Dead Right by Brenda Novak Read Free Book Online Page B

story designed to inspire renewed interest in the mystery. Instead she got, “Some things are better left as they are, Maddy.”
    Dropping her pen, she sat up straight. “What do you mean by that?”
    â€œMaybe the answers will haunt you more than the questions.”
    She rocked back in her seat, suddenly uneasy. “What? Clay, if…” Swallowing hard, she tried to calm the butterflies fluttering around in her stomach. “If you want to tell me anything, do it now.”
    Could she have imagined the slight hesitation that followed? “That’s all,” he said.
    â€œI don’t understand. How could the answers be any worse than the questions?”
    â€œWho knows? Maybe he was involved in something he shouldn’t have been.”
    â€œThat’s crazy! He was a humble servant of Christ,” she said, her voice rising. “You know what a good man he was. You lived with him, heard his sermons. He took religion very seriously.”
    Clay said nothing.
    â€œDo you know something I don’t?” she asked, her disquiet turning to panic.
    â€œOnly what I was thinking when they pulled the Cadillac from the quarry.”
    â€œWhich was…”
    â€œPeople don’t usually murder a middle-aged man without a reason.”
    â€œHe could’ve been robbed! Maybe whoever attacked him stole the money from his wallet,” she said. “Or maybe there was no real motive, other than childish anger, lashing out, stupidity. There’re hundreds of reasons that have nothing to do with him.”
    â€œYou’re thinking of Mike Metzger.”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œMike might be a dope hound but he’s not a murderer.”
    â€œYou don’t know that. See? That’s the problem. We all have our suspicions, but no one really knows. That’s why folks keep blaming you. If Mr. Solozano uncovers the real culprit, they’ll have to stop, and I’ll be damn glad of it.”
    â€œIt might be easier on you if you’d quit defending me,” he said. “You don’t have to, you know.”
    â€œYes, I do. When folks accuse you, it hurts me, too. I’m tired of it. And I’ve had it with all the people who’ve implied that I must be an idiot to miss the obvious.”
    â€œIgnore them.”
    She made a face even though he couldn’t see her. “I can’t. You live outside town. I have to mingle with Stillwater’s residents every single day.”
    â€œBut this investigator can’t be cheap,” he argued.
    He had no idea…. “He’s not that expensive,” she lied.
    â€œYou can afford him?”
    She pressed her thumb and forefinger to her closed eyelids. “Of course.”
    â€œThen you’re committed to this.”
    Hunter Solozano had asked her the same thing. “Yes. This is a gamble I have to take. Won’t you be relieved to know the truth? Aren’t you even a little curious?”
    â€œI’ve put the past behind me,” he said. “We have to live with what is.”
    She started to say she couldn’t face a future of not knowing. Every time she tried, the nightmares came more often. But she hadn’t told anyone about her sleepless nights. She was afraid she’d sound crazy.
    â€œI wish I could do that,” she said. “But I can’t.” At the sound of the door opening, Madeline turned. Irene had just walked in. “Mom’s here,” she told Clay. “Can I call you later?”
    â€œSure. In the meantime, try to relax, okay? You’re worrying me.”
    â€œI’m fine,” Madeline said, but she had a headache from being awake most of the night. “Fine” actually felt a long way off.
    â€œCall me if you need anything,” he said and hung up without a goodbye. He didn’t waste words. She’d gotten more out of him today than she usually did, but she didn’t have time to think