Paper Roses by Amanda Cabot Read Free Book Online Page B

poker with.” Those men were the ones closest to him. They were the ones who knew where Austin was that night and what time he left the Brambles’ barn.
    “It may make sense to you, Clay,” Michel said in that infuriatingly condescending voice, “but let me remind you that I’m the one who’s conducting this investigation. I need to consider all possibilities.”
    “What harm would there be in starting with the last people who saw Austin alive?”
    “None, other than to waste my time.” The mayor picked up his hat. “As much as I regret being unable to continue this conversation, I must leave.”
    It was as Clay had suspected. Michel Ladre had no intention of questioning the other poker players, perhaps because his own son had been one of them, perhaps because Michel himself had few regrets that Austin was dead.
    “If you’re not willing to talk to those men, I will.”
    The mayor clenched his fist. “I’m afraid I cannot permit that.”
    “I’m afraid you cannot prevent that.” Clay had already spoken to the men, but he’d kept the conversations casual. In doing that, he’d learned nothing. Each of the seven had the same story: they’d all remained in the barn from the time Austin left until well past the hour when Nora had arrived back at the Bar C, Austin’s body slumped over her back. Clay didn’t believe them. One of them had killed his brother, and if Michel Ladre wasn’t willing to find out who it was, Clay had no choice but to do it himself. Austin’s murderer would pay for his crime.
    “You might be on the lookout for Austin’s watch,” Clay told the man who claimed he was investigating the murder. “Austin had it when he left that night, and it wasn’t in his pocket when he—”
    Michel didn’t let him finish the sentence. “He probably lost it,” the mayor said, dismissing Clay’s suggestion.
    Clay shook his head. “That watch was Austin’s most prized possession, especially that day. He’d just put Sarah’s miniature in it and was planning to show it to his friends.” Though he doubted Michel would take any action, Clay continued, “Like I said, Mayor, someone needs to question those men. Thoroughly.”
    Michel took a step toward Clay, his position menacing. With a gesture toward the side door, he hissed, “If you interfere with my investigation, you’ll find yourself sitting inside that cell.”
    “Then do your job.”
    The man’s face flushed as the implication registered. “I am, and I’m doing it far better than you could.” Michel’s voice seethed with anger. “Face it, Clay. There’s a reason why I’m the mayor and sheriff of this town, and you’re a doctor. If you’re wiser than your brother, you’ll do your job and leave me alone to do mine.”
    Clay stared at the man who held the power of life and death over the citizens of Ladreville. Michel Ladre was wrong on many counts. He was wrong about who had killed Austin. He was wrong about his own abilities. And he was wrong about Clay. Clay wasn’t a doctor. Not any longer.

    They were waiting for him, just as they had been a day earlier. The wagon was the same. The passengers were the same. He was even late again, although for a different reason. Today he had chosen to be late, deliberately waiting until his temper cooled before he headed back down Hochstrasse. That wasn’t the only difference. Today, instead of standing on the street, her annoyance clearly apparent, Sarah was smiling and talking to Isabelle Rousseau as if they had been friends for years, while Thea appeared to be joining the conversation.
    Clay never had understood why the females of the species spent so much time jabbering. Even Patience had talked more than Clay would have liked. Fortunately, Sarah hadn’t subjected him to that same degree of chatter on the ride from San Antonio, and she’d seemed to sense his need for silence when they’d driven into town this morning. That was good. What was even better was that once today was