He paraphrased Alex’s official statement. “That’s all I know… Well, Christ, tell them to calm down. They can read about it in tomorrow’s paper, like everybody else… Okay, look, I’m sorry,” he said, “it’s been a bitch of a day and I’m tired.
“Give Sarah Jo one of her pills and tell Angus he’s got nothing to worry about.” He caught Alex’s frown, but kept his expression bland. “Alex? She’s fine… Well, if she doesn’t answer her phone, she’s probably in the shower. If you want to play Good Samaritan, there’s somebody who needs you more than Alex tonight… Stacey, you idiot. Why don’t you go over there and sit with her for a while… Okay, see you tomorrow.”
After he broke the connection, he left the phone off the hook and went back to his food. Alex asked, “Why didn’t you tell him I was here?”
“Did you want me to?”
“Not particularly. I just wondered why you didn’t.”
“He didn’t need to know.”
“Will he go see Stacey?”
“I hope so, but you never can tell about Junior. Actually,” he said, swallowing a bite, “you seem to be all he’s thinking about.”
“Me, personally, or what I heard from Judge Wallace?”
“A combination of both, I guess.”
“Angus is upset?”
“Naturally. Joe Wallace was an old friend.”
“Friend and coconspirator.” Reede didn’t rise to the bait; he didn’t even divert his attention from his supper. “I must talk to Angus, Reede. I want you to drive me over there as soon as we finish eating.” He calmly reached for his coffee cup, sipped, returned it to the saucer. “Reede, did you hear me?”
“Yes.”
“Then, you’ll drive me over?”
“No.”
“I’ve got to talk to him.”
“Not tonight.”
“Yes, tonight. Wallace implicated him in a cover-up. I’ve got to question him about it.”
“He’s not going anywhere. Tomorrow’s soon enough.”
“Your loyalty is commendable, but it can’t protect Angus forever.”
He set his silverware on his empty plate and carried it to the sink. “Tonight, I’m more concerned about you than Angus.”
“Me?”
He glanced at her plate and, satisfied that she was finished, cleared it away. “Seen yourself in a mirror lately? You look like hell. Several times I’ve braced myself to catch you, afraid you were about to keel over.”
“I’m fine. If you’ll just take me back to the motel, I’ll—”
“Uh-uh,” he said, shaking his head. “You’re staying here tonight, where you can get some sleep without being pestered by reporters.”
“Do you really think I would be?”
“A judge’s death is hot news. A judge’s suicide is even hotter. You were the last person to talk to him. You’re conducting an investigation that has the racing commission worried. Yeah, I think the press will be tramping down the bushes around the Westerner to get to you.”
“I’d be okay if I locked myself in my room.”
“I’m not taking any chances. As I’ve told you before, I don’t want one of Harper’s pets to get herself killed in my county. You’ve generated enough negative publicity for us these last few weeks; we sure as hell can’t stand any more. Does your head hurt?”