“I still don’t see how we are connected.”
“Odd that two folks from this fine establishment would choose to kill themselves two days apart,” Winchester said.
“I don’t know what to say.”
Bragg leaned forward. “I’m real interested in the group of kids here the same time as the two victims and Elizabeth Templeton.”
“I’ve told you I can’t tell you. We keep names a secret for a reason.”
“I need to have those names.”
“You won’t get them from me.”
“One way or another I’m going to get a list of those names and figure out if I’m chasing any kind of pattern.”
“I can’t confirm or deny what you are saying.”
Bragg shook his head. “I want to handle this as quietly as I can, Dr. Leland. I don’t want to make a fuss. Media can turn a situation sideways. Couldn’t be good for your business. But I promise you if I don’t get your help, I’ll mention both my victims were Shady Grove residents.”
The doctor paled. “I would help you if I could, but I can’t break doctor-patient confidence.”
“Tell you what. Why don’t you locate the folks in that group and find out how they’re doing?”
“I don’t have that kind of information. People scatter and move away.”
“I bet you know more than you realize. Bet their grateful families are generous donors.”
“You’re putting me in a bad position. Making calls like that could be awkward.”
“Not my worry, Dr. Leland. I need to find out what happened to the kids in that group.”
“What if there is no connection? What if I find out they’re all good and well, and you’re stirring trouble for no reason at all?”
“Well, then, I’d say it will be your lucky day. I’d say, you won’t have to worry about me anymore.” Bragg leaned forward. He grinned, knowing the effect could be menacing. “I’m not the kind of person people like having around on a regular basis. I make them nervous.”
A slight widening of the doctor’s eyes confirmed he wanted Bragg gone. “And if they’re dead? Then what do I do?”
“Then you best let me know. In the meantime, I’m going to get a court order. That might help you with your legal dilemma. But news of court orders has a way of leaking out.”
“Don’t want that getting around,” Winchester said.
Dr. Leland adjusted his tie. “You are backing me into a corner.”
Bragg rose, knowing hardball came next. “Nope, just hoping you’ll do your civic duty and help out the Rangers. But if you don’t help then you can bet we’re going to back you into a corner and make your life miserable.”
Winchester stood, as if in no rush. He grinned.
Shoulder to shoulder, the mass of the Rangers’ bodies ate a hefty chunk of floor space. They left the stunned doctor in his office and strode out the front door. On the front porch Bragg settled his hat on his head and surveyed the grounds. A flash of metal in light caught his attention. He strode across the gravel driveway and the ground toward a large tree. At the base of the tree he found a plaque. It read:
IN LOVING MEMORY OF REBECCA,
WHOSE GENTLE SPIRIT AND SOUL
INSPIRED THE CREATION OF
SHADY GROVE CAMP.
Bragg studied the name, and touched the tip of his hat out of respect before leaving the uncomfortable beauty of the camp.
He sat in the sunshine, his eyes closed as he drank up the warmth. He loved the Hill Country. The quiet. The trees. The slower pace. He could stay here all day.
“How much longer are we going to sit here?” she said.
He ignored her, hoping she’d go away.
“I know what you are doing and I’m not going to let you ignore me.” She’d ratcheted up her voice, adding the shrill he hated. “Open your eyes and pay attention to me!”
He didn’t need to open his eyes to picture her brown hair, peaches-and-cream complexion, and the sprinkle of freckles over her nose. When she was irritated, her eyes blazed blue and her cheeks flushed pink. “Can’t you just leave me in peace? Do we always have to be talking?”
“You don’t like talking to me?”
He didn’t have to open his eyes to know she was pouting. “Not now.”
“We need to talk now. We don’t have a lot of time.”
“We’ve got twenty-four hours. That’s plenty of time.”
She huffed. “You were never a good planner. Always putting the important matters off until last.”
The nagging raked over his nerves, shattering the day’s calm. “Leave me alone.”
“You know I can’t. You know if not for me you wouldn’t have the drive or gumption to take care of the others.”
He sat up, his jaw tight, as he stared at the distant horizon. “You need to back off. I’ve gotten us this far.”
“Because I’ve been poking and prodding you the whole time. If not for me you’d still be living that boring life in Austin lost in the mindless details of your day.”
“Those mindless details have made a lot of money. Someone has to take care of business.”
“We’ve plenty of money. We don’t need more. What we need to do is talk about the next one. We need to review the details so we don’t make any mistakes.”
He sighed. “If I go over the details with you, will you leave me alone?”
“If you go over each and every detail, then yes I will leave you alone.”
“For how long?” That’s the way it had always been with them. Endless negotiations.
“I’ll leave you be. For now. Maybe even a day.”
“Swear.”
“Don’t I always keep my word?”
He laughed. “No.”
She giggled. “You love me. Admit it.”
He hated her when she bitched at him. Hated himself more when she was nice and he acquiesced.
“Come on admit it,” she cooed. “You love me.”
“Fine. I love you. Now let’s talk about killing Sam so I can get some sleep.”
Chapter Fourteen
Friday, June 6, 10 A.M.
Her body still hummed with nervous energy as Greer watched the clerk ring up the feed for the two horses. She still couldn’t decide if going to Bragg had been a good idea or not.
“That will be three hundred and two dollars,” the clerk said.
She’d known taking the old horses on would be expensive, but she’d not really put pen to paper and calculated the cost. She handed the clerk her charge card and tried not to be bothered by the expense.
She stepped back from the counter looking, but not really looking, at flower seeds as Rory and Sara’s images elbowed back into her thoughts.
Beautiful Rory had been interested in her from the start. He’d been sweet and charming, and Greer had been so grateful someone showed any interest in her. She’d never noticed Joan, or rather Sara, resented the relationship. Sara had slept with Rory a couple of times at camp and she’d really liked him. But Rory being Rory had moved on to Greer, and she’d not cared about Sara’s loss. Greer thought herself in love. If only she could have seen Sara hurt as much as she had and let her have Rory.
But Greer had literally been starving for love and Rory’s paltry offering had been nectar. She’d been naïve enough to believe the youthful, hasty promises Rory and she made. Write. Talk on the phone. Friends forever. Karma had brought them together.
But of course, outside the camp walls Rory’s old life swept him away from Sara and Greer.
The clerk handed her a receipt and she signed it, tucking the card back in her wallet. “My truck’s out front. Can I get someone to load up the feed?”
“Yes, ma’am. Go ahead and pull around back.”
As she moved through the store, the hair on the back of her neck rose. It was a subtle, practically imperceptible feeling but when she thought about it there was no denying her unease.