered.
Amy took Ned’s hands in hers. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I just couldn’t help it. That old crone.”
“Don’t worry about it. Ralph called her out a couple of years ago just the way you did. That’s why she started using the stage.” He smiled. “I feel sorry for Ralph.”
Amy laughed. “She’s quite a woman, isn’t she?”
But for all the humor of the moment, Mrs. Riley’s words worried Amy. The town was beginning to see Ned as the number one suspect. In a situation as volatile as this one, that was a frightening realization.
9
The woman who approached Fargo was the handsome blond sister of the dead man he’d discovered. Karen Byrnes had changed into a ruffled white blouse and black skirt. A red woolen shawl over her shoulders flattered her blue eyes and rose-colored lips. She carried a large cloth purse over one arm.
Fargo had just left the Gold Mine when she waved to him and hurried to meet him. After sitting with the Raines brothers he welcomed contact with a gentler soul. The way she filled out her blouse made talking to her even more enticing.
With the clatter and clutter of wagons and buggies behind her, she reached him slightly out of breath. “I’ve been looking for you for the past half hour, Mr. Fargo.”
“You could always call me Skye.”
“Skye, then. Thank you.”
The ivory skin was tainted only around the eyes. She’d been crying.
“You probably won’t like what I have to say.”
“I doubt that but let’s hear it first and see.”
She touched his arm with careful fingers. He liked that. “I’ve been playing detective. I promise I won’t do it again. But I thought of a woman named Ingrid Haller. Her son was one of the three boys killed. She told me about a man named Rex who saw somebody talking to the boys just before the first one was killed.”
“Did he say who?”
“No. Not to her anyway. I was wondering if you and I—”
He put a hand on her shoulder. “I work alone. I’m not even taking Tom Cain along with me. But I appreciate your offer.”
Before he knew quite what she was doing, she slid her arm through his and began walking them down the street. A pair of lovers out for a stroll. That was the mood she was obviously trying to set. A smart young woman able to put her grief aside to get what she wanted. In order to find the man or men who’d murdered her brother.
“Rex is a recluse. For most people he won’t even come to the door. And he has a dog.”
“This seems to be the town for guard dogs.”
“Do you know Helen Hardesty?”
“Matter of fact I do.”
“Rex’s wolfhound is the father of Helen’s wolfhound.”
“Can’t wait to meet him. Helen almost sicced hers on me.”
“She’s a feisty lady.”
“I noticed that.”
“Anyway, Rex won’t talk to you. You’ll need me along.”
“He has an eye for beauty, then.”
“Why, thank you. But no, that isn’t it at all. I knew him growing up before he was a recluse. He was an usher at our church and I sang in the children’s choir. Once a week I bake bread for him and bring it over.”
“Makes sense. But just because he’ll let you in—us in—doesn’t mean he’ll tell us anything.”
“I think he can be persuaded.” She tapped her purse. “I’m bringing him this week’s bread. And not just one loaf but two.”
“A very enterprising young woman.”
“Well, if I don’t keep busy, I’ll lose my mind. Thinking about Clete—” She choked back tears.
Holding her arm closer to his side, he said, “Then let’s go see Rex.”
Eyes.
A few weeks ago when Ned Lenihan walked down a Cawthorne street everybody had a smile and a hello for him. Made sense. Lenihan was generally a mild and friendly man to just about everybody. From helping people build their barns to giving money to those in need, Lenihan was known to care deeply about the welfare of other folks.
A few weeks ago that had all changed. The secret strongbox filled with money. The robbery. The murder of the Englishman and driver. The murders of the three boys. And now it was all changed and likely changed forever.
Eyes.
As he walked to the sheriff’s office he stared into the faces of old friends and found strangers. Found in those eyes distrust and contempt. Found in those eyes anger and a certainty that he had been involved in all of it.
The gazes lashed him. Even the few who spoke to him only grunted, as if they were embarrassed to even acknowledge his existence. What was the word in the Bible? Pariah. Yes, that’s what he’d become. A pariah to his own town.
When he finally reached the sheriff’s office, he noticed that people stopped in their tracks to watch him. Did they think he was going in there to confess? Wouldn’t that be a good show for them all?
He opened the door and pushed in.
Pete Rule sat behind the small desk to the right of Tom Cain’s. Lenihan was both disappointed and relieved. Disappointed that he wouldn’t have his confrontation with Cain and relieved that the confrontation wouldn’t happen. His feelings were all crazy these days.
Rule had been writing on a large pad of paper. His eyes showed surprise when he saw who it was. “Morning, Ned.”
“Cain not around, Pete?”
“Over to the courthouse.”
“Oh.” Lenihan stood there looking around as if he’d never seen the sheriff’s office before.