Page 68

“But I aimed for his leg and…that took him out of play. But. But I got kicked in the head and lost consciousness.” He said without emotion. “Kyle bled to death.”

Beau didn’t say anything. Not for a second or two. Then he said calmly, casually, “Yeah, I can see how that would make anyone tired.”

It surprised an uncertain laugh out of Archie. “Yeah.”

The images faded.

“I’m sorry. That’s a fucking horrible story,” Beau said. “You needed time to recover, and instead you got…this.”

Archie shrugged. Nobody went into law enforcement because life was fair.

“Which doesn’t change my feeling that you staying here tonight might not be a great idea.”

It was a relief to be back in the here and now, to have something familiar and comfortable to argue about. Archie shook his head. “I’m not going to forget to check the doors and windows again.”

“Hear me out. Let’s say you’re right. Let’s say your intruder was not a would-be burglar. Let’s say he followed you from Fraser House with another goal in mind.”

“No. I don’t think so.”

“It doesn’t matter what you think. Until we know—”

“Sure, but do I also get to offer a theory? Because he didn’t know I was in here. He knew Mrs. Simms was here and he waited for her to leave. When he came in, he let the back door screen slam shut. He wasn’t in stealth mode until I called out. I thought you had arrived.”

“He didn’t leave,” Beau pointed out. “Assuming you’re right, when he did know you were in here, he came after you.”

That was true. Probably. Up to a point, anyway. The intruder had either lost his nerve or changed course for another reason.

“Okay. But what’s the difference between tonight and tomorrow night?”

Beau frowned.

Archie said, “I haven’t actually checked out yet. If you have a good reason for me to spend another night at Fraser House, I will. But it you’re thinking I can just stay there until this is all over, no.”

“I’m going to be honest. I don’t think you’re at the top of your game right now. You were lucky ton—”

Archie’s cell phone rang.

Beau said, “Hey, maybe it’s your common sense calling.”

Archie gave him an unamused look, clicked accept. “Crane.”

“Archie. It is you. That’s a relief. I half-suspected Desi was going to give me a wrong number.”

The voice was feminine and sort of familiar, but he couldn’t quite place it. For sure not Judith. Not Ms. Madison. Not Desi…

“It’s Pris Beckham,” Priscilla added helpfully.

“Hi,” he said automatically. “How are you?”

Priscilla said, “How are you, is the real question. I understand Judith lost her flipping mind at the reading of John’s will. John would be beside himself. That she could think that? Do that? In public?”

“It doesn’t matter. I know she’s upset.”

“Judith is always upset,” Priscilla said tartly. “Johnny catered to her way too much. He was kind to a fault.”

Was it possible to be kind to a fault? Personally, Archie did not think the world suffered from an overabundance of kindness.

Priscilla was still rattling on. “I know your feelings about our, the TPS’s examination of the unknown, have always been…mixed. At best.” She amended hopefully, “Unless, now that you’re older—?”