“Because Junior loved my mother.”
The words reverberated down the corridor of the quiet stable. Reede’s head went back with a snap, as if he’d sustained a quick, unexpected uppercut on the chin. “Who told you that?”
“He did.” She watched him closely, adding softly, “He said you both loved her.”
He stared at her for a considerable time, then shrugged. “In one way or another. So?”
?
?Is that why Junior’s marriages didn’t work? Because he was still carrying a torch for my mother?”
“I have no idea.”
“Take a wild guess.”
“Okay.” Arrogantly, he angled his head to one side. “I don’t think Celina had shit to do with Junior’s marriages. It’s just that he can’t fuck for recreation without feeling guilty about it later, so to ease his conscience, he takes a wife every few years.”
His statement was intended to offend her, and it did. She tried not to show how much. “Why do you think he feels guilty about it?”
“Genetics. He’s got generations of southern chivalry flowing through his veins. That makes for a guilty conscience where the ladies are concerned.”
“What about you?”
A Cheshire-cat grin lifted one corner of his mouth. “I never feel guilty for anything I do.”
“Even murder?”
His grin collapsed and his eyes turned dark. “Get the hell out of here.”
“Have you ever been married?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“None of your goddamn business. Anything else, Counselor?”
“Yes. Tell me about your father.”
Gradually, Reede lowered his arms to his sides. He gave her a hard, cold stare. Alex said, “I know your father died while you were still in high school. Junior mentioned it today. When he died, you came to live here.”
“You have a morbid curiosity, Miss Gaither.”
“I’m not curious. I’m looking for facts pertinent to my investigation.”
“Oh, sure. Pertinent stuff like Angus’s sex life.”
She gave him a reproving look. “Motives are what I’m after, Sheriff Lambert. As a law officer, you can identify with that, can’t you? Ever hear of motive and opportunity?” His eyes turned even colder. “I need to establish your frame of mind the night of my mother’s death.”
“That’s bullshit. What has that got to do with my old man?”
“Maybe nothing, but you tell me. If it’s irrelevant, why are you so touchy about it?”
“Did Junior tell you how my old man died?” She shook her head. Reede snorted a bitter laugh. “I can’t imagine why not. The nasty details made big news around here. People talked about it for years.”
He bent at the waist so they were standing eye to eye. “He choked to death on his own vomit, too drunk to save himself. That’s right, look shocked. It was pretty goddamned horrifying, especially when the principal of the high school called me out of class to tell me.”
“Reede.” In an attempt to stop the flow of sarcastic words, Alex raised her hand. He swatted it aside.